Peak Calls Truce In Spud War

“This is in place right away. We’re not going to enforce anything else.” – LARRY MCINTOSH Trevor Schreimer figured something was up when he and other members of the Manitoba Potato Coalition met with Agriculture Minister Stan Struthers earlier this month to lobby against Peak of the Market’s new regulation governing small potato growers. “He

Circumstances Outweigh Bearish Canola News

For three-times-daily market reports from Resource News International, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.manitobacooperator.ca ICE Futures Canada canola contracts saw some heavy-volume activity during the week ended April 16, as commercial and commodity fund traders rolled their positions out of the nearby May contract. However, those large volumes did little to rouse values out


Blumenort Hog Processor Receives Federal Funds

The federal government is lending $567,500 to the Blumenort-based Country Meat and Sausage Ltd. “This investment will allow Country Meat and Sausage to expand their production and pursue niche markets, giving livestock farmers more opportunities to boost their bottom line,” said Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz April 16.

China Lifts Import Restrictions On Canada Peas

Canada won concessions from China on several farm exports during a trade mission to Beijing and Inner Mongolia, but China’s more-important restrictions on Canadian canola and beef remain in place. China lifted import restrictions on Canadian peas, signed an agreement to buy $100 million worth of malt barley from the Canadian Wheat Board and reopened


New Seed Treatment For Pulse And Soybeans

Bayer CropScience has released Trilex AL, a seed treatment that gives pulse and soybean growers a powerful ally in the fight against early-season seed and seedling disease, the company says in a release. Registered for use on beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas and soybeans, the water-based liquid formulation of Trilex AL provides unmatched seed and seedling

Crop Report – for Apr. 22, 2010

SOUTHWEST Weather conditions have allowed fields to dry up quickly in the southwest region, permitting some producers to start seeding over the past weekend. Seeding operations are expected to continue into this week. Seeding in the region is approximately one to two weeks earlier than normal. Producers have also been fertilizing winter wheat, fall rye


Short Bill Sparks Hot Debate

Bill C-474 is sure stirring up a lot a fuss for being only 42 words long. The bill states in its entirety: “The governor-in-council shall, within 60 days after this act comes into force, amend the Seeds Regulations to require that an analysis of potential harm to export markets be conducted before the sale of

Can It Be Too Early?

After a couple of late springs, western Canadian farmers are poised to start seeding early thanks to above-normal temperatures that star ted in March. Earlier-seeded crops usually yield better and with farmers planting more acres, many are anxious to get rolling. But before Manitoba farmers hit the fields, they need to think about the potential


It’s A Winner — Trust Us

It’s no secret that the seed business has undergone dramatic changes over the past two decades. But two graphic examples have surfaced recently that illustrate some unforeseen consequences of those changes. The first, cancellation of the annual seed show at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, is unlikely to have any noticeable effect on how farmers

Put Age Verification On Hold

Our national mandatory program for age verification for cattle needs to be put on hold until there is careful study and round table discussions with farmers. Governments need to talk to actual farmers, not merely to organizations that claim to represent farmers and to the so-called industry leaders. The federal Standing Committee on Agriculture needs