Chicago | Reuters –– Bayer AG’s crop science division apologized on Monday for a tweet that suggested reduced meat demand could benefit the environment, in a bid to appease outraged farmers who buy the company’s seeds and chemicals. The tweet, published on the official Bayer CropScience (@Bayer4crops) account on Sunday, linked to a Vox.com article […] Read more
Bayer crop unit apologizes to farmers after Twitter gaffe
Audit rips New Brunswick’s oversight of ag fairs
New Brunswick’s provincial government plans to update the legislation governing agricultural fair associations, following an audit that criticizes several departments for lack of oversight on the fair organizations. Given ag fairs’ charitable gaming privileges and exemptions available for property and income taxes, Auditor General Kim MacPherson found “limited provincial processes to monitor compliance” with the […] Read more
Canpotex shelves plans for Prince Rupert terminal
Reuters — Canpotex, the potash export sales arm for PotashCorp, Mosaic Co. and Agrium, said Friday it would not build a planned shipping terminal at Prince Rupert in British Columbia. Canpotex said the decision was based on economic and commercial considerations and that its export capacity in Vancouver, Saint John and Portland were sufficient. PotashCorp […] Read more
MP calls for mandatory GMO labels, echoes Vermont regulations
CNS Canada — A Quebec MP has tabled a new bill calling for mandatory labelling of genetically modified (GM) foods, following steps taken by lawmakers south of the border. Pierre-Luc Dusseault, the New Democrat MP for Sherbrooke, introduced Bill C-291 Tuesday morning, calling for the mandatory labelling of genetically engineered (GE) foods in Canada. Dusseault […] Read more
Alberta sacks AFSC board over top brass’ expenses
Alberta’s government has dismissed the board of its farm financing and crop insurance agency following an internal probe into “expense and procurement practices” for senior executives. Three unnamed senior executives at Agriculture Financial Services Corp. (AFSC) have also been “relieved from active duty,” the province said in a release Monday. The province on Monday named […] Read more
Warm weather boosts crop emergence, surface moisture ratings good
Alberta crop conditions as of June 7
Reading Time: 2 minutes Crops and forages throughout the province benefitted from the warmer weather of the past week as temperatures rose into the mid to high 20’s and even the low 30’s in southern Alberta. The warm temperatures enhanced crop emergence to 91 per cent germinated and allowed emerged crops and forages to take advantage of the good […] Read more
La Nina effect in U.S. may not spill onto Prairies
CNS Canada — As the El Nino weather event of 2015-16 gradually fades into memory, most weather forecasters say it’s slowly being replaced by its cousin, La Nina. The La Nina phenomenon usually happens when water temperatures along the equator in the Pacific Ocean fall by 3 to 5 C. According to Drew Lerner of […] Read more
Coexistence plan for GM alfalfa won’t eliminate risk
Expert says stopping the spread of the glyphosate-tolerant trait is virtually impossible, but levels can be kept ‘very, very low’
Reading Time: 3 minutes The recently released “coexistence plan” for genetically modified alfalfa in Western Canada doesn’t offer any guarantees that conventional and organic crops won’t be contaminated, says an expert on gene transfer. “It really depends on what you’re trying to achieve,” said Rene Van Acker, a professor of plant science at the University of Guelph. “If it’s […] Read more
Prairie forage crops perk up with precipitation
CNS Canada — It’s been a slow start for forage crops growing across the Prairies, but the much-needed precipitation is better late than never. “The rain has been a huge help,” said Karin Lindquist, forage specialist with Alberta’s Ag-Info Centre in Stettler. “There are still some areas that could use a bit more, but so […] Read more
Ottawa plans study for new Kingston prison farm
The federal government is set to run a study reconsidering the previous administration’s decision to shut farming operations at federal penitentiaries. Following up on a Liberal campaign pledge, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) announced plans Thursday for a feasibility study including both in-person and online consultations with stakeholders and the public. Specifically, CSC said […] Read more
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