The Parti Quebecois’ critic for wildlife, parks and tourism will now also handle the agriculture, food and fisheries file. Sylvain Page, the provincial MNA for the Labelle constituency since 2001, was named to the ag critic’s role Friday by PQ leader Pauline Marois. Page was named to handle the file after the opposition party’s previous […] Read more
PQ names new ag critic
CN shorted four grain firms on service: CTA
Four Prairie grain companies were short-changed on adequate rail service from Canadian National (CN) in the 2007-08 crop year, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) ruled Thursday. The four firms — North East Terminal, North West Terminal, Paterson Grain and Parrish and Heimbecker — were among six, also including the Canadian Wheat Board and Providence Grain […] Read more
CNH changes mind on Saskatoon production
Plans to consolidate ag equipment giant CNH’s North American production of tillage equipment at its Saskatoon plant have become the victim of the company’s recent success. The Amsterdam-based multinational ag and construction equipment firm in October 2006 had announced it would shut its soil management equipment plant at Goodfield, Ill., about 220 km southwest of […] Read more
Global financial crisis hits 2008-09 PROs
“Extraordinary events” in international currency, credit and commodity markets have spurred volatility that’s bit deep into the Canadian Wheat Board’s latest pool return outlooks (PROs). “These events are also having a negative impact on global economic growth and are changing the buying behaviour of grain customers,” the CWB said Thursday in the release of its […] Read more
Durum, malt barley up in last ’07-08 PRO
Declining market conditions have had “limited impact” on the Canadian Wheat Board’s final pool return outlook (PRO) for its 2007-08 crop year. In its September PRO, released Thursday, the board posted wheat prices ranging from an increase of $2 per tonne to a decline of $3, compared to the previous 2007-08 PRO in July. For […] Read more
Viterra’s Sask. elevator workers take deal
Unionized staff at the Saskatchewan elevators of Canada’s largest grain company have voted in favour of a new contract, bringing labour peace to Viterra in its home province. Members of the Grain Services Union (GSU) had mounted pickets at just eight of the company’s Saskatchewan grain elevators in recent weeks at the start of what’s […] Read more
Man. officially halts hog barn expansions
Despite substantial objections from hog farmers leading up to a public protest, Manitoba has formally passed its bill ending hog industry expansion in three key hog-farming areas. The provincial government’s Bill 17, which the Manitoba Pork Council dubbed the “Anti-Farm Bill” in a high-profile advertising campaign this summer, passed third reading Wednesday afternoon in the […] Read more
Higher AgriStability advances on tap for Interlake
Grain growers and livestock producers in Manitoba’s rain-soaked Interlake region can now get up to 75 per cent of their total AgriStability payment in advance. Eligible producers will be able to complete a “simplified” form to get the advance, which was previously boosted from 50 up to 60 per cent “in recognition of the challenging […] Read more
Cash advance rates rise for Man. special crops
Corn, pulse and sunflower producers in Manitoba can get a better cash advance this fall on the same yield due to the rise in commodity prices since last fall. Eligible farmer-members of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association, Manitoba Pulse Growers Association or National Sunflower Association of Canada can now apply for post-production cash advances, the […] Read more
CFIA approves E. coli vaccine on effectiveness
An Ontario company’s E. coli vaccine for cattle has earned notice from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that it meets requirements for full licensing in terms of its safety and effectiveness. Bioniche Life Sciences of Belleville announced Wednesday that CFIA’s notice puts it within one more task of full licensing for the vaccine to be […] Read more
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