CGC Payment Security Alternative Closer

“We still like the old one (program), there’s no question about that.” – ROB BRUNEL KAP is making headway on a “Plan B” should the federal government scrap the Canadian Grain Commission’s (CGC) security program that kicks in when licensed grain companies fail to pay farmers. “We are going to be putting forward a policy

FAO Sees Bigger 2010 Grain Crops, Price Pressure

World cereals output is expected to rise this year to near-record highs, swelling overall supplies and putting pressure on already weakened prices, the UN’s food agency said June 3. The global wheat output is forecast to fall for the third consecutive year, but at 676.5 million tonnes it would still be close to 2008 record


Grain Handler Viterra Buys U. S. Processor

Top Canadian grain handler Vi terra said May 27 it will buy 21st Century Grain Processing in a $90.5-million cash deal that brings it an oat mill and wheat mill in the United States. The oat mill in South Sioux City, Nebraska, can store four million bushels and process up to 295 tonnes of commercial

New Two-Row Barley Varieties On The Way

“You have to throw away about 99 per cent of it in order to keep the good one per cent. Barley breeding is a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack. Bill Legge, a research scientist at the Brandon Research Centre specializing in two-row barley, will be adding a fourth variety in the


Spring Rains: Bullish Or Bearish?

For three-times-daily market reports from Resource News International, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.manitobacooperator.ca. ICE Futures Canada’s canola futures were range-bound once again during the week ended May 28, although the bias was to the downside in most months as the Canadian dollar managed to claw back off of its recent lows. The currency

Ug99 Wheat Rust Strain Continues To Spread

The devastating Ug99 stem rust has spread to South Africa, Nature magazine reported May 26. It quoted a study saying that the two South African forms of the disease are able to overcome the effects of two resistance genes in wheat that normally prevent stem rust from taking hold. Named because of its discovery in


Crop Report – for Jun. 3, 2010

Municipal drains are overflowing into fields while provincial drains and rivers are all at full capacity creating a slow run-off of water. Crop damage will be extensive in areas. SOUTHWEST: Seeding operations continued at the start of last week but was halted by the weekend’s rainfall. High amounts of precipitation were recorded across the region.

Iraq To Double Wheat Production

Iraq expects to double its wheat production this year to around 2.5 million tonnes, meeting half its consumption needs, thanks to good rains, a deputy agriculture minister said May 19. Iraq’s agriculture sector, hurt by decades of war, sanctions and neglect, has suffered severe drought in the last two years, hitting wheat and rice production


In Brief… – for Jun. 3, 2010

Ticks don’t like nerds: Tucking your pants into your socks will act as a barrier to black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks, a research scientist with the Public Health Agency of Canada and an adjunct professor with the faculty of agricultural and food sciences says. Insect repellents containing DEET are helpful too. Robbin Lindsay

Responsibility Begins At Home

JOHN MORRISS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR It’s painful to look at the images of birds and other wildlife dead or dying from being coated in oil from the U. S. Gulf oil blowout. That makes it easy to lay blame, as we’re now seeing in the U. S. The government is blaming British Petroleum for lax safety