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
News
Alta. finds $261 million to help buy inputs
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
Manitoba producers pleased beef levy refundable
There was talk of mending fences last week after the Manitoba government announced it would make its new $2 per head beef levy refundable. The province originally planned to have the levy mandatory and nonrefundable, a move that met fierce resistance from the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association. The association insisted the levy be refundable so […] Read more
Fertilizer rule to counteract terrorism
Proposed new security regulations for sellers of ammonium nitrate have been published by the federal Department of Natural Resources. The proposed regulations are designed to make it difficult for terrorists or criminals to get access to fertilizer and other chemicals that can be made into explosives. The rules will require that anyone who sells the […] Read more
Firms disagree over glyphosate resistance risk
Growers are getting mixed messages on glyphosate resistance from two rival chemical companies. Monsanto Canada says farmers shouldn’t get too wound up about the subject, while Syngenta is preaching extreme caution. Faced with erroneous reports of resistance and growing producer concerns that their reliance on glyphosate will lead to the development of a superweed, Monsanto […] Read more
Coming Events
Aug. 26: Celebration of Leo Tolstoy’s birthday at the Doukhobor dugout house cave site in Blaine Lake, Sask. Period costumes, historical speakers. www.doukhobordugouthouse.com; 306-497-3140 Aug. 25-27: Eastern Irrigation District Classic sheepdog competition, Rolling Hills Reservoir, Brooks, Alta. (Jo Ann Zoerb, 403-362-7240) Aug. 27: Twin Valley Rodeo, Lee’s Rodeo Grounds, Esterhazy, Sask., 306-745-6778, 306-745-9133, team penning, […] Read more
CWB directors face no challengers so far
With just one week to go before nominations officially open Sept. 1, no one has yet come forward to challenge the incumbents in this fall’s Canadian Wheat Board director elections. All five sitting directors in the odd-numbered electoral districts that are holding elections have said they’re planning to run again. But as of last week, […] Read more
Ag Notes
4-H scholarships TD Bank Financial Group and the Canadian 4-H Council are accepting applications for the 2006 TD 4-H Agriculture Scholarship. The scholarships are intended to help 4-H members attain educational goals in agribusiness or agriculture-related studies. The scholarships are awarded annually to 10 students across Canada who plan to attend a Canadian college or […] Read more
