New Book On Managing Prairie Rangeland

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has released an updated publication calledManagement of Canadian Prairie Rangeland.The book was written by Arthur Bailey, professor emeritus at the University of Alberta, Duane McCartney former forage and beef systems specialist at AAFC’s Lacombe Research Centre, and Michael Schellenberg, forage and range plant ecologist at AAFC’s Semiarid Agricultural Research Centre in

Open Letter To Stan Struthers

After reading the story “New Animal Welfare Laws Give Enforcement Officials New Power,” in the Nov. 11 Manitoba Co-operatorI have some serious concerns with your new top animal welfare officer, Dr. Terry Whiting. Whiting states in the first part of the article that he has the power of a police officer and the power to


Notre Dame Hog Case Headed To Court

A farm couple from the Rural Municipality of Lorne faces multiple charges of animal cruelty in what authorities call one of the worst cases of livestock abuse they have ever seen. Martin and Dolores Grenier have been accused of 23 counts under the provincial Animal Care Act after more than 2,000 pigs were found starving

Argentine Farmers Hopeful On Government Relations

The death last week of powerful former president Nestor Kirchner may mark a turning point in the government’s relations with Argentine farming groups, but farmers do not expect export tax cuts. The centre-left government of President Cristina Fernandez, Kirchner’s widow, has never forgiven farmers for a 2008 revolt over the grains export taxes. The fiery


More Shippers Rap Freight Service Panel Report

Shipper frustration with the idea of waiting until 2013 at the earliest to get better treatment from CN and CP is heating up. The Coalition of Rail Shippers has sent a memo to all MPs calling on the federal government “to act decisively now to address shortcomings in rail service.” The Rail Freight Service Review

FDIC Chair Warns Of Possible U. S. Farmland “Bubble”

U. S. farmland could be the next asset bubble at risk for bursting, a leading banking regulator said Oct. 18. Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., said it was important to monitor U. S. farmland values for signs of instability like the price bubbles in the housing and stock markets that burst


Mixed Reaction To Rail Freight Service Review Interim Report

Grain companies and Canadian Nat ional Railway (CN) turned thumbs down on the Rail Freight Service Review panel’s interim report, but for different reasons. The grain companies say the report commissioned by Transport Canada released Oct. 8 after two years of consultation is flawed because it fails to recommend the federal government immediately legislate the

Food Safety Review Slowly Getting Underway

The committee has been struck, but any revamp of food safety regulations is still a ways off. “We’re in early days,” said Anna Romano, executive director of the Food Safety Review Committee at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The group of government, agriculture and food industry officials has met once and agreed on six themes they


In Brief… – for Sep. 23, 2010

COOL hearing underway: Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Travis Toews said he is pleased with how the Canadian government presented its case against U. S. Country of Origin Labelling legislation before a WTO dispute settlement panel in Geneva, Switzerland last week. The U. S. did not challenge any of Canada’s economic evidence, but argued that these

Argentine Wheat Crop Off To A Good Start – for Sep. 16, 2010

BUENOS AIRES/REUTERS Argentina’s wheat area is seen slightly bigger than previously forecast and rains have brought relief to crops in recent days, Buenos Aires Grains Exchange said in a report Sept. 9. Argentina is one of the world’s leading wheat suppliers and markets have been closely watching dry conditions affecting 2010- 11 crops in recent