Predicting what’s going to happen in the grain industry months in advance is a risky proposition. But that’s exactly what farm input suppliers like Philom Bios Inc., a Saskatoon-based inoculant company, have to do every year. Some years it all works out, some years it doesn’t. For Philom Bios, which manufactures and distributes products like […] Read more
News
Inoculant company earnings down
Direct selling has rewards, say producers
There is an air of certainty among ranchers selling beef direct to customers. They are confident they are selling healthy food that is of higher quality than their clients can buy anywhere else. They are also selling service. “There is a huge growing movement of consumers who want … that direct ranch-raised product and the […] Read more
Clearinghouse could offer security
By this time next year, grain buyers and sellers could be doing business through a new agricultural commodity clearinghouse attached to one of Canada’s three major trading exchanges. “I’d guess right now it’s about 80-20 it goes ahead,” said Russ Crawford, a Calgary based consultant working on the project for the Western Barley Growers Association. […] Read more
Biodiesel plant to tour Prairies
Rex Newkirk won’t need roadside pit stops to fill up his truck with biodiesel this fall. The Canadian International Grains Institute researcher will be towing his own portable refinery behind him. Newkirk is using a $45,000 grant from the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council and $15,000 of institute money to build a skid-mounted, miniature biodiesel plant. […] Read more
Farmers can’t compete with oil patch wages
The good times are rolling in the Alberta economy, and it’s putting many producers through hell. Hog barns can’t find workers. Auction marts can’t find workers. Cattle slaughter plants are having trouble finding workers. In July, the much anticipated and celebrated second shift at Olymel’s Red Deer hog slaughter plant was cancelled due to a […] Read more
Agriculture College adds bioresources to name
New name, same college. Agriculture and Bioresources is the new title for the 100-year-old agriculture department of the University of Saskatchewan. After a year of debate, discussion and dissention, the change of name from College of Agriculture to College of Agriculture and Bioresources is complete. With an official announcement in late September, the college will […] Read more
Alta. finds $261 million to help buy inputs
A $261 million injection of emergency cash into the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization program by the Alberta government will be welcomed by many farmers, but will be too late for others. Alberta Agriculture minister Doug Horner said officials kept a close eye on this year’s crops and prices, and it was clear farmers’ were in […] Read more
Wild blueberry sector gets juicy news from Feds
The federal government will spend more than $1.5 million to help develop export markets for Canada’s wild blueberry industry. The grant is part of a larger, $23 million market development program called the Agriculture Canada Canadian Agriculture and Food International Program. That program is designed to help export-oriented sectors across the country and offers federal […] Read more
Future gloomy for grain farmer
After 40 years of farming, Bob Farris has been told it’s time to quit. The farmer from Andrew, Alta., was told by his bank he had two choices: sell his equipment at auction or have it seized. Half his land is also for sale. “The bank wants to call my loans and this spring they […] Read more
Lindane banned in U.S., under review in Canada
While the controversial pesticide lindane has received its death notice in the United States, the plug still hasn’t been completely pulled in Canada. A review of the chemical’s future in Canada is expected to be completed by the end of 2006. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this month announced it would not renew the registration […] Read more
