Old-time threshing event

After what seemed like weeks of cloudy weather, Saturday, October 31 began clear and sunny, while volunteers gathered at Hidden Springs Ranch, the Lake Audy home of Frank and Linda Wilkinson. Frank and Linda, married for over 33 years, decided to tackle their harvest the way it was done a half a century ago, with

Letters – for Nov. 26, 2009

If it doesn’t pay, don’t produce it Growing wheat for sale to the Canadian Wheat Board, I’ve ended up with $1.86 per bushel. From a total price of $11,626.02, I end up with $6,065.35; they took $5,560.67 for expenses, including weighing inspection ($44.35), elevator cleaning ($1,729.65), the freight adjustment ($1,398.62), rail freight ($2,344.34) and the


WTO Draft Threatens Rights Of Prairie Farmers

In every one of the CWB’s major markets, the WTO’s proposed new “bound” tariffs are in fact higher than the tariffs actually being applied. Talks have dragged on so long it’s tempting to think there won’t ever be a new World Trade Organization deal. But bit by bit, the elements of a final agreement are

Washington Is Supporting Your Canola

For three-times-daily market reports from Don Bousquet and RNI, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.manitobacooperator.ca Gr a i n and oilseed prices at ICE Futures Canada in Winnipeg closed the week ended Nov. 20 higher, with canola seeing moderate gains. Strength in the U. S. soy complex, friendly technical signals, a weaker Canadian dollar


National Farmers Union Celebrates 40 Years

“Structure determines process, process determines results.” – ROY ATKINSON If there’s a constant with the National Farmers Union, it’s consistency. Canada’s only national, voluntary, direct-membership general farm organization, which holds its 40th annual meeting in Ottawa this week, sticks to its principles. “The first person who compromises, loses,” Roy Atkinson, the NFU’s first president, said

Funds Eye Poor-Performer Wheat In Hunt For Laggards

“Our discretionary managers… are long wheat because in an absolute sense it’s been extremely beaten up.” – ALEX ALLEN, EDDINGTON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT Wheat has been the poor cousin of commodities this year, losing value as star performers such as copper, lead and sugar have flown, but the humble grain is now beginning to catch the


Jordan Trade Pact On Table, Colombia On Deck

Legislation to approve a free trade deal with Jordan was presented to the Commons by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz Nov. 17, with hopes it will get smoother passage than a bill authorizing a trade deal with Colombia. Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Jordan totalled $92 million in 2008. The deal would eliminate 90 per

Ritz Must Stand Up For Farmers’ Marketing Systems At WTO

The upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Geneva are targeting farmers’ marketing agencies – including supply-management and the Canadian Wheat Board single desk. I predict that Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz will return home from the current round of negotiations announcing that these so-called “state trading enterprises” are no longer legal under WTO trade rules


Ballots In The Mail For MCGA Election

“The best thing I could hope for is that as soon as a person gets a ballot they mark it and send it back.” – BILL ROSS Six farmers – four incumbents and two others – are running to fill four directors’ seats around the Manitoba Canola Growers Association’s (MCGA) board table. The incumbents seeking

Corn To Lead The Market Higher

For three-times-daily market reports from Don Bousquet and RNI, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.manitobacooperator.ca Grain and oilseed pr i c e s at ICE Futures Canada in Winnipeg closed the week ended Nov. 13 higher, with canola lifted by gains in the Chicago soy complex. Slower farmer selling, as the harvest winds down,