There is still room for acreage adjustments away from what American farmers told the U.S. Department of Agriculture in early March. But no matter what farmers wind up planting, the grain market was put on a higher price plane thanks to the March 1 stocks report that showed less corn, soybeans and wheat in the […] Read more
Tag Archives Ag Finance
USDA report confirms need for big crops and good weather
U.S. egg producers reach compromise on cages
Changing the industry | New legislation will require nest boxes, perches, scratching areas and more space for laying hens
RED DEER — Proposed legislation in the United States to change the way laying hens are raised was a compromise between farmers and animal rights activists, says a farm leader. Gene Gregory, president of United Egg Producers, said the organization, which represents 95 percent of American egg production, decided to end its costly adversarial approach […] Read moreAg Canada must trim 10 percent in new budget
The federal Conservatives are looking at Agriculture Canada to shoulder a larger-than-average share of upcoming spending cuts, similar to what the Liberals did in their 1995 deficit-cutting budget. In his March 29 budget, finance minister Jim Flaherty said Agriculture Canada and its affiliated agencies will have to cut 10 percent from their spending — $310 […] Read more
Prairie shrub presents prickly problem for growers trying to harvest around thorns
Researchers in Saskatchewan had harvest in mind while developing a new variety of sea buckthorn for prairie fruit growers. The shrub is well-suited to the prairie environment — and has been commonly spotted in shelterbelts and wildlife habitat plantings for decades — but fruit growers interested in the plant’s berries for commercial food and neutraceutical […] Read more
Ontario farmers take action to retain livelihoods
Promote industry | Farmers near Toronto have seen land swallowed by urban development
MILTON, Ont. — Farmers in Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe area, which reaches from Toronto south to Niagara, are promoting a plan to save and expand the area’s lucrative food sector. In a way, it is a fight for survival. The Golden Horseshoe’s agriculture and food industry has an estimated economic impact of more than $12 billion […] Read moreProcessing, marketing, supply challenge sea buckthorn growth
Sea buckthorn has been touted as a promising fruit for orchard owners for more than a decade, but the industry remains a work in progress on the Prairies. Processing raw products and finding markets and a consistent supply of berries have impeded progress, but growers and experts in the field still see room for the […] Read more
Aid groups lambaste cuts
A decision by the federal Conservative government to cut $319 million from the international aid budget within two years is being condemned by aid groups. In his deficit-cutting March 29 budget, finance minister Jim Flaherty announced that the budget of the Canadian International Development Agency will feel the full effects of the cuts by the […] Read more
Liberals push for gov’t action on railway service legislation
Shippers may soon lose patience | MP Ralph Goodale says shippers are getting angry over the delaying tactics of the railways
With the Conservative government still refusing to commit to a timetable for unveiling railway service legislation, its harshest opposition critic on the issue says railways are winning by default. Regina Liberal MP Ralph Goodale has renewed his call for the government to introduce legislation before Parliament adjourns in June so that shipper interests can study […] Read moreSpeculation surrounds risk management programs
A brief reference in last week’s federal budget about plans to refocus farm business risk management programs has farm leaders speculating about what Ottawa has in mind. They are also are raising increasing doubts about whether a scheduled April 1, 2013, launch of the new Growing Forward five-year plan, with its refocused farm programs, really […] Read more
Budget vagaries see farm groups struggling to discern future
$310 million cut | Agriculture Canada faced with 10 percent spending cut, but details sparse
The problem for farm leaders asked to analyze the agriculture sector impact of the March 29 federal budget is that they didn’t really know. The budget announced a 10 percent, $310 million cut in the Agriculture Canada budget by 2014-15, one of the largest in government, but details about where the savings will come are […] Read more
