Crops briefs March 1, 2012

Canola top revenue earner Farm gate receipts for canola deliveries in 2011 reached $7.3 billion in Canada, up 30.6 per cent from 2010, according to Statistics Canada’s report from February 23. “Canola provided Canadian growers a strong revenue outlook for 2011, which is why we saw over 18 million canola acres last year,” says Pat

Corn to take over Minnedosa plant this spring

Husky’s Minnedosa ethanol plan is set ditch wheat and focus on corn during a two-month-long run this spring. “In the next couple of months, March and April, we’re going to do a 100 per cent corn run,” said Raymond Dyck, Husky Minnedosa’s grain marketing co-ordinator. “This is the first time we have gone to 100


Court rules against ex-wheat board directors

Former Canadian Wheat Board directors may appeal a Manitoba’s Court of Queens Bench ruling that rejected their bid to delay implementation of the federal legislation removing the board’s monopoly as of Aug. 1. “We think there are a number of areas where the judge erred and we’re considering an appeal,” Bill Toews, one of the

Git ‘r done Grain Growers urges

The Canadian Wheat Board will offer new crop-pricing options soon, spokesperson Maureen Fitzhenry said in an interview Feb. 22, but she declined to specify a date, nor say when the board expects to finalize agreements with companies to handle grain on its behalf. “It’s still our hope that we’ll be able to do something very



Ukraine denies curbing wheat exports

Ukraine’s government said last week it had not urged grain traders to limit wheat exports, denying local media reports it had done so, and it forecast that there would be no shortages of grain on the domestic market. “There are no recommendations to limit wheat exports,” Agriculture Minister Mykola Prysyazhnyuk told reporters. “Traders are telling



Grain World: High- quality Canadian wheat grades questioned

Canadian wheat exports are known for their quality internationally, but the country may be able to sell more grain and receive better returns by growing different classes of wheat or adjusting current grading standards, said presenters at the Wild Oats Grain World conference in Winnipeg, Feb. 27. Lawrence Yakielashek, president of Alfred C. Toepfer (Canada)


Take advantage of the the good times while they last: Bonnett

With farm incomes better than they’ve been in a long time, farmers need to take advantage of market opportunities without stretching themselves too thinly, says Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. That means doing everything from telling Canadians about the importance of the agri-food industry to the national economy to making sure

Briefs March 8, 2012

Arrests made in mail thefts Staff / Police have laid charges against four individuals in relation to a series of mail thefts in rural areas surrounding Winnipeg. RCMP report two adult males from Winnipeg have been arrested and have been charged with a number of offences including possession of stolen mail, identity theft, and fraud.