Reading Time: 2 minutes “We cannot, nor should not have to, pay the entire bill to secure crop inputs.” – David Mackay, Caar Canada’s farm supply dealers have renewed their call for federal assistance in upgrading agriretail sites to meet new and incoming security protocols. Agri-retailers want Ottawa to cover half of the estimated $100 million cost of implementing […] Read more
Agri-Retailers Seek Federal Aid For Security Measures
GM Wheat Blasted
Reading Time: < 1 minute Groups from Canada, the United States and Australia issued a June 1 statement rejecting genetically engineered wheat in response to a pitch by industry lobbyists for commercial development of biotech wheat. “We restate our definitive opposition to GE wheat and our commitment to stopping the commercialization of GE traits in our wheat crops,” said the […] Read more
Campaign Against GM Alfalfa Intensifies
Reading Time: 3 minutes “The genie’s out of the bottle.” – Jim Lintott, Manitoba Forage Council Acoalition of 80 farm and food organizations is calling for an immediate halt to field-testing of genetically modified alfalfa in Canada. The groups want existing test plots of GM alfalfa uprooted and full-scale commercialization of the crop blocked. The coalition last month issued […] Read more
McDonald’s May Reduce Potato Pesticides
Reading Time: 3 minutes “We just hope there are people who understand all aspects of it.” A move by the fast-food restaurant company McDonald’s to reduce pesticide use on potatoes for french fries could have serious implications for potato growers. Potatoes are such a high-demand crop for pesticides that reducing their use would be very difficult, growers say. For […] Read more
Red River Rising: Flooding One Of The Worst In History
Reading Time: 2 minutes “We’re not out of this yet.” – Steve Ashton All eyes are on the weather A vast overland sea stretched across the Red River Valley this week as weary residents hunkered down behind berms and ring dikes to wait out the fourth-worst flood in Manitoba’s history. A lake up to 16 kilometres wide from the […] Read more
Eliminate Unprofitable Farmers, Report Recommends
Reading Time: 2 minutes A new report proposes a radical and drastic solution to Canada’s chronic farm income problems: get rid of unprofitable farmers. The report by the Canada West Foundation recommends “an orderly retreat from the industry” by farmers who depend on government subsidies and off-farm jobs to stay in operation. The Calgary-based public policy think-tank says agriculture […] Read more
BSE-Affected Producers Get Their Day In Court
Reading Time: 4 minutes The statement of claim alleges officials knew by 1990 that at least 10 of the U. K. imported cattle came from herds with animals diagnosed with BSE. Effective systems are in place to protect Canadians from exposure to BSE.” – Federal memo, 1993. Ten years later, on May 20, 2003, beef producers found that was […] Read more
Hog Farmers Seek Emergency Aid
Reading Time: 2 minutes A Canadian Pork Council meeting April 2 will propose an emergency government aid program as hog farmers enter the third year of their worst economic crisis in memory. The CPC safety net committee will look for new ways to help beleaguered pork producers because existing programs are inadequate, said Jurgen Preugschas, pork council president. “We’re […] Read more
Stop Recycling Pathogens In Animal Feed
Reading Time: 3 minutes Two recent high-profile cases of foodborne illness have once again raised concerns about the safety of North America’s food supply. Last year, 20 Canadians died and 36 more sickened after eating processed meat contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes from a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto. More lately, the Peanut Corporation of America filed for bankruptcy […] Read more
DDGS Touted As Swine Feed Option
Reading Time: 2 minutes “The bacon may appear oily and gelly but the consumer may not be able to tell you the difference.” – Eduardo Beltranena, Alberta Agriculture Alberta researcher speaks at international conference The United States and Canada should join forces to create a win-win situation for ethanol production and hog farming. That was the message from an […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
