In an effort to safeguard its guiding principles, the organic industry is attempting to wrest control of the national standard away from the Canadian General Standards Board. Some producers are worried that if the industry doesn’t manage its own standard, it could get watered down by big business interests as they feel is happening in […] Read more
News — page 4616
Organic sector seeks elected national body
Growers OK organic checkoff
Saskatchewan organic producers have endorsed a plan to establish a commission that will redirect existing check-off dollars from a number of provincial commodity groups. Growers returned 235 of the 1,150 ballots that were sent out in January and 78 percent of those were in favour of creating the Saskatchewan Organic Commission. “It shows a clear […] Read more
New poultry standards fail to pacify activists
RED DEER – American egg farms have not escaped the wrath of animal rights groups despite implementing new bird welfare standards, says a U.S. farm leader. Gene Gregory, vice-president of United Egg Producers, told the Alberta Egg Producers annual meeting in Red Deer on Feb. 28 that livestock groups in the United States are facing […] Read more
Alta. cowboys try to entice New Yorkers
New Yorkers are known to be a worldly lot, but even the most cynical stopped to watch a group of Alberta cowboys in the Big Apple, twirling ropes and wearing Stetsons to promote Alberta tourism. As part of its marketing campaign to take advantage of the popularity of the Oscar-nominated movie Brokeback Mountain, filmed in […] Read more
Strahl refuses to reveal hand on CWB
A form of Mexican standoff was played out last week as agriculture minister Chuck Strahl and the country’s largest farm lobby squared off over the fate of the Canadian Wheat Board. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture passed a resolution March 2 insisting that “a strong message (be sent) to the federal government that any changes […] Read more
Avian flu threat ‘critical’
RED DEER – The threat of avian influenza striking North America is real, says an Alberta poultry veterinarian. “The challenge is imminent and how we respond to it is critical,” Tom Inglis told the Alberta turkey producers annual meeting in Red Deer Feb. 28. Spread of the H5N1 strain of the disease has accelerated since […] Read more
Canada quarantines imported French birds for testing
The spread of avian influenza in Europe last week had quick repercussions in Canada as eight Quebec farms that imported turkey chicks from France were placed under quarantine by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The influenza was confirmed on a French turkey farm last week and Canada joined other countries in immediately stopping imports of […] Read more
Senate tops Harper’s list of priorities
Prime minister Stephen Harper last week promised to move quickly on a longtime promise to organize Senate elections, whether the provinces agree or not. He told reporters that by the time his minority government falls and a new national election is called, expected in 2007 or 2008, he wants to be able to fill vacancies […] Read more
Consumers fickle in diet
RED DEER – News reports about meat recalls and food safety problems often influence consumer buying habits, says a rural economy researcher from the University of Alberta. Ellen Goddard told the Alberta Turkey Producers annual meeting in Red Deer on Feb. 28 that a U.S. study released in January showed food recalls affect consumption patterns. […] Read more
Western company throws wide net for workers
Finning Cat needs 400 workers in each of the next four years just to maintain its workforce and western Canadian farmers are helping fill its bill. The heavy equipment company has been growing steadily, tied in large part to expanding resource sectors in Alberta, British Columbia and northern Canada. But the demands of growth are […] Read more
