The Manitoba government has appointed two new members to the Disaster Assistance Appeal Board (DAAB). “The Disaster Assistance Appeal Board plays an important role for Manitobans, providing an independent, non-judicial review of disputed claims,” said , Infrastructure Minister Blaine Pedersen in a release. “The two new members’ leadership skills, volunteer experience and history serving on […] Read more
Manitoba announces new appointments to its disaster assistance appeal board
Manitoba’s southwest expecting ‘well above normal’ runoff
Manitoba is expecting normal to above-normal spring runoff except in the Souris River basin, which is looking at “above normal to well-above normal runoff potential.” Levels of spring flooding still depend on future weather conditions, Infrastructure Minister Blaine Pedersen said Friday in the province’s March flood outlook, but the risk of overland flooding is “slightly […] Read more
Cargill’s Q3 profit up on ingredient, protein demand
Chicago | Reuters — Global commodities trader Cargill reported a higher quarterly profit on Wednesday as strong earnings from its food ingredients and protein units more than offset lagging results from South American grain trading and processing. The privately held company has been streamlining its operations to focus on higher-margin businesses such as food ingredients […] Read more
Indian regulator warns on Agrium-PotashCorp merger
New Delhi | Reuters — India’s competition regulator said the proposed merger between Agrium and PotashCorp was likely to hurt competition, a government statement said Wednesday. The two Canadian fertilizer producers agreed to merge last September to navigate a severe industry slump by boosting efficiency and cutting costs. Neither Agrium nor PotashCorp have physical presence […] Read more
A terrible toll: Farming still claims too many lives
The latest statistics show an encouraging but modest decline in the number of farm fatalities
Reading Time: 4 minutes The number of people killed in farm accidents continues to decline, but a new report also says “there is no more dangerous occupation” than farming. The average number of fatalities fell from 116 annually from 1990 to 2001 to 84 in the latest 10-year reporting period (2003 to 2012), according to Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting […] Read more
Fatality report highlights the many dangers of farming
The grim statistics are a reminder that some everyday activities can also be very hazardous
Reading Time: < 1 minute The language is plain, the numbers clear, and the take-home message is simple — danger is ever present on farms. Although run-overs, rollovers, and being pinned or struck by machinery account for 369 of the 843 fatalities in the latest Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting report (covering the period from 2003 to 2012), tragedy strikes in […] Read more
We take them for granted, but how would we manage without them?
Travelling in poor countries makes you appreciate a pair of good boots, and the generous spirit of those who can only dream of such luxuries
Reading Time: 3 minutes When I was a child mother would call out to us, ‘Leave your boots at the door!’ — and we would topple upon each other, kicking off the seemingly unimportant footwear, unaware of the value or the privilege of those boots. Even in the leanest of years, some kind of footwear was always provided, despite […] Read more
Jump in: Ag needs more women leaders
Attendees at Advancing Women Conference told their voices are needed — and they need to encourage each other to speak up
Reading Time: 4 minutes Women are still a minority in farming but they can — and should — play a leading role. That was a recurring theme at this year’s Advancing Women Conference, where attendees were told their leadership and communication skills are badly needed. “Women’s voices are needed, that’s my underlying message — your hard work, your commitment, […] Read more
The four factors that are changing agriculture
Don’t look back, the world is changing far too fast, says an American author and farmer
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you’re not ready to adapt and communicate with the public, you could lose your place in agriculture. “In agriculture, we tend to hang on to the best of the past,” said Jolene Brown, farmer, author and well-known speaker. “You’ve all heard the phrase, ‘If you always do what you’ve always done, you will get […] Read more
Asset sale plan secures EU backing for Dow, DuPont merger
Reuters — Dow Chemical and DuPont won the blessing of the European Union for their US$130 billion merger on Monday by agreeing to sell substantial assets including key research and development activities. The European Commission had been concerned that the merger of two of the biggest and oldest U.S. chemical producers would leave few incentives […] Read more