Reuters — Plunging crop and fertilizer prices may not have hit rock bottom yet, and the market’s weakness makes it the right time to merge leading farm input suppliers, the CEO of Agrium said on Tuesday, making his pitch to skeptical investors for a US$26 billion union with PotashCorp. “Are we at the bottom yet? […] Read more
Tough farm conditions right time for merger, Agrium CEO says
Canadian biofuels aren’t a ‘blunder,’ they’re a success story
Well-designed renewable fuel policies can be good for the environment, the economy, and agricultural producers
Reading Time: 3 minutes In an opinion piece published in the previous edition of this paper (Biofuels are one of our greatest environmental blunders), Gwyn Morgan questions the benefits of biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel. Mr. Morgan would have it that biofuels are a “blunder.” In our opinion, biofuels are a home run for the environment and the rural economy. […] Read more
Alberta community groups receive funding
Reading Time: 2 minutes Fifteen groups in Alberta are among the 78 rural Canadian organizations receiving $1 million in grants from Farm Credit Canada’s FCC AgriSpirit Fund this year. The fund awards between $5,000 and $25,000 for community improvement projects, such as hospitals and medical centres, childcare facilities, fire and rescue equipment, playgrounds, food banks, libraries, recreation centres, and community […] Read more
Young Speakers registration now open
Deadline for entrants is Sept. 30
Reading Time: < 1 minute The deadline for entering the Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition is Sept. 30, and the organization has a new website making it easier to register. The topics for 2016 are: What is the impact of public opinion on Canadian farmers? How would you explain a GMO to a non-farmer? What does the next generation […] Read more
Province offers training to new farmers
Information session to be held Oct. 18 in Airdrie
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Forestry is hosting the Getting into Farming information session on Oct. 18 in Airdrie. “The session is aimed at those thinking about getting into a farming business and making it their primary source of income,” said new-venture specialist Kathy Bosse. “It’ll provide information about farming at a pretty high level to give a […] Read more
U.S. EPA says glyphosate likely not carcinogenic
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday said its current position on glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, is that the chemical is not likely carcinogenic to humans. The agency’s “proposed” position on the controversial chemical was outlined in a 227-page paper it published on the regulations.gov website, which […] Read more
Farm Business Communications in online award running
The online arm of Winnipeg ag journal publisher Farm Business Communications (FBC) is representing at this fall’s Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs). The COPAs, to be presented Nov. 7 in Toronto, are a juried competition to promote and support Canada’s digital publishing industry, and are operated by Mississauga-based publishing sector magazine Masthead. Finalists for the […] Read more
U.S. challenges Chinese wheat, corn, rice price supports at WTO
Washington | Reuters — The United States on Tuesday launched a challenge to China’s price supports for domestic production of rice, wheat and corn at the World Trade Organization, charging that these far exceed limits that China committed to when it joined the WTO in 2001. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office said China’s “market price […] Read more
Why I keep a pair of little yellow wellies on my desk
The small rubber boots are the symbol of a U.K. safety campaign and a reminder we need to do more to keep our children safe on the farm
Reading Time: 4 minutes There is a pair of little yellow rubber boots — or wellies as they are called in other countries — sitting on my desk. They are a gift from fellow scholar James Chapman, who is studying and speaking out about farm safety around the world. James lost his arm in a farm accident. The idea […] Read more
Running from dawn to dusk: Women ag entrepreneurs face extra challenges
Operating a farm, raising kids, and building a business often mean there’s no time for conferences and other vital learning opportunities
Reading Time: 5 minutes At first, Kim Good didn’t really see the point of a program geared toward women agri-food entrepreneurs. “I sometimes get a little annoyed at the fact women need more programming than anybody else,” said Good, who co-owns Farm Fresh Pet Foods, which has a line of healthy dog food products made from Alberta-sourced ingredients. “I […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
