First-quarter revenue from grain handling is up at both Canadian Pacific (CP) and Canadian National (CN) Railways as the two companies both reported higher overall quarterly profit. CP on Tuesday booked overall first-quarter net income of $254 million on revenues of $1.509 billion for the period ending March 31 — the company’s best-ever Q1 result, […] Read more
CP, CN book higher Q1 grain revenue, smaller grain handle
OAC’s Kemptville campus funded for skills training
The Ontario government has put up $2 million to extend skills training programs at the Ontario Agricultural College’s (OAC) soon-to-be-shuttered Kemptville campus for the coming academic year. The province announced the funding Tuesday for the campus to continue to host skills training programs that “support the agricultural sector in eastern Ontario,” including the agricultural equipment […] Read more
Pearce: Weather not the only story in Ont. fields
The planting season always seems that much closer when the first meeting of extension staff with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and local retailers and advisers is held. It provides a first glimpse of the region’s wheat crop as it comes out of dormancy, and an assessment of local field activity, including planting […] Read more
Scientists make ethanol without corn or other crops
Washington | Reuters — Scientists said Wednesday they have developed a new way to make liquid ethanol efficiently without using corn or other crops needed in the conventional method for producing the biofuel. The scientists said their process turns carbon monoxide gas into liquid ethanol with the help of an electrode made of a form […] Read more
New interswitching rules more punishment than policy: CN CEO
Given recent federal moves to regulate Canada’s major railways into moving more grain, Claude Mongeau came to Winnipeg Wednesday feeling “a little bit like a general who lost the battle.” Speaking to the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, the CEO of Canadian National Railway (CN) said he was in town to make the case that “regulation […] Read more
Bill to force railways to pay for poor service bound for Commons
Reuters — Federal legislators on Monday amended a bill designed to ensure grain moves smoothly by rail by allowing the government to order railways to compensate shippers for poor service. The Canadian Transportation Agency currently has authority only to arbitrate matters on which the parties mutually agree. Railways can avoid paying compensation simply by refusing […] Read more
Get grain piles safely binned before May, expert warns
One of the Prairies’ top experts in stored grain’s circle of life is warning farmers to get piled or bagged crops up off the ground before next month. Last fall’s bumper harvest and this winter’s grain rail freight backlog have together left Prairie farmers without sufficient bin space storing crops in Silobags or Quonsets or […] Read more
Mountie pursues stolen tractor on snowmobile
RCMP at Blackfalds, Alta., north of Red Deer, have charged a 25-year-old man with theft and breaking and entering in the wake of a rural “mini-crime spree” and a wild, albeit geared-down, chase through snow-covered fields. CLICK HERE to read Alexis Kienlen’s story on the Alberta Farmer website.
Ontario’s ‘greener’ diesel mandate takes effect
Ontario’s plan to ease its way toward mandatory minimum biodiesel content of four per cent in regular diesel is underway, starting with a two per cent mandate as of April 1. As announced Thursday, and running until the end of 2015, all fuel suppliers will be required to ensure the diesel they place in the […] Read more
Sask. truck weight updates seen as farmers’ gain
Saskatchewan’s move to streamline allowable truck weights for certain roads, effective April 1, is expected to benefit the province’s ag and resource sectors. For one, “the increase in weight for tridem drive B-train combinations on secondary-weight highways will help get product coming out of rural areas to market more efficiently,” Dave Marit, president of the […] Read more
