“Socialist” seed money program behind North Dakota boom

North Dakota development agency has many successes and says even innovative failures can pay dividends

When right-leaning Americans want to make a point about the perils of government involvement in the economy, they often level the accusing finger at socialist Canuckistan. But in North Dakota — which is enjoying an agriculture and oil boom despite serious economic malaise elsewhere in the union — there are two wildly successful “socialist entities.”



Community pastures still open for now

To ensure long-term prosperity for farmers and the entire agricultural value chain, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is refocusing on the changing priorities of the agriculture industry. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today reassured patrons of the Community Pasture Program that all pastures will remain open for the 2012 season. “No pastures will be affected this

Union charges Ritz kept in the dark about impact of CFIA cuts

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is misinformed and passing on incorrect information to consumers about the impact of cuts to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, according to the head of the union that represents some CFIA employees. Bob Kingston said he believes Ritz is sincere when he says the 10 per cent cut to CFIA’s funding



Seeding in full swing across province

Weekly Provincial Summary  Favourable weather and seedbed conditions permitted good seeding progress across most regions in Manitoba.  Seeding is 10 per cent complete in the southwest region, less than five per cent complete in the northwest region, 50 per cent complete in the central region, 40 per cent complete in the eastern region and 70


Federal budget hurts more than cut employees

With the recently announced 2012 budget or more specifically cuts, there are many more affected Canadians than the federal government implies. The PFRA branch is no longer a government agency and within a few short years will cease to exist. We are a rural family living the dream, or were up until April 11 when

Here’s your chance

It’s a common rant in the coffee shops and at the microphone of farm meetings. It’s been the subject of conferences and multi-stakeholder think-tanks. People outside of agriculture just don’t understand what it means to be a farmer. Farm Credit Canada recently consulted with its Farm Vision Panel on the matter and came up with


NIRS provides rapid feed-ingredient analysis

Cost of $40,000 can potentially be paid off within six months on a moderate-size beef or hog operation

The technique of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectrometry (NIRS) analysis is set to change the way livestock producers evaluate feed ingredients and have their rations formulated. Because this technology provides a rapid assessment of a wide range of nutritional parameters, such as energy value, dry matter and protein, the economic value of ingredients such as cereals

Animal stress affects meat quality

Quality pork depends on a lot of factors, among them is how pigs are transported to the slaughterhouse. Yolande Seddon and other researchers at the Prairie Swine Centre have been investigating the causes of swine stress during transportation and notes the Prairies have some particular transportation challenges to overcome. “We know there are very challenging