While saying it doesn’t prefer one grain marketing system over another, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool is a member of an industry organization lobbying for an end to single desk marketing. The pool, along with Western Canada’s other major grain companies, is a member of Grain Vision. The recently incorporated organization promotes a more commercial, deregulated agriculture […] Read more
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SWP part of dual market lobby
CGC review nears completion
A review of the Canadian Grain Commission and Canada Grain Act should be in the hands of the federal agriculture minister by the end of this month. The independent consultants writing the report were to meet with federal officials in Winnipeg and Ottawa this week to finalize the recommendations. The report will then be submitted […] Read more
Red lentil changes to help sales
For red lentils, drier is better. That’s why new rules designed to reduce the moisture content of the crop should put more money into producers’ pockets. As of Aug. 1, the maximum allowable moisture content for red lentils was reduced to 13 percent from 14 percent. That seemingly small change could make a big difference […] Read more
Elevator fire hits bitter blow
FOAM LAKE, Sask. – Lightning may not strike twice, but fire can. The rural community of Foam Lake is reeling after being hit by a second major fire in as many months. The Aug. 1 fire broke out in a local elevator’s annex and a farmer-owned grain storage facility housed in the former Saskatchewan Wheat […] Read more
Sask. ferry breaks down again
The Riverhurst, Sask., ferry was out of service again this month, after the cable drive system failed. Repairs, expected to be completed by Aug. 5, provided little comfort to those in central Saskatchewan who rely on the service to cross the two kilometre wide span of Lake Diefenbaker. Lorne Sheppard, councillor for the Rural Municipality […] Read more
Town takes charge of its destiny
The wooden giant towering over the town of Westlock was about to disappear like so many other grain elevators on the Prairies. Recognizing its importance to the Alberta farm country north of Edmonton, the local community rallied to save it. Norm Bates, general manager of Tawatinaw Community Futures Development Corp., said Westlock gathered together motivated […] Read more
Ottawa should pay more to support farmers: CFA
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – In light of the breakdown in World Trade Organization talks, there will be no disciplines on foreign subsidies, so Canadian farm leaders are telling the federal government to crank up support for farmers. “We have been told for a long time that Canada can’t compete in support with the deep pockets […] Read more
Ottawa makes instalment in pulse funding commitment
Agriculture Canada will contribute $525,800 to Pulse Canada in support of the organization’s Pulse Innovation Project, aimed at expanding international markets for peas, lentils, beans, chickpeas and other pulse crops grown in Canada. The contribution is part of a larger $3.2 million commitment announced in March 2006 by federal agriculture minister Chuck Strahl. The Pulse […] Read more
Lack of world trade deal means disputes likely
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Federal agriculture minister Chuck Strahl figures it will be years before World Trade Organization negotiations get life again and he sees little good news in that prediction. The United States will concentrate on writing a new high-spending farm bill and bilateral trade deals that open markets but do nothing about domestic […] Read more
Strahl, CWB remain strangers
There is no shortage of daunting challenges facing the Canadian grain industry. One of the biggest seems to be trying to get Chuck Strahl and the Canadian Wheat Board in the same room to talk about the board’s future. The board and Strahl have met just twice since he took office as agriculture and CWB […] Read more
