An annual review by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) on labour conditions for migrant farm workers in Canada raises concerns that Ottawa has done nothing about the serious issues facing those workers, the union says. “If you’ve got problems, keep them to yourself or you’ll be sent packing. That’s the implicit threat that
No progress seen on migrant ag workers’ issues: UFCW
CFIA seeks herdmates of TB-positive bull
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is looking for livestock that might have been exposed to bovine tuberculosis (TB) through an infected bull that lived on farms in Alberta and British Columbia. CFIA said Friday (Nov. 9) that it’s working with the affected producers on this investigation. All animals found to have been exposed to
Cattlemen launch beef nutrition promotion
The type of nutrition data most shoppers see on the side of a box or bag of processed food is now online for Canadian beef cuts. The Beef Information Centre, the market development arm of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, has launched a new online “virtual beef nutrition counter” giving consumers the nutrient profile for 48
Canada seeks WTO panel on U.S. subsidies
The federal government will ask for a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel on the issue of the United States’ domestic farm subsidies when the WTO’s dispute settlement body meets Nov. 19. Federal Trade Minister David Emerson said in a statement Thursday that Ottawa believes the U.S. “has breached its international obligations by providing agricultural
Viterra makes pitch to end SWP pension fight
Viterra has put a new proposal on the table in hopes of ending a long-simmering dispute over the funding of the pension plan for its Saskatchewan Wheat Pool staff represented by the Grain Services Union (GSU). In a release Thursday, Canada’s largest grain handler said its new proposal will see it amend the existing SaskPool/GSU
Dollar, higher costs weigh on Ont. cattle prices: study
Current U.S. beef cattle prices should have a positive, stabilizing effect on Ontario prices, but that’s more than offset by the loonie and recent higher costs for the province’s packers and exporters, according to a new report by the George Morris Centre. In a paper released Thursday, the Guelph-based agricultural think tank reviewed the three
Agropur joins South American venture
Quebec dairy farmers’ co-operative Agropur will start a new joint venture in with Adecoagro, a South American food company, to develop new dairy business on that continent. Specific details on the two companies’ agreement were not given, but they said in a joint release that their new venture will benefit from Agropur’s commercial and industrial
Headline cleared for crown rust in oats
BASF Canada’s strobilurin fungicide Headline has picked up approval for control of crown rust in oats crops in Canada. Headline, which carries the active ingredient pyraclostrobin, is best applied immediately after flag leaf emergence in cereals at a recommended rate of 120 to 160 mL per acre, the company said in a release. Crown rust
NDP, ag minister defeated in Sask.
Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan Party made long-sought gains outside the usual rural strongholds of its namesake province to win Wednesday’s provincial election, taking several key seats from Lorne Calvert’s New Democrats, including their agriculture minister’s. The NDP’s Mark Wartman, a United Church minister, MLA since 1999 and minister for agriculture and food since 2004, was declared
Farmers can save Clearfield wheat seed
Prairie wheat growers who grow BASF’s Clearfield wheat can save their harvested seed to plant as many future crops as they wish, starting in 2008. The seed and chemical company outlined its new plans for the Clearfield production system for wheat in a release Wednesday. Clearfield wheat is bred for tolerance to BASF’s herbicides Altitude
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