Ochratoxin Regulations Coming For Canadian Grains

“As we go forward there are going to be more and more regulators around the world paying attention and the marketers of your grain are going to be paying more and more attention with what you do, as producers, on your farm in terms of storage, in terms of following the label when using pesticides.”

Industry Warns Of New EU Feed Import Disruption

The European Union faces renewed disruption to animal feed supplies this year unless policy-makers find a rapid solution to traces of genetically modified organisms in soy imports, industry groups have warned. Last autumn, imports of soybeans from the United States came to a near standstill because of the EU’s zero-tolerance rule on shipments containing tiny


Less Cash Seen For EU Farms, Caps On Support Prices

Reforms to the European Union’s farm policy from 2014 are likely to result in a smaller net budget, and must avoid protectionism or any increase in support prices, a senior European Commission farm official said. By the end of this year the EU’s executive commission will propose an overhaul of Europe’s complex common agricultural policy

Saved Flax OK If It Tests GM Free

The flax industry has reversed an earlier decision requiring farmers to sow only certified seed this year after finding contamination by the genetically modified CDC Triffid in more cultivars. Prairie flax growers can continue sowing farm-saved seed provided it tests negative for traces of genetically modified (GM) CDC Triffid, flax growers were told at a


EU Grain Farmers Brace For Life Without Safety Net

European grain farmers can expect volatile prices after Brussels partially removes a safety net in May, and cannot readily switch to other crops and will have to deal with market forces as best they can. As part of a drive towards a free market, from May 31 the European Union will suspend automatic “intervention,” the

Canada, EU Flax Industries Hit Hard By Triffid Contamination

Canada has lost its lucrative food-grade flax market in the European Union due to contamination from genetically modified (GM) CDC Triffid flax, an industry official told flax growers meeting here last week. “From the food industry side Canadian flax is now excluded (from the EU),” Rick Hallock, manager of eastern meal marketing for Richardson International


EU Approves GM Potato For Industrial Use

The European Union’s decision on Mar. 3 to approve commercial production of the potato Amflora containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) developed by German group BASF will open the way for sowings of the potato this year, BASF said. “The way is now clear for commercial cultivation of Amflora this year,” said Peter Eckes, president of

CWB Returns $7.1 Billion To Farmers

“As we go forward we recognize it’s something we have to keep our eye on… to manage them (costs) to a reasonable… cost per tonne.” – BRITA CHELL Western Canadian grain farmers earned a near-record $7.1 billion from sales made through the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) in the 2008-09 crop year that ended last July


Key U. S. Lawmaker Blasts New Livestock-Tracking Plan

Arevamped U. S. livestock-tracking system will fail as a safeguard against disease and may imperil $20 billion a year in meat exports, says a key House subcommittee chairman. The new system would rely on states, instead of the Agriculture Department, to keep track of cattle, hogs and poultry sold across state lines for meat production.

OECD Agree To Reinvest In Food Chain

“Some fluctuations are normal (but) these wild swings are unacceptable.” – NIKOLAUS BERLAKOVICH Farm ministers from the world’s richest countries said Feb. 27 they would study price volatility and look at ways of boosting innovation as part of efforts to help agriculture meet food and environmental challenges. But the gathering of members of the Organization