World briefs, Feb. 2

Chinese premier favours modernization over grain imports beijing / reuters / China must push forward with modernizing agricultural technology as it faces increasing difficulty in meeting local food demand, Premier Wen Jiabao said in a recent essay. “The fundamental way out is to enhance the construction of modern agriculture to boost the complex agricultural productivity




Aiming for the “sweet spot” with phosphorus

Using low rates of phosphorus fertilizer is good for the environment and the farmer’s bottom line. But cutting corners too much can affect yields and impact long-term soil fertility, said John Heard, a soil fertility specialist with the crops branch of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. “There’s really only four rates of phosphorus application:


Letters — for Feb. 2, 2012

Are court cases really baseless Mr. Ritz? It was really quite funny to watch the minister of agriculture strut around in front of his flock at the recent Western Canadian Wheat Growers conference. He used his bully pulpit to call the recent court cases, against his government implementing legislation dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board’s

Magic-bullet solutions only last so long

We’ve all done it. Pushed our crop rotations, that is. You know that field had canola on it two years ago, but the seed you have already purchased, the fertilizer you applied last fall, or the delivery contract you already signed all make us do things that we know are not in our best agronomic


Our history, Feb. 2

Our Feb. 6, 1975 issue covered concerns that a recent grain price boom was softening, following reports that the Soviet Union and China had cancelled wheat and corn purchases from the U.S. The Canadian Wheat Board announced contracting programs for some new varieties, including Glenlea wheat, Wakooma durum, Beacon barley and Klages barley. The House

Dairy farmers shoot back at critics

With their system of revenue under renewed jabs from various angles, Canada’s dairy farmers have compiled their retorts into a new online campaign. Dairy Farmers of Canada on Feb. 1 launched a website dubbed YourMilk.ca, which organizes the case for the country’s dairy industry into three sections: one on the industry’s benefits to the public,


U.S. wheat organizations want access to Canadian systems

A January 1 press release issued by U.S. Wheat Associates Signalling a desire for more market efficiency, the boards of directors of U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) each passed a resolution on Jan. 29 calling for an open border with Canada that provides reciprocal bilateral wheat trade. Under

Seed-applied liquid nutrient approved for cereal crops

Anew liquid formulation of a seed-applied nutrient has been cleared by the CFIA for use on wheat, barley, oat and corn. Colorado-based Loveland Products’ seed treatment Awaken ST will be distributed by ag input retailer UAP Canada. Awaken ST’s micronutrient package includes five per cent zinc plus boron, copper, iron, manganese and molybdenum, the company