Voluntary Better Than Legislated

Thousand Seed Weight (grams) Estimated Canola Plant Populations Under Various Seeding Conditions To maximize yield, ideal plant populations range from seven to 14 plants/ft2. At any set seeding rate (lb./ac.), the typical average for emergence is around 50 per cent depending on field conditions. The plant population will also be affected by seed size, measured

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


GM Flax, Alfalfa Focus Of Debate At KAP

“But today, I think you can test for everything except for the existence of God. So, we’re screwed.” – Ed Rempel Resolut ions aimed at cur ing both present and future headaches caused by genetically modified crops were discussed at the latest Keystone Agricultural Producers general council. Two resolutions were approved, one to look at

Some Farmers Asking Who Is Liable?

Saskatchewan farmer Gordon Nodge asked the question that’s on a lot of farmers’ minds: Who’s to blame for the contamination of Canada’s flax by CDC Triffid? “The liability for the inadvertent leak and subsequent contamination (of Canada’s non-GM flax) must lay somewhere,” said the farmer from Swift Current, Sask., during a conference call March 18


Global Energy, Food, Water Shortages On The Horizon

By 2015, the world will have arrived at the summit of global crude oil production, according to John Oliver, president of Maple Leaf Bio-Concepts. After that point, depletion rates of roughly four to six per cent per year in the world’s “easy” oilfields will leave an ever-shrinking pool of the precious resource to power the

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


In Briefs continued from page 2 – for Feb. 25, 2010

Move over Canada: China is rapidly moving up the ranks towards becoming the U. S.’s top market for agricultural exports. The Asian economy will replace Japan as the No. 3 market for U. S. farm exports this fiscal year and in a few years it could be the largest buyer overall, said the USDA Feb.

Opposition To GM Wheat Remains Strong

Acoalition of farmer and consumer groups opposed to the introduction of genetically modified wheat says their campaign now has support from 233 consumer and farmer groups in 26 countries. The 233 groups signed the rejection statement first launched by 15 Australian, Canadian and U. S. farmer and consumer groups in June 2009, according to a


EU Weighs Proposals To Break GMO Deadlock

Plans to let national governments decide whether to allow genetically modified (GMO) crop cultivation on their land could unblock a paralysis in EU GMO approvals, but risk igniting internal-market disputes. Proposals from the Dutch and Austrian governments, under consideration by the executive European Commission, have won the backing of several countries and interested parties, and

The Colour Of Farm Politics

A lot of Europeans travel but don’t seem to worry about consuming GM crops while on holiday in another country. Green is the new Red. In other words, a big part of the Green movement is fuelled by people with a philosophy that used to be called Red – a philosophy that’s anti-business and anti-development.