The time is long past when farmers and ranchers could write off act-ivists working against animal agriculture as members of the lunatic fringe. Livestock producers today have largely acknowledged threats to their livelihood and ability to contribute to the food supply. Now action must follow that acknowledgement. Recent announcements by fast food companies and grocery […] Read more
Tag Archives Ag Finance
Producing livestock involves educating consumers
Budget cuts chop spray research funds
Agriculture Canada appears ready to cut the pesticide application technology program at its research centre in Saskatoon. Sources within the department have indicated that the program and manager Tom Wolf’s position would be eliminated “on or about April 11,” but no official announcement had been made as of May 17. The news comes as the […] Read more
Ag groups pleased with new meat inspection rules
Canadians will not be eating road kill if proposed new meat inspection regulations are implemented, government and industry sources say. Federal NDP agriculture critic Malcolm Allen raised the specter of road kill consumption in a May 15 news release. He suggested plans to allow on-farm slaughter of food animals, carcass transport to processing facilities and […] Read more
No yield boost with split application: nitrogen trials
25 years of data | Ag Canada researchers conclude there is no benefit to top dressing post emergence
A soil fertility expert has found that split applications of nitrogen do not increase crop yields compared to applying nitrogen only at seeding. Cindy Grant’s findings are based on 25 years of field studies, yet some prairie producers still believe that holding back nitrogen at seeding and applying the remainder after crop emergence boosts yields. […] Read moreUN slams Canada’s food policy
Hunger in the midst of plenty | UN official says Canada will face ‘tough questions’
The United Nations’ top official on food security issues has condemned Canada for pursuing an export-oriented agricultural policy while millions of Canadians do not have secure access to food. Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, told a May 16 Ottawa news conference that after more than a week in […] Read moreBat disease may threaten prairie crops
White nose syndrome | Manitoba wildlife officials mindful of potential outbreak after disease appears in four provinces
three species of bats, the little brown bat, northern long eared bat and big brown bat, hibernate inside caves in Manitoba white nose syndrome was first detected in Canada in winter of 2009-10 in caves in Ontario and Quebec the disease, a fungus that grows on bat’s skin, causes the mammals to wake up more […] Read moreSaskTel users face new roaming fees
Out-of-province calls | Crown corporation’s 4G customers alerted of ‘billing correction’
SaskTel is alerting its cellular customers of a forthcoming “billing correction” that could see their tab grow while travelling outside of Saskatchewan. Effective June 11, long distance charges will be applied to cellular customers for incoming calls on their wireless devices while roaming within Canada. Long distance charges apply if users are out of the […] Read moreMaple Leaf Foods executive calls for innovation funding
Industry support | Dollars needed to support hog industry, says McAlpine
A senior Maple Leaf Foods executive says government savings from reduced farm support payments over the next five years should be redirected to research and industry support. Rory McAlpine, the company’s vice-president for government and industry relations, told the House of Commons agriculture committee last week that the next five-year Growing Forward farm policy should […] Read moreMulcair: Mulcrazy, Mulruthless, Mulright or Mulsleazy?
Who would have thought that an arcane economic concept – interesting to weirdos like me but generally boring to the general population – would become a leading national issue? We can thank NDP leader Thomas Mulcair for doing this with his elevation of the “Dutch Disease” to high prominence as a political wedge issue and […] Read more
Happy Birthday CIGI!!!
Happy Birthday CIGI!!!! That’s a heartfelt sentiment in the Winnipeg grain industry this summer, as the Canadian International Grains Institute celebrates its 40th anniversary. Last Thursday night I was at the organization’s birthday celebration banquet and there was an impressive turnout of senior grain industry insiders and CIGI staff and board members from 1972 until […] Read more
