A drier than normal August should come as no surprise to ecologist David Schindler. The University of Alberta professor has been sounding the alarm for some time based on his knowledge of climate change and historic weather patterns on the Prairies. Alberta Environment recently reported that August ended with the lowest natural runoff in history […] Read more
News
Water crunch looms as big worry
Group forms to save monopoly
A fledgling farm group wants to pressure the federal government into holding a farmer vote on the Canadian Wheat Board’s sales monopoly on western grown wheat, malting barley and exported feed barley. Producers from across the Prairies gathered in Saskatoon last week to form the new lobby group. The organizers weren’t the usual players in […] Read more
Proposed dams draw concerns
Environmentalists believe money directed to future dam construction would be better spent building farmer-run processing plants. Darrin Qualman, water issues co-ordinator with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, said only 40 percent of the land deemed suitable for irrigation has been developed since the Gardiner dam was built a half century ago. “If farmers are not taking […] Read more
Iogen denies ethanol plant headed for U.S.
Iogen Corp. is backtracking on comments made by the company’s executive vice-president this summer indicating that North America’s first cellulose-based ethanol plant will be built in the United States, not Canada. In a June 29 presentation to the U.S. House of Representatives’ agriculture committee, Iogen’s Jeff Passmore made it clear that American interests had beaten […] Read more
Coming Events
Oct. 7: Alberta’s Men of Country Music, Community Centre, Rimbey, Alta. (Dianne, 780-682-2295) Oct. 7: Carnival of Crafts, Edward Sports Centre, Pierson, Man. (Betty Mayes, 204-634-2482) Oct. 12: Saskatchewan Ethanol Symposium, Jubilee Arena, Shaunavon, Sask. (Sandra Blyth, 306-778-6445) Oct. 12: University of Saskatchewan Alumni Awards Presentation and Gala Dinner, TCU Place, Saskatoon, 306-966-5186 or 800-699-1907 […] Read more
Warnings on CAIS ignored
In agriculture policymaking, what a difference a change in government makes. When agriculture minister Chuck Strahl announced in May that the inventory valuation system used in the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program would be changed to take account of price changes during the year, he sold the policy shift as a way to get $900 […] Read more
Ag Notes
MRAC seeks proposals The Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council requests proposals for the new Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative that the federal government announced Sept. 20. The $10 million biofuel initiative will be funded by Agriculture Canada and delivered regionally through industry councils. The council will administer Manitoba’s initial share of funding worth $376,000. It is […] Read more
Witnesses split over value of assistant commissioners
The current system of appointing Canadian Grain Commission assistant commissioners is “ineffective and improper,” a consultant told a parliamentary committee last week. In his report to the government, Compas Research president Conrad Winn suggested the assistant commissioner position be abolished in favour of an experiment with a Grain Farmer Advocacy office that would be independent […] Read more
Mailbox
Wanted: Information on Alberta Wheat Producers. Their bylaws were printed on June 1, 1927. Was this an organization opposed to the Alberta Wheat Pool? – E.M. Murray, 9 – 1613 – 5A Ave., Wainwright, Alta. T9W 1R8.
Letter fuss takes off in Ottawa
Letter-gate has made its way to the halls of Parliament. The brouhaha over a proposed letter-writing campaign that some claim was designed to support the government’s plans to restructure the Canadian Wheat Board was debated in the House of Commons and will end up in front of a Commons committee later this month. At the […] Read more
