Reading Time: 3 minutes “It certainly wasn’t what was intended from the panel report.” DAVID ROLFE If farmers are confused whether they’ll get a vote in Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) elections this fall, they aren’t alone. Media, farm organizations, and may be even the Minister of Agriculture, have been confused too. Ottawa tabled Bill C-27, the Canadian Wheat Board […] Read more
Confusion Reigns Over Who Gets To Vote
Generic GM Crops?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Generic drugs keep drug prices down, so could the same work for genetically modified crops when their patents expire? It’s an idea Tom Vilsack, the United States’ Secretary of Agriculture, wants to explore. “We have a generic drug industry in this country, the question is how do we create that kind of industry with seed […] Read more
Vilsack Focusing Attention On Rural America
Reading Time: 2 minutes “If we only focus on what we’ve done before and try to do an even better job of it, it won’t be enough,” TOM VILSACK SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION “Agriculture… is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.” Thomas Jefferson, third president of […] Read more
New CWB ballot requirement proposed
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farmers who want to vote in Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) elections will have had to produced 40 tonnes of grain in the current or previous two crop years if Bill C-27 becomes law. The Canadian Wheat Board Payments and Election Reform Act introduced in the House of Commons earlier this month also promises to speed […] Read more
Field trial for new GM flax on hold
Reading Time: 3 minutes A University of Alberta researcher has bowed to pressure from the flax industry and cancelled plans to conduct plot trials on a genetically modified flax this spring. Randall Weselake, the University of Alberta professor developing the new GM flax, decided not to proceed with the trials, which had been approved by the Canadian Food Inspection […] Read more
Running Your Tractor On Ethanol, Water And Diesel
Reading Time: 3 minutes Suggest burning a mix of ethanol and water in a diesel engine and most farmers would give you a strange look and advice on places to go. But tell them it’s supposed to boost fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and extend engine life and you’ll have their attention. Ron Preston, president and Kevin Kenney, biofuel systems […] Read more
U Of A’s GM flax raises eyebrows
Reading Time: 3 minutes “Now EU buyers of confectionery, or food flax, require their contracts to state: Canadian flax 100 per cent excluded. As a promoter and marketer of Canadian grain that really hurts.” TERRY JAMES Canada’s flax industry is nervously eyeing ongoing research at the University of Alberta aimed at developing a genetically modified flax with a different […] Read more
Wheat likely contaminated by GM
Reading Time: 2 minutes ”Fifteen years ago people didn’t think Greenpeace was a significant player in policy development – they are, they clearly are.” RANDY GIROUX CARGILL Genetically modified (GM) wheat hasn’t been commercialized but wheat contaminated by other GM crops is out there if someone looks hard enough for it, says Ian White, president and CEO of the […] Read more
MP Accuses Critics Of Fear Mongering
Reading Time: 4 minutes Bill C-474 is sure stirring up a lot a fuss for being only 42-words long. The bill states in its entirety: “The Governor in Council shall, within 60 days after this Act comes into force, amend the Seeds Regulations to require that an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale […] Read more
BASF Traits Delivered Via Monsanto Crops
Reading Time: 3 minutes “In the next 10 years you’re going to see water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, more efficient plants that can just grow better, period.” JONATHAN BRYANT BASF’S MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PLANT SCIENCE BASF has invested $1.5 billion developing genetically modified (GM) crops and so far hasn’t earned a cent. But it expects that will soon […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
