Reading Time: 2 minutes president, western stock growers association The Western Stock Growers’ Association (WSGA) wishes to inform Alberta cattle producers that our organization is not in favour of the proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) and Alberta Cattle Feeders Association (ACFA) forcing a mandatory levy of one dollar per head marketed on Alberta producers […] Read more
Stock Growers Oppose Any Changes To Agreement – for Oct. 11, 2010
Checkoff Agreement Was Done For The Benefit Of The Cattle Industry – for Oct. 11, 2010
Reading Time: 2 minutes ceo, alberta cattle feeders association Re: Will Verboven’s editorial September 16. Verboven is stuck in the past and continues to foster the idea that a carte blanche return to a mandatory checkoff will cure all the problems in the industry. This back-to-the-future mentality would not bring any fresh thinking or alternative approaches to how we […] Read more
Ohio Livestock Growers Caged By Farm Groups – for Sep. 13, 2010
Reading Time: 2 minutes What was to be a clever, voter-sanctioned effort to fence out the animals-are-people crowd in Ohio last year is, depending on your perspective, either a progressive way for farm and animal rights groups to work together toward humane livestock production or a total sellout of livestock producers by Big Ag to the Humane Society of […] Read more
Traceability Just Another Annoyance In ID Saga – for Sep. 13, 2010
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s getting to be more than 10 years since the cattle and livestock identification (ID) issue has dragged on its long weary course. I say this because even last month at a Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) committee meeting, attendees were grappling with the latest chapter, that being the rush to traceability, instigated by the federal […] Read more
Russian Export Ban Creates Barley Export Opportunities – for Sep. 13, 2010
Reading Time: 3 minutes Extreme volatility in world grain prices has created significant price opportunities for Prairie farmers. Feed barley sales have been a recent source of attention, given a huge price rally and subsequent decline in the overseas price structure. To date, we have marketed more than 250,000 tonnes of export feed barley through our Guaranteed Price Contract […] Read more
R-CALF— Wrong On Canadian Imports, But… – for Sep. 13, 2010
Reading Time: 3 minutes Mentioning R-CALF to a Canadian cattle producer has about the same effect as pulling your fingernails across a chalkboard. The Ranchers and Cattlemen Action Legal Fund was formed in 1998 to fight for the livelihoods of small U. S. ranchers. It first set its sights on rising Canadian cattle imports, which it blamed for lower […] Read more
A Different Perspective For Budget Consultations – for Aug. 30, 2010
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Grain Growers of Canada is making some novel suggestions for what should be in the next federal budget. Like groups from all sectors, they are taking part in the pre-budget consultation. Usually farm groups concentrate their lobby efforts on more money for safety net programs or some ad hoc assistance to meet the particular […] Read more
Who Will Be The Winners And Losers This Fall? – for Aug. 30, 2010
Reading Time: 3 minutes This year’s weather calamities have already picked their victims and there may be more to come. Alberta has fared better than Saskatchewan – at least most producers were able to get the crop in here, albeit delayed in many cases. But drought in the Peace area, excess moisture in some southern areas and sporadic hail […] Read more
Mixed Signals From Data On Beef Consumption – for Aug. 30, 2010
Reading Time: 3 minutes There is good news and bad news in the recent data released from the Beef Information Centre’s research into consumer preferences for beef. The good news is, the vast majority of consumers likes to eat beef. Ninety-six per cent of Canadian households and 93 per cent of individuals consume beef, which places its popularity close […] Read more
Farm Groups Appeal To The Prime Minister – for Aug. 16, 2010
Reading Time: 2 minutes GroupsrepresentingPrairie farmershaveappealedtoPrime MinisterStephenHarpertodo somethingaboutexcessiverailway profitsattheexpenseof farmers.Thisisthelettertheysent June29. We, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to immediately undertake a full costing review of the railway revenue cap on grain transportation. Further to earlier meetings with both Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Minister of Transportation (State) Rob Merrifield, we are bringing this request directly to […] Read more