(Resource News International) — The 2009 budget to be unveiled Jan. 27 by Stephen Harper’s Conservative government has pencilled in $1.55 billion in funding for agricultural programs and rural communities, according to statements by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in a media conference Friday. Ritz said the government has earmarked $500 million for an Agricultural Flexibility […] Read more
Budget to include $1.55B in ag and rural funding
New-crop malting barley prices fail to excite
(Resource News International) — Farmers in Western Canada are less than enthusiastic about early new-crop malting barley prices being floated in Western Canada. Rahr Malting Canada Ltd. at Alix, Alta. had been offering between $4.25 and $4.50 (farm gate) for 2009-10 malting barley but those prices were met with minimal interest from farmers, said Kevin […] Read more
Viterra sees Prairie farmers booking fertilizers
(Resource News International) — After low interest through November and December, farmers in Western Canada are reportedly starting to head to their local retailers to book fertilizer for the spring. Officials with grain company Viterra, participating in the company’s earnings report conference call on Wednesday, predicted steady bookings between now and March. A late harvest […] Read more
Now’s good time to sell red, green lentils: dealer
(Resource News International) — The next two to three months will be a good time to sell both red and green lentils, as prices are expected to trend mainly sideways at current levels before dipping as summer approaches. Greg Simpson, president of Simpson Seeds Inc. at Moose Jaw, Sask., said at 37 cents a pound, […] Read more
B.C. ports, union take week to ponder proposals
(Resource News International) — Representatives for unionized ship and dock workers at West Coast ports and for the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) have agreed to a week-long break from labour negotiations, so each can consider the other party’s latest proposal. Greg Vurdela, BCMEA’s vice-president of marketing and information services, said the parties met […] Read more
Scotia analysts see lower earnings for Viterra
(Resource News International) — While 2009 will be another strong year earnings-wise for Viterra, it will not be quite as good for Canada’s largest grain company as 2008 was, according to a new Scotia Capital equity report. Total earnings (EBITDA) for fiscal year 2009 were pegged by Scotia Capital on Jan. 9 at $393 million, […] Read more
B.C. port talks proceed; truckers also may walk
(Resource News International) — Dock and ship foremen at West Coast ports continue to hold off on striking as negotiations surrounding new collective agreements plod forward. The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) tabled its “comprehensive response” Friday to a Jan. 3 proposal by the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514. Greg Vurdela, […] Read more
Possibility of strike already impacts B.C. ports
(Resource News International) –– Canada’s busy West Coast ports are already feeling the impact of a possible strike by ship and dock foremen belonging to Local 514 of the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union (ILWU) of Canada. Roughly 425 workers at ports in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert have voted to strike […] Read more
B.C. port negotiators weigh union contract offer
(Resource News International) — The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) said Sunday it will mull over a contract offer made over the weekend by Local 514 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada (ILWU). The offer was presented in the early morning hours on Sunday and capped off a negotiating session between […] Read more
Malting barley supplies weigh on world market
Reading Time: 3 minutes Resource News International Many Prairie producers with selectable barley sitting on their farms may find their chances limited for still having it selected as malting barley. Tougher malt specifications and a struggling Canadian Wheat Board barley export program are limiting those opportunities. And this year, thanks to good quality and high production, there is no […] Read more
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