UN urges change in U.S. biofuel policy to avoid food crisis

The United Nations’ food agency stepped up the pressure on the United States on Aug. 10 to change its biofuel policies because of the danger of a world food crisis, arguing the importance of growing crops for food over their use for fuel. Global alarm over the potential for a food crisis of the kind



India potato story underscores need for reform

Reuters / Buried in recent monthly data for wholesale prices in India, the wild gyrations of a humble vegetable tell the tale of an economy trapped in inflation by its own rigidities. Back in December, after a bumper harvest of potatoes, furious farmers dumped tonnes of their crop on roads in protest over a crash

OUR HISTORY: August 23, 1962

Our Aug. 23, 1962 issue reported on record yields in prospect despite heavy rains and flooding from storms in southern Manitoba — a tornado had struck between Elgin and Underhill on Aug. 14. However, editor Q.H. Martinson reflected that despite fertilizer, chemicals, better cultural practices and improved varieties, farmers were still having trouble beating the


Genetics make the difference

Edie Creek Angus is a farm business built around a minimum-maintenance Angus cow herd thriving in a forage-based environment

If you want your cow herd to thrive on Prairie forages, don’t start with genetics from animals accustomed to having grain buckets chained to their chins. That’s the hard lesson Jonathan Bouw learned a few years back after their farm stopped buying feeders and began keeping only their own calves to finish. Bouw, his brother

Machinery dealers, meat packers likely to suffer

While U.S. crops of corn and soybeans wilt in the worst U.S. drought in a half-century, winners and losers are emerging in the agriculture sector of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Shares of Agrium Inc. and PotashCorp of Saskatchewan are up 21 per cent and eight per cent since June 1, lagging far behind the spike



Canada rejects U.S., Kiwi hog claims

Martin Rice says hog industry support programs aren’t subsidies Grumbling by the United States and New Zealand about subsidies for Canadian hog farmers doesn’t match the reality of a declining Canadian swine herd. Recent media reports quoted American and Kiwi farm or political spokesmen suggesting the upcoming Trans-Pacific Pact trade talks would be a good


Western water hemlock is a deadly killer of cattle

This year’s wet spring has seen increased sightings of western water hemlock — one of the most poisonous plants known in cattle production. Prior to 2006, I had only seen one occurrence of this highly toxic plant in 25 years of practice. This year, several multiple plants have been found a great distance apart in

Swath canola when 60 per cent of main stem seeds turn colour

Canola should be swathed when 60 per cent of the seeds on the main stems have changed colour and that means taking a close look at your fields. “You really just can’t make an accurate assessment of seed colour change from your pickup truck,” the Canola Council of Canada’s Manitoba agronomy specialist Angela Brackenreed said