Bewildered farmers may well be wondering what caused the global financial crisis and what the future holds for commodity prices. Analysts discussing the topic at this week’s GrainWorld conference in Winnipeg couldn’t offer much by way of answers. While the world faces a big recession with no quick recovery, the feeling was grain prices will
Grain Prices Uncertain Amid Global Economic Turmoil
Dairy Cow Dances To A Different Tune
“It’ll identify for consumers those products that are Canadian and those that aren’t.” – IAN MACDONALD, DFC The dancing white cow with the blue maple leaf that has graced Canadian dairy products for over a decade is getting a new image. A $5 million promotional campaign by Dairy Farmers of Canada will replace the old
Bean Contracts In 2009 Slow To Come
“No one wants to take a long position.” – HARVEY FENSKE, VITERRA Everything is in place for the 2009 edible bean crop except one thing: production contracts. They’re unusually late this year. Typically, bean buyers begin issuing contracts around mid-January. But as of last week, contracts for the 2009 edible bean crop were only rumours.
Reframe Animal Rights Debate, Producers Told
Livestock producers under attack from animal welfare activists should fight fire with fire by appealing to people’s emotions, says a food industry communications strategist. Activists focus on feelings to get people angry about alleged animal abuse. So farmers should counter with emotional arguments based on consumers’ self-interest, Dan Murphy said. Murphy, an American meat industry
Musical Chairs Occur At Milk Price Review Commission
“There are some advantages that have been given away here.” – CRAIG LEE The Manitoba government has sacked all independent members of a provincial milk price regulator and replaced them with civil servants as it moves towards a single western Canadian fluid milk price. Letters went out to members of the Manitoba Milk Prices Review
Beekeepers Urge Restraint When Spraying Sunflowers
Manitoba honey producers have launched an awareness campaign to protect their bees from friendly fire coming off sunflower fields. The Manitoba Beekeepers Association is asking sunflower growers to use only certain insecticides when spraying for insect pests so as to avoid harming foraging honeybees. A resolution adopted by the MBA at its annual meeting last
Credit Crunch Hits The Pork Industry
“Every pig farmer’s risk rating is worse now than it was 18 months ago.” – STEPHEN MOFFETT, CPC Canada’s pork producers are worried the current financial crisis, coupled with continuing tough times in the industry, is causing them a serious credit crunch. The Canadian Pork Council is asking Ottawa to further loosen an already-extended repayment
Industry Leader Looks Back On 30 Years Of Bean Industry Growth
“It’s a great feeling.” – JACK FROESE, MPGA It’s the colour that keeps Jack Froese in the business of growing pulse crops. Just as golden kernels give delight to a corn grower, so the sight of bright-red, white, brown and black beans flowing into a combine hopper inspires Froese. “It’s a great feeling,” he says.
Keep eyes peeled for sick pigs, vet urges producers
“If you have sick pigs, they don’t eat.” – Dr. Mike Sheridan Pig producers would have fewer disease problems in their herds if they spent more time walking the pens and injecting visibly sick animals. So says Dr. Mike Sheridan, one of Manitoba’s leading swine veterinarians. Going into barns and actually treating sick animals is
AgriInvest rides the waive
Ottawa has waived the need for farmers to make deposits for 2007 AgriInvest. Instead, the federal government will make direct payments to producers without requiring them to put up their matching share to start off the new program. Normally, producers can contribute up to 1.5 per cent of their annual net sales (ANS) to AgriInvest
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