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

Grain commission defended

With the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly soon to disappear there’s talk of overhauling Canada’s grading and quality control system, which begs the question: is the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) still needed? “The short answer is yes, there is a need for the grain commission,” chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson said in an interview March 1. “If


EU grains vulnerable with no protective snow

(Reuters) –– Bitterly cold weather in Europe is raising concerns over damage to European Union grain plantings, but crops could still come through the cold snap unscathed, analysts said. The problem is that snow is scarce in west Europe’s Grain Belts. In France, a mild winter has soft wheat crops about two to three weeks

Watch For Mycotoxins In This Season’s Grain

Bernie Peet is president of Pork Chain Consulting Ltd. of Lacombe, Alber ta, and editor of Western Hog Journal. His columns will run every second week in the Manitoba Co-operator. This year’s cool, wet weather not only delayed harvest, but also produced higher-than-normal incidence of fusarium mould in grain. Producers are being warned that high


Russia Needs 80-Million-Tonne Crop

Russia will need to reap at least 80 million tonnes of grain in the 2011-12 crop year to cover domestic needs, Arkday Zlochevsky, president of powerful grain lobby the Russian Grain Union, said Nov. 18. Russia, formerly the world’s third-largest wheat exporter, was hit by its worst drought in over a century this summer. As

As Usual Moderation Is The Key

Who can resist the aroma, texture and flavour of fresh-baked bread? Unfortunately, bread sometimes has been viewed as a villain in the world of weight management and weight loss. Some fad diets completely cut out grains and lots of nutrients in the process. Can we gain weight by regularly eating more calories from bread than


Take Extra Care When Storing Grain

Getting the crop in the bin is only the first part of the harvest; safe storage is the rest of the story. “Safe storage of the crop depends on two main variables, the temperature of the crops going into the bin and the moisture content of the crop,” says Harry Brook, crop specialist with Alberta

Grain Bins Can Be Dangerous

Safety is vital when working around grain, says North Dakota State University Extension Service agr icul tural engineer Ken Hellevang. One potential safety hazard is ice accumulation on grain dryer fans. That can lead to imbalance and vibration. Fans disintegrated during the 2008-09 harvest because of ice buildup. Hellevang recommends producers monitor fans for ice


Floyd Farms Drops Processing Elevator Licence

Floyd Farms of Arborg has decided not to renew its licence as a process elevator effective Oct. 1. The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has no reason to suspect any farmers are owed money for grain delivered to Floyd Farms, CGC spokesman Remi Gosselin said. If there are any, they should contact the CGC, he added.

Cigi Program In Its 42Nd Year

Re p r e s e n t a t i v e s from 12 countries are attending the 42nd International Grain Industry Program at the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) in Winnipeg. The two-week program that begins July 6 features classroom and technical demonstrations on Canadian grains for international customers. The sessions will