MBP Votes Thumbs Down On MCEC Checkoff

Co-operator staff / brandon The Manitoba Beef Producers has given a thumbs down on the $2-per-head voluntary checkoff for the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council. A resolution to eliminate the checkoff aimed at supporting beef slaughter capacity in the province was passed by a narrow margin of 24-21 after a vigorous debate at the recent MBP

Corn 2012 Output Under Threat From Rising Inputs

Convent ional wisdom holds U.S. farmers will boost corn production next year because of historically high prices, robust end-user demand, and low global inventories. But corn prices, off their highs by more than $1 a bushel, are now only 12 to 13 per cent above year-ago levels, and input costs are on average 25 per


Seven Billion And Growing

To me this is the major problem facing the world, said Michael Trevan, dean of the faculty of agricultural and food sciences at the University of Manitoba. Climate change may come and go… but we ve got a bigger problem on our hands. He noted world population is expected to reach 9.5 billion in the

China Tops Canada As Top U.S. Farm Export Market

brief washington /reuters China, the world s largest importer of cotton and soybeans, has topped Canada to become the No. 1 market for U.S. farm exports for the first time, the Agriculture Department said Nov. 10. U.S. exporters sold $20 billion in agricultural products to China during the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30,


Australian Firm Adds Okra To Build A Better Burger

An Australia-listed company said Nov. 8 it plans to make burgers, chips and other items sold by the country s leading locally owned fast-food operator up to 40 per cent healthier, using the humble okra vegetable and other natural ingredients. Holista Colltech will develop and use the proprietary ingredients for an exclusive period of two

Cattle Market Outlook Bright

CO-OPERATOR STAFF / BRANDON Feeder prices, already bright, are likely to get even brighter. I m not willing to quote any prices or make any predictions on how high they might go, but I m pretty bullish that this market is going to be strong, Cargill s Tyler Friesen said at the recent Manitoba Beef


Ritz Repeatedly Calls Oberg A Thief — Then Recants

Under threat of legal action, federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz hastily retracted widely circulated comments he made last week accusing CWB chair Allen Oberg of stealing farmers money. This word was only used figuratively and I retract it, Ritz said in a statement emailed to reporters Nov. 12. It remains our government s belief that

Germany To Review Antibiotics Use In Farm Animals

HAMBURG / REUTERS / Germany will review the use of antibiotics in farm animals and possibly introduce new rules restricting their use, according to the country s agriculture minister. The move followed media reports that up to 80 per cent of chickens bred for meat in some German regions had been treated with antibiotics. Rules


Letters – for Nov. 10, 2011

A Tonne Of Discontent Brandon Souris MP Merv Tweed found a tonne of grain delivered to his riding office Nov. 4. (See photo on page 19.) Farmers are angry that Tweed s government is breaking the law and denying us a vote on our CWB. Canada is watching as Tweed and his Minister of Agriculture