Richardson Oilseed | Improvements made in packaging, blending, storage
A $15 million expansion to the Richardson Oilseed plant in Leth-bridge is officially complete and will allow the company to offer a broader range of canola-based products. Shirley Gilmour, director of operations for the plant, said the expansion improved packaging, blending and storage facilities at the plant. Canola oil can now be blended on site […] Read moreTag Archives Ag Finance — page 3
Lethbridge plant expanded
Will there be another key moment in farm supports at Whitehorse meeting?
There’s something about Whitehorse. In the annual rotating road show of federal-provincial-territorial agriculture ministers’ meetings, the Yukon capital plays host every 11 years. So far, its record is that cataclysmic changes to Canadian farm policy happen in that far north city in a territory where farming is at best a marginal part of the economy. […] Read more
Sheep industry called ripe for expansion
Abundant opportunities | Producers take a second look because sheep can complement a variety of agricultural operations
BLUESKY, Alta. — When Phil Kolodychuk drives down the road, he looks with envy at the roadsides, farmland and old yard sites that would be ideal for grazing sheep. “There is so much grass out there that could be utilized,” said Kolodychuk, chair of the Alberta Lamb Producers. At the end of a quiet road, […] Read moreAvoid drastic measures when ‘fixing’ food prices
Grain prices have soared to record or near record levels as bad weather ravages U.S. and Black Sea region crops. With the prospect of food shortages and price inflation, world leaders are becoming worried. In the wake of social unrest caused by rising food costs in 2008, the Group of 20, the organization of developed […] Read more
Glencore awaits China approval on Viterra deal
The proposed takeover of Canada’s largest grain handling company has been pushed back by another month. Officials with Switzerland-based Glencore International confirmed last week that the proposed takeover of Viterra will not happen until sometime in September. The deal has received necessary regulatory approvals in Canada, Australia and other countries but it still needs approval […] Read more
Equine infectious anemia outbreak a growing concern
An outbreak of a deadly equine virus is occurring this summer in Western Canada. Equine infectious anemia, or EIA, is a viral disease of horses, donkeys, mules and other equine species. Biting insects spread the blood-borne virus. Insects feed on the blood of infected horses and transfer the virus to uninfected horses in subsequent meals. […] Read more
Blackleg reduces Man. canola yield
Disease incidence higher in 2012 | Hot summer, dry conditions add to poor yields
Canola growers in Manitoba have been extremely disappointed by yields this harvest season, as record temperatures and arid conditions hindered pod development in July. Yet, the extreme heat may not be the only factor behind poor canola returns, which ranged from 20 to 25 bushels per acre on many farms, because blackleg also robbed canola […] Read moreSask. looks to control moose numbers
More hunting The Sask. moose population has exploded, especially in the south, where moose were once a rare sight
An extra 350 moose hunting licences were made available in southern Saskatchewan last week as the government moved to curb the moose population. Environment minister Ken Cheveldayoff said a second draw for tags was held to try to keep moose numbers down in areas where more people live. “It’s a public safety concern first of […] Read moreCommon crops’ wild relatives preserved
LINDELL BEACH, B.C. — Today’s familiar crops such as wheat, oats, barley, rye, pulse crops, berries or tree fruits all originated from wild plants. But some wild relatives are disappearing because of urban sprawl, agriculture, and pollution. “We are seeing a widespread interest in preserving the wild relatives of commercial crops,” said Stephanie Greene, plant […] Read more
Variety test technology hits stumbling block
Project results unclear Driveway device would identify wheat varieties in less than five minutes
Work to develop a “driveway” style device that can rapidly distinguish between different varieties of spring wheat appears to have hit a pothole. A few years ago, the development of a so-called “black box technology” to identify wheat varieties at the point of delivery was viewed by some as a critical industry initiative. Supporters of […] Read more
