Seeking investors | Biostreet Canada suffered setbacks but rising oil prices give it a new outlook
Canola growers could have another major outlet for their crop if a large Alberta biodiesel project that has regained its momentum lands the necessary financing. “We’re still alive. We’re still here. We’re still pushing forward the best we can and hopefully we’re going to pull it off,” said Darrel Michaels, president of Biostreet Canada. The […] Read moreTag Archives Ag Finance
Biodiesel plant dusts off plans; looks for financing
Ag Canada worker played key role in canola expansion
Dave Mallough Helped speed canola development by finding winter breeding sites for seed multiplication
Long before canola was king on the Prairies, Dave Mallough delivered the seed to producers in California. His efforts helped reverse the fate of the oilseed north of the border, bringing new varieties to market, improving the oilseed’s oil and meal quality and diversifying its use beyond industrial oil. In 1970, the fatty acid composition […] Read moreCensus fails to show cattle sector rebounding: CCA president
Producers rebuilding herds The census was taken last May when livestock prices were low and grain prices were up
Martin Unrau figures the 2011 Census of Agriculture missed the real state of the cattle industry by a year. “I think if the census was this year, the cattle industry story would be different, stronger,” the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president said. Census day was in May 2011 and last week’s first release of the resulting […] Read moreKnowing type of laminitis can determine best treatment, says U.S. veterinarian
Horse owners with animals troubled by laminitis may benefit from videos and webinars by laminitis expert Dr. Donald Walsh. The retired American veterinarian also offers expertise at www.ahf.laminitis.org, the site for the Animal Health Foundation that Walsh founded. In a recent webinar, Walsh outlined various types of laminitis, which is an inflammation of the laminae […] Read more
Canada’s competitiveness in food marketplace questioned
Canada’s agriculture and food sector is losing competitive ground in the world, the Senate agriculture committee has heard. Market share is declining even as the world demand for food is rising. Economists from the Guelph-based George Morris Centre argued May 8 that the evidence of decline is everywhere. Investment in the industry lags other countries, […] Read more
Grain Growers director encourages completion of international trade negotiations
Getting ducks in a row More emphasis needed on completing talks, implementing regulations and ensuring industry can access markets
Agricultural export sectors continue to support government plans for more trade negotiations, but a grain industry leader cautions that expanding trade is more than negotiating deals. Grain Growers of Canada executive director Richard Phillips told MPs last week that the government should put more emphasis on actually completing some of the talks, getting regulations in […] Read moreGM crops needed to feed growing global population
Dispel myths | Call for science-based debate
An advocate for a more informed science debate in Canada says future generations will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about over genetically modified crops. Joe Schwarcz, director of the McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, told a CropLife Canada conference in Ottawa May 10 that resistance to GM crops is […] Read moreProducers will help with transfer of pastures
Land transfer | Ag minister favours selling land
Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister is setting up a producer panel to determine what to do with 60 federal pastures the province will become responsible for next year. Bob Bjornerud said five producers will help the ministry find ways to ease the ownership transfer from Ottawa to the province and then to producers or others. Bjornerud favours […] Read moreHereford genome study zeroes in on feed efficient traits
The Canadian Hereford Association is leading a three year genomics study to detect feed efficiency traits within the breed. The $945,000 project, which starts this fall, includes Alberta Agriculture, Olds College, Cattleland Feedyards, the University of Alberta and Livestock Gentec. The grant came from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada under the College-University […] Read more
Finders keepers?
The case of the missing calf near Pilot Butte, Sask., has been solved. What case, you ask? Jacquie Prentice sent this photo and story to the Producer earlier this week of the mysterious incident at 49th Parallel Farms near Pilot Butte. Glen Hoffart took the photo. Writes Jacquie: In our back calving corral, a cow […] Read more
