The ag research fund that benefits in years when Canada’s railways earn too much revenue hauling Prairie grain must now pay back over $128,000 to Canadian National Railway (CN). The Western Grains Research Foundation reported Tuesday that it will pay back $128,468.47 to the railway, following a successful appeal by CN to the Canadian Transportation […] Read more
CN gets revenue-cap cash back on appeal
Nfld. to cover extra limestone trucking costs
With Newfoundland’s last limestone supplier closing its gates, the province plans to expand its farm limestone program to cover the costs of out-of-province shipments. “The closure of Island Aggregates of Deer Lake is a loss for that region of the province, but it is also having a significant ripple effect for our farmers,” said Natural […] Read more
Former B.C. ag minister won’t run again
Former British Columbia agriculture minister Corky Evans has announced he won’t run in next year’s provincial election, ending what B.C. media have called a “colourful” career in provincial politics. Evans, currently the NDP opposition’s critic for the agriculture and lands portfolio, is the MLA for Nelson-Creston, a riding he’s represented since 1991 but for one […] Read more
Canola pod sealant approved
Pennsylvania ag input firm Miller Chemical has picked up Canadian registration for a pine-based, food-grade polymer to help prevent pod shattering in canola crops. The product, called Pod Ceal DC, has approval from Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency for use in canola and mustard crops. Winnipeg seed company BrettYoung, which has exclusive Canadian marketing […] Read more
Sask., Man. seeding nearly done
Barring some reseeding of canola acres, farmers in Manitoba are done or nearly done seeding their 2008 crops, while Saskatchewan farmers are all but three per cent done, well ahead of the five-year curve. Saskatchewan’s agriculture ministry reported Monday that seeding is 97 per cent complete, ahead of last week’s 86 per cent, which is […] Read more
Crop prices boost Que. farmland values: report
The value of farmland that changed hands in Quebec during 2007 has risen seven per cent to $5,400 per hectare, according to a new report on land values from the provincial ag lending agency. The report, released Monday by La Financiere agricole and Quebec City-based ag think tank Groupe Ageco, said the value of land […] Read more
Ont. stockyard founder Earl Bauman, 89
Funeral services were held Monday in Elmira, Ont. for Holstein breeder Earl Bauman, who helped found what’s now the Ontario Livestock Exchange, and who died Friday at age 89. According to his obituary, Bauman was a member of the Holstein Association of Canada for 61 years, received that association’s highest honour, the Master Breeder Shield […] Read more
Western premiers eye shared water stewardship
British Columbia will set up a secretariat to develop a Western Water Stewardship Council that in turn may lead to a western drought plan. “When you consider that the Rocky Mountains are a source of water for B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan and much of the water that flows east is collected in Manitoba, it is […] Read more
Sask. groups eye single cattle organization
Representatives of Saskatchewan’s two provincial cattle producer groups have laid out a plan to consolidate into one organization. The strategy, released Monday, offers details on the proposed structure and purpose of a new association, from election of directors to the administration of funds. The Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association membership endorsed the idea at its annual […] Read more
Man. extends guarantee on farmers’ credit lines
The total cap has been raised on a program guaranteeing 25 per cent of a Manitoba farm’s operating line of credit — a program now made permanent, the province announced Monday. The Operating Credit Guarantee (OCG) program, operated by Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. (MASC), gives participating banks, credit unions and other financing agencies a guarantee […] Read more
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