Study gives more reasons for passing on red meat

(Reuters) People who eat a lot of red meat are more likely to die at any given time than those who go light on the burgers and hotdogs, according to a U.S. study that followed more than 100,000 people over several decades. The more servings of both processed and unprocessed red meat people reported eating

Letters, March 22, 2012

Taxpayers on the hook (again) When I first saw the article in newspapers about $4.5 million for Maple Leaf upgrades, my first thought was, is it election time again, and so soon? I do not understand why Minister Vic Toews, chastises the city of Winnipeg and the media reporting as to what and whose sewage


The $5 million advantage of local processing

(Excerpts from the latest Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council newsletter) Alberta cattle fetch more at auction than Manitoba cattle. A lot more. “One of the main reasons why Manitoba’s prices are lower is because they are the furthest distance away from any federally inspected slaughter plants,” said Canfax market analyst Brian Perillat. The simple fact is

Giving meat a bad name

Laws are like sausages — it is best not to see them being made.” This quote has been widely but wrongly attributed to Otto Von Bismarck, the “Iron Chancellor” of Germany in the 19th century, which proves that misinformation was spreading long before the Internet. However, the Internet is certainly a much more efficient way


China set to buy more U.S. corn this year

(Reuters) Strong domestic prices and low reserves are likely to force China to import more U.S. corn this year, squeezing tight world supplies, analysts and industry officials said March 14. China’s corn imports are expected to more than double in the current 2011-12 crop year to four million tonnes from 1.5 million a year earlier,

CWB officials promote pools at grower meetings

While the Canadian Wheat Board had its monopoly, some farmers complained getting a “good, average price” for wheat wasn’t good enough. But in the coming open market, the board is betting lots will think that’s pretty good. “The average of the market through a pooling operation does actually return people the best value, overall, over


Syria needs to import more grain milan / reuters / Syria, hit by a civil unrest, needs to raise cereals import by about a third in the current marketing year after its local grain output 10 per cent dropped in 2011, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said March 14. “Continued civil unrest

Cigi being wooed to move to Saskatoon

Fears that scrapping the monopoly-powered wheat board could undermine Winnipeg’s grain sector hegemony were bolstered with news Saskatoon wants Cigi (Canadian International Grains Institute) to move there. The offer came Nov. 29 during a meeting with Saskatoon economic development group representatives, Rex Newkirk, Cigi’s director of research and business development said in an interview March


Farmers still waiting for marketing choice

On behalf of tens of thousands of successful farmers who eagerly anticipate a new wheat and barley era, we strongly encourage both private grain companies and the new voluntary Canadian Wheat Board to use all possible resources to successfully conclude their ongoing negotiations on handling agreements. The Grain Growers’ policy has always been marketing choice

Peru loosens restrictions on Canadian cattle

Peru has reopened its markets to Canadian beef and dairy cattle, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in a Feb. 21 release. Canada Beef and the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association estimate the market to be valued at more than $2.5 million in 2012 for the Canadian cattle sector. Canadian exporters are eligible to export to Peru