Reporting animal welfare violations isn’t solely the responsibility of veterinarians, says Chris Clark of the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Veterinarians must consider animal welfare as part of every visit to a farm, he told attendees at the recent Cross Border Livestock Health conference in Saskatoon, and as educators make recommendations to […] Read more
Tag Archives Ag Finance
Public vigilance needed to stop abuse of livestock in farm operations: veterinarian
Critics call CFIA GM apple comment period ‘untransparent’
Access to variety information Canadian’s comment period ends as the U.S. one begins for the non-browning apple developed in B.C.
The Canadian comment period for introduction of a non-browning genetically modified apple closed earlier this month as the U.S. Department of Agriculture comment period just began. And as the U.S. comment period begins, groups opposed to the GM apple say it shows the lack of transparency in Canada’s system. Lucy Sharratt, co-ordinator of the Canadian […] Read moreAlberta creates grain commissions
Alberta farmers have two new grain commissions beginning Aug. 1. The Alberta Wheat Commission will replace the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission and Alberta Soft Wheat Producers Commission. The new all-wheat commission will assess a refundable 70 cent per tonne checkoff on wheat sold in Alberta. The checkoff is expected to raise $3.5 million annually […] Read more
Alta. farmer left with few options after storm
Hail damage | Insurance claims piling up following late July hailstorm in southern Alberta
Shattered grain stalks and mangled canola crops litter Allen Bergen’s farmland south of Spring Coulee, Alta. A potential bumper crop of wheat, barley and canola was wiped out in a 20 minute hailstorm July 26 that cut a swath from Hillspring to Cardston and into Montana, damaging the crops and property of many. “Some of […] Read moreU.S., Canada seek to standardize veterinary drug approval
Canadian and American officials are working together to establish a practice that could give producers in both countries access to new veterinary drugs simultaneously. The initiative is one of the goals of the Regulatory Co-operation Council, which has subgroups examining ways the two countries can align their regulatory processes across the agriculture and food, health […] Read more
Longtime crop breeder honoured in China
Vern Burrow’s long and distinguished career as an Agriculture Canada oat breeder was winding down in the late 1990s when he asked himself an unusual question. Over his more than four decades of oat breeding that led to 27 of his varieties being registered and his work with hulless oat varieties being widely recognized, he […] Read more
Dangers of mosquito and other insect bites
Q: What do we need to be concerned about with respect to summertime nuisances like mosquitoes, black flies, etc.? What are the symptoms to watch for in West Nile? A: When a mosquito bites a human, it first injects an anticoagulant substance. After being bitten a couple of times, the person produces antibodies to the […] Read more
Chart of the Week: Why canola lags soybeans
Canola producers have been disappointed that canola has not rallied nearly as much as soybeans in the last few months. Many probably think the big prairie crop has a lot to do with the relative weakness of canola. But that’s not likely the case. There’s huge demand for canola, and the big Canadian crop doesn’t […] Read more
Obesogen danger
Look for BPA (Bisphenol-A) free products on labels or at least limit your exposure by avoiding plastics such as disposable water bottles and sports water bottles. Store food in glass containers rather than plastic. Watch your packaging. Obesogens have been found in some microwave popcorn bags and in the lining of some canned food. Look […] Read more
Technology bridges gap in information flow
Precision agriculture | Telematics system moves files between office and field with phones
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA — Agintegrated is better known for delivering the technology that feeds precision agriculture systems than for its own retail products. In the business since 2000, the company has seen its technology and that of others built into the precision agriculture tools that were developed with a silo approach that kept most companies’ software […] Read more
