A storied career and special man recognized by his many colleagues

Dennis Stephens has worked in the grain industry for 50 years 
as a reporter, grain industry official, and assistant deputy 
minister of agriculture

After a 50-year career in agriculture, they were lining up to praise — and gently rib — Dennis Stephens at the recent Canada Grains Council annual meeting. “Dennis is first and foremost a journalist with a passion for detail,” said Will Hill, president of Flax Council of Canada. Not to mention one with an appetite

Some farm leaders want the new plant to include feed mills

A new program to protect farmers when licensed grain companies fail to pay them could be implemented Aug. 1, says Elwin Hermanson, chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission. “I’m not betting my life we’ll be ready by Aug. 1 but that’s still our goal and it’s still possible,” he said during an interview April


Move grain out before water moves in

Province will consider lifting spring weight restrictions on Manitoba roads if 
producers need to move grain or livestock out of flood-affected areas

When the flood waters come, grain stops moving — and that means farmers better hurry if they want to empty some bins and recharge their bank account this spring, industry officials say. And unlike past floods, the Canadian Wheat Board won’t be overseeing grain movement to ensure there’s plenty of elevator space for those needing

FCC honours five women leaders in agriculture

The Rosemary Davis Award recipients 
receive an all-expense-paid trip to a Boston leadership conference

Winnipeg geneticist and professor, Silvie Cloutier is among five women to receive the 2013 Rosemary Davis award from Farm Credit Canada (FCC). The award recognizes outstanding Canadian women for their leadership and commitment to the Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry. Cloutier’s research has been used in plant-breeding programs to protect crops from disease, improve production


New WCWGA president

Staff / The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association has elected Levi Wood of Pense, Sask. as its new president. Wood, who farms with his father on a fifth-generation farm, replaces Kevin Bender, who stepped down after four years at the association’s convention in January. Wood graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in

CGC issues warning on excessive canola dockage

The commission says buyers need to adjust for smaller but still sound canola seed harvested last fall

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is warning canola growers to be on guard for excessive dockage deductions this crop year. “Unexpected dockage levels are a common concern among canola producers this year,” CGC chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson said in a news release last week. “Were the dockage levels in your canola a little higher this


Letters, March 28, 2013

Farmers well represented by commodity groups I am replying to your recent article regarding farmer’s voice splintered. I am a grain farmer from Alberta growing wheat, canola and peas and have been involved in the canola and newly formed wheat commission in this province for the past 20 years. I take exception to your comments

Farmers urged to consider forming one, national association

Manitoba producer Danny Penner says there would be less duplication and better use of checkoff dollars

A Manitoba farmer mounting an effort to create one big commodity association says a splintered voice is not only expensive, it could cost farmers control of their industry. As the number of commodity organizations collecting checkoffs continues to grow, a 5,000-acre Manitoban farmer can be paying around $20,000 a year in checkoffs, said Danny Penner,


More than met the eye to Whelan

Eugene Whelan will be remembered mostly for his green Stetson, inability to speak either of Canada’s official languages and his cheerleading for the farm community. Too bad because there was a lot more to the former Liberal agriculture minister, who died just weeks after his Conservative counterpart John Wise. He was a lot politically shrewder

Tyler and Dorelle Fulton this year’s OYF winners

Birtle-area ranchers and hay exporters Tyler and Dorelle Fulton have been chosen as Manitoba’s 2013 Outstanding Young Farmers. “We’re really excited and energetic about agriculture in Canada, and we’re going to do our best to pass that message on,” said Tyler, shortly after receiving the award from Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Ron Kostyshyn