Reading Time: 3 minutes After a fairly mild first half of November, things have turned cooler and a little more wintery. While it’s beginning to look like winter might have moved in for good, the long-range models seem to be really hanging their hats on El Niño bringing more above-average temperatures in December and right through the rest of […] Read more
Dreaming of a warm Christmas? El Niño may grant your wish
Winter is still winter, but history says the El Niño phenomenon brings above-average temperatures
Brazil court probing state-backed loans to JBS
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazil’s federal accounts court, the TCU, said it had identified irregularities on loans to JBS SA, the world’s largest beef producer, and is deepening an investigation into the company’s relationship with state-run lender BNDES. The TCU is probing loans used to purchase U.S.-companies Swift and Co, for about US$225 million […] Read more
Farmers help 18 Alberta charities and non-profits get funding
Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities gives $2,500 grants to organizations nominated by farmers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Eighteen Alberta rural charities and non-profits are among the 66 groups receiving $2,500 grants from the Monsanto Fund as part of the 2015 Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities program. Each was nominated by a local farmer who applied on behalf of their favourite cause. The 2015 edition of the program received 371 entries, with winners drawn […] Read more
Public comment sought for Hardisty oil terminal expansion
Comments on the project must be received by Nov. 30
Reading Time: < 1 minute The public is being asked to comment on the proposed Hardisty Rail Terminal Project. USD Terminals Canada is proposing to construct and operate nine new rail tracks and loading infrastructure at its existing rail terminal, located 10 kilometres southeast of Hardisty in eastern Alberta. The proposed project would allow the existing facility, which currently loads […] Read more
Maple Leaf to cut 400 middle-management jobs
Reuters — Maple Leaf Foods said Wednesday it would cut 400 management jobs, or about three per cent of its workforce, saying it was ready to streamline operations after starting up Canada’s biggest meat plant. Maple Leaf, one of the country’s biggest pork processors, said the majority of the job cuts would be completed by […] Read more
The downside of an option-to-purchase land agreement
This type of agreement doesn’t oblige an energy or utility company to buy the land
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Farmers’ Advocate Office has received numerous inquiries on option-to-purchase agreements between landowners and the energy and utility sectors. “It’s important that landowners are aware of the risks of option-to-purchase agreements,” said Jeana Les, research and communications specialist for the advocate office. “An option-to-purchase agreement locks a landowner into selling to a certain company at […] Read more
Researchers take aim at chronic wasting disease
Finding out why prions misfold is key to finding a treatment for CWD and BSE
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chronic wasting disease (CWD) threatens populations of mule deer, whitetail deer, and elk throughout the Prairies, and scientists are working hard towards finding a solution Like bovine spongiform encephalopathy, CWD is caused by the misfolding of a mysterious class of proteins known as prions. While researchers are not clear on the function of prions in […] Read more
Australia blocks foreign firm’s deal for largest farm owner
Sydney | Reuters –– Australia on Thursday blocked the sale of the country’s largest landowner, private farming group S. Kidman and Co., to foreign investors, saying an agricultural area the size of South Korea should remain in Australian hands. Ownership of farmland is a sensitive political issue in Australia amid concerns that foreign buyers are […] Read more
The cost of living may be a lot more than you think
Cash flow is king in any business, and farmers need to factor in family living costs when preparing their business plans
Reading Time: 2 minutes Now that the 2015 crop is off, it is important to review cash flow projections and marketing plans. That process involves budgeting for family living expenses — a number that may shock you. “In the last five years, family living costs have increased substantially due to inflation and good farm margins,” said Rick Dehod, a […] Read more
New ‘superbug’ gene found in animals, people in China
London | Reuters — A new gene that makes bacteria highly resistant to a last-resort class of antibiotics has been found in people and pigs in China — including in samples of bacteria with epidemic potential, researchers said Wednesday. The discovery was described as “alarming” by scientists, who called for urgent restrictions on the use […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
