A storied career and special man recognized by his many colleagues

Dennis Stephens has worked in the grain industry for 50 years 
as a reporter, grain industry official, and assistant deputy 
minister of agriculture

After a 50-year career in agriculture, they were lining up to praise — and gently rib — Dennis Stephens at the recent Canada Grains Council annual meeting. “Dennis is first and foremost a journalist with a passion for detail,” said Will Hill, president of Flax Council of Canada. Not to mention one with an appetite

Ottawa urges Canadian grain industry to pull together

Danny Penner, the iconoclast who wants Canada’s farmers to get their voices together, has a fan in high places. “I read your blog. I think it’s great,” Greg Meredith, an assistant deputy minister with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada told Penner during a question period April 2 during the Canada Grains Council’s annual meeting in Winnipeg.


Farmers don’t want their research dollars to boost fortunes of big corporations

Head of Western Grains Research Foundation is studying the idea of a farmer-owned 
breeding company, but says any decision is a long way off

Grain producers want their research dollars to benefit them, and not big corporations in the post-single-desk world. “At what point are we going to stop funding research and selling it off and paying for it again and again,” Rob Brunel asked at the recent Keystone Agricultural Producers annual general meeting. He said he doesn’t want

DDGS on sale, but buyers wary

Prices for DDGS — dried distillers grains (with solubles) — have come down significantly over the past few weeks, but are still too high when compared to other feed options. “Prices are dropping, but they haven’t dropped significantly enough to attract Canadian buyers,” said Ryan Slozka, senior commodity trader with Rycom Trading, a major importer


CGC distributes Newco Grain security

Eligible farmers owed money for grain they delivered to Newco Grain Ltd., of Coaldale, Alta., when it was a licensed grain dealer before May 11, received 95.1 per cent of what they were owed, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) said in a news release Nov. 23. About 144 farmers received approximately $3 million through the

Canada’s grain system world’s best

For years Canada’s grain industry engaged in self-flagellation, condemning the grain-handling and transportation system as inefficient. Not anymore. “We have arguably the world’s most efficient handling network,” Don Solman, Richardson’s vice-president of finance and chief financial officer told the Grain Industry Symposium Nov. 21. “Back in the 1990s, basically the network was rebuilt with large


CGC warns to watch for storage pests

The Canadian Grain Commission is warning farmers that the warm summer across the Prairies has increased the risk of insect infestations in stored grain. “This year we’ve had a mild winter followed by a warm summer. In these conditions, insects, such as the rusty grain beetle and the red flour beetle, can increase in number

Farmland isn’t a gold mine — it’s better

London/Reuters — Farmland values in Britain will rise 37 per cent by 2016, beating forecast growth for gold, oil, 10-year British government bonds and homes in London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, according to data compiled by Oxford Economics and the research arm of property consultant Savills. Savills director Alex Lawson cited the need for increased global



Open-market supporters optimistic post-CWB monopoly

There’s lots of optimism ahead of ending the wheat board’s monopoly Aug. 1, but there will be challenges too, according to a panel that spoke at the Canada Grain Council’s 43rd annual meeting in Winnipeg April 16. “I just say the sky is the limit now,” said Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association president Kevin Bender.