Ongoing surveillance of Canada’s wild bird population turned up no cases of highly pathogenic avian flu in 2007, according to the annual inter-agency wild bird influenza survey. The 2007 survey included testing of wild birds along main Canadian migratory routes as well as in Iceland, where birds were sampled during their migration from Western Europe […] Read more
Canada’s wild birds flu-free in 2007
Sask. wildlife lands open for grazing
Saskatchewan will temporarily open about 90,000 acres of Fish and Wildlife Development Fund lands this summer for farmers to graze livestock. Starting Sunday (June 15) and running until Sept. 15, livestock producers dealing with drought in southern Saskatchewan can apply to graze animals on eligible wildlife land on a first-come, first-served basis. Producers interested in […] Read more
UPA keeps seats on ag lender’s board
Legislation passed Wednesday to update the governance of La Financiere agricole du Quebec (FAQ) will continue to set aside five seats on FAQ’s board for the province’s general farmer organization. Under the legislation as passed, l’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) will designate nominees for five of 15 seats on the provincial ag lender’s newly expanded […] Read more
Viterra offers shares to staff
Grain company Viterra has set up an employee share purchase plan, giving its staff the option to invest in the Regina firm’s common shares. “The board of directors believes this program will more closely align the goals of our employees with the interests of our shareholders” CEO Mayo Schmidt said in a release Thursday. The […] Read more
Tank mix OK for Alta. beans, this year
Dry bean growers in Alberta will be able to use a tank mix of BASF’s herbicides Solo and Basagran Forte to control broadleaf weeds and grasses, under an emergency use registration. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has granted emergency use on a request from the Alberta Pulse Growers Association and the Prairie Pesticide […] Read more
Viterra posts $33M profit in Q2
Last year’s merger of grain handlers Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Agricore United continues to add extra figures on the bottom line for the merged company, Viterra. The Regina company on Wednesday posted net earnings of $33.6 million on revenue of $1.53 billion for its second quarter (Q2) ending April 30. Officially, that’s up from net […] Read more
Expect even higher earnings: Agrium
Fertilizer firm Agrium has boosted its second-quarter guidance in light of “very strong results” from the company’s retail and wholesale operations. The Calgary company, which recently took over North American agretail firm UAP, said Wednesday it now expects to earn $2.80 to $3 in diluted earnings per share in its second quarter, up from its […] Read more
Canadian Ag Hall of Famers named
An international spokesman for farmers, a dairy cattle breeder, a cattle marketer and an ag economist, all from Ontario, are the newest inductees to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recently announced its four newest members, to be formally inducted Nov. 9 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. They […] Read more
Plan fertilizer purchases to cut risk: report
Rising and volatile prices for fertilizers, as well as growing global demand for limited nutrient supplies, will only continue to raise risks for Canadian farmers’ input budgets, according to the George Morris Centre. A new study by the Guelph, Ont.-based ag think tank, commissioned by the Canadian Fertilizer Institute and released Tuesday, is meant to […] Read more
Sask., Man. seeding practically done
Saskatchewan’s farmers have seeded 99 per cent of its 2008 crop, while Manitoba is wrapping up reseeding on frost-damaged fields, the two provinces’ ag departments reported Monday. Fields in both provinces stood to gain from rainfall last week, the provinces said in their weekly crop reports. Southwestern Saskatchewan got the majority of rainfall there, followed […] Read more
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