Cereal Research Centre axed

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Cereal Research Centre will be shuttered within two years, but a senior department official says much of its work will continue. Industry leaders are less confident in the wake of last week’s announcement to close the facility that earned Western Canada its breadbasket reputation as part of a five to 10

Community pasture program to wind down

Ottawa is getting out of the community pasture business and streamlining Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada by rolling the Agri-Environment Services Branch, formerly known as PFRA, into the new Science and Technology Branch. Details were still trickling out last week, but according to Cam Dahl, general manager of the Manitoba Beef Producers, cattle farmers will still


Ritz says budget cuts won’t affect food safety

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is brushing off accusations that cuts at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will eliminate the jobs of 100 veterinarians and inspectors. Reductions will be predominantly “backroom changes,” said Ritz. “Anyone who says this will affect food safety is off the mark,” he said. But the president of the agriculture division of

Marking a century of service

To survive a century is quite an achievement. But our longevity is not what is noteworthy, as you will see as you read about our past. No, our true achievement is our role in the growth of the Canadian grain industry. For 100 years, we have collaborated with Canadian grain producers and other members of


Farm leaders waiting to see how budget cuts play out

Agriculture Canada will have its $3-billion-a-year budget chopped by 10 per cent during the next few years — but details are scarce. Both the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and Grain Growers of Canada said they wouldn’t judge the budget until they learned more about how the reductions will be implemented. “Although on the surface the

Budget lacks funds for housing: AMM

Improved Internet access and a commitment to keep funding infrastructure upgrades were good news for municipalities in last week’s federal budget. Budget 2012 contained several highlights that will affect rural and small-town Canada. They included an ongoing commitment for a new, long-term infrastructure plan implemented before the Building Canada Fund ends in 2014, $150 million


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



Grain-handling history available online

A train rushes across the Prairies, taking rail cars of grain from country elevators to terminal elevators at Thunder Bay, Ontario. It’s a scene that could be from any year. But this train is a steam engine and the year is 1955, as seen in the documentary “Grain Handling in Canada” which is available for

Obama calls for end to direct payments

With Congress beginning an overhaul of U.S. farm law, President Barack Obama called Feb. 13 for elimination of a $5-billion-a-year subsidy paid to farmers regardless of need but held steady funding for the department’s often-criticized data forecasting arm. Obama proposed reforms totalling $32 billion over 10 years for farm supports in his new budget. It