NFU Campaigns To Block “Comprehensive” EU Trade Deal

Ayear ago Steve Verheul, Canada’s chief negotiator on the Canada – European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), lamented such an important deal should be attracting more public interest. The talks now have the National Farmers Union’s (NFU) full attention; based on a secret draft text obtained in July, the organization says an



Critical CWB Activity May Be Its Most Important

Another Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) director election is upon us and it seems a bit quiet so far. Considering the acrimonious position of the Conservative government on the CWB and its past meddling in its affairs, one almost expects some more political mischief from them sooner or later. On the other hand if they do

Farmers Welcome Canola Crush Expansion

Bunge’s plan to more than double the capacity of its canola-crushing plant at Altona to 2,500 tonnes a day is good news for farmers, but it also means they’ll have to grow more canola. “We’re always glad to see investment in the canola crush because it creates demand and more demand must mean they are


Wheat Prices Seen Rising Further As Fall Seedings Decline

Canola futures on the ICE Futures Canada trading platform strengthened during the week ended Oct. 15, with much of the upward price momentum encouraged by the gains experienced by CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) soybean futures as well as by the aggressive demand from the Canadian canola-processing industry. Fresh speculative demand surfaced during the week,

GM Maize Trials To Begin In East Africa Researchers

Confined field trials of genetically modified maize will begin in Kenya and Uganda this year once regulators approve it, the U. S.-based non-profit African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) said. Scientists from Kenyan and Ugandan government research bodies, Monsanto and research body International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) developed the 12 varieties of Water Efficient


Crop Report – for Oct. 14, 2010

SOUTHWEST REGION Cereal crops are 80 to 85 per cent complete; yields are average and quality is average to below average due to several rain showers. Canola harvest is 80 per cent complete with yields average to below average with reports that later-seeded canola has been impacted by frost. Flax harvest is 70 per cent

In Brief… – for Oct. 14, 2010

Tariffs dropped:A federal decision to remove tariffs on imported vessels in the St. Lawrence Seaway is good news for western Canadian farmers, the Canadian Wheat Board says. “By removing the 25 per cent tariff on imported vessels, the Government of Canada has made the purchase of new lakers more economically feasible, helping to ensure farmers


Vote For CWB

The time has come when the wheat and barley producers of Western Canada will again be voting if they wish to retain the single desk (the Canadian Wheat Board – CWB) as their marketer or perhaps the majority will vote to turn that function over to the corporate grain trade. When the Harper government came

Mixed Reaction To Rail Freight Service Review Interim Report

Grain companies and Canadian Nat ional Railway (CN) turned thumbs down on the Rail Freight Service Review panel’s interim report, but for different reasons. The grain companies say the report commissioned by Transport Canada released Oct. 8 after two years of consultation is flawed because it fails to recommend the federal government immediately legislate the