Saskatchewan producers will see little change in their crop insurance premiums in 2006. They are expected to drop by a half percent from last year, reports Saskatchewan Crop Insurance. In announcing the 2006 insurance program Feb. 24, provincial agriculture minister Mark Wartman acknowledged producers are struggling with low commodity prices, trade barriers, a strong loonie […] Read more
News — page 4619
Sask. crop insurance premiums down slightly
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100 year reunion: The Village of Dewberry, Alta., homecoming celebrating 100 years, Aug. 4-6. Saturday: Parade, supper and dance. Sunday: Family fun. To register, please contact: 780-847-3053 or check our website www.villageofdewberry.com.
Society must decide future of farming: economist
Canadian society must decide soon if it’s worth saving prairie agriculture, says a well-known agricultural economist at the University of Saskatchewan. If the answer is yes, says Hartley Furtan, then it has to decide how best to do it. “If it is the families we care about, we need to consider new policies such as […] Read more
Ag Notes
Philom Bios board Philom Bios has announced the election of its directors, which occurred at its Feb. 14 annual meeting. Chair John Cross, John Becherer, Wayne Brownlee, Beverley Brennan, Gordon Froehlich, Rod Merryweather, Richard Stegmann, Rod Weins and Gren Yuel were all elected to the board. All except Froehlich have sat on the Philom Bios […] Read more
CWB survival may hinge on new ventures
STETTLER, Alta. – If the Canadian Wheat Board is going to survive as a marketer of farmers’ wheat and barley, it must develop business partnerships around the world, said the head of the grain marketing agency. Ken Ritter, chair of the board, said Canadian farmers could see their traditional markets slowly disappear unless the board […] Read more
More oil drilling raises likelihood of disputes
As many as 20,000 new oil and gas wells could be drilled in Alberta in 2006, so a farmer’s best defence may be to join a community group to protect his rights. More landowners are banding together to get a fair deal from oil companies entering their property, said Graham Gilchrist of the Alberta Farmer’s […] Read more
Farmers want more details on grain marketing options
STETTLER, Alta. – Paul Schorak likes the new marketing alternatives developed by the Canadian Wheat Board. He likes the option of the pool price or the fixed price contracts and basis payment contracts in the futures markets. Listening to the options now available, the Forestburg, Alta., farmer said he needs more details of how each […] Read more
Prices low but bison sales to continue
PONOKA, Alta. – A new bison auction sale at a central Alberta cattle auction didn’t exactly go as planned. It was billed as a breeders’ sale with organizers hoping to attract high prices for the 180 head of Woods and Plains bison. In the end it became clear that the bison industry continues to struggle […] Read more
Federated Co-op posts another year of record profits
Canada’s top co-op continues to break its own records year after year, with 2005 sales totals of $4.78 billion for Federated Co-operatives Ltd. That’s up from $4.17 billion last year for the 286 western Canadian outlets that have returned more than $800 million in dividends to their members over the last decade. “That’s $800 million […] Read more
Research needed for viable food barley
Barley’s virtues as a healthy food may be documented fact, but producers say its financial rewards are less concrete. Albert Wagner of Stony Plain, Alta., grew a hulless waxy barley last year as an identity preserved grain and sold it through the Canadian Wheat Board. The results, he said, were disappointing. “There was no premium […] Read more
