Crowd of people in a conference room

First annual Canadian Global Crops Symposium sold out

Canada Grains Council president Richard Phillips says the conference exceeded his expectations

The saying goes “build it and they will come.” And they did. The first, and what is almost certain to be annual, Canadian Global Crops Symposium, held in Winnipeg April 15 and 16, was a huge success, said Richard Phillips, president of the Canada Grains Council, the association that organized the event aimed at attracting

New grains council president has deep roots in agriculture

Richard Phillips is a seed grower from Saskatchewan who has worked for several industry organizations

Richard Phillips is the new president of the Canada Grains Council. The 54-year-old has been the executive director of the Grain Growers of Canada for the past six years and is “ideally suited” for his new role, said grains council chair Chantelle Donohue. Phillips, a third-generation seed grower from Tisdale, Sask., has worked as an


Acreage forecasts come with a few grains of salt

There have been huge crop acreage shifts in the last 15 years, but expert says what happens next is just a guesstimate

Chuck Penner confirmed what most already knew — making price and acreage forecasts isn’t an exact science. “I’m in this business, but I really have to admit that they are really just guesstimates,” the president of LeftField Commodity Research said at the recent Canada Grains Council annual meeting. “When these people make these crop forecasts



Farm groups say trace levels of GM contamination should be allowed

Allowing minute traces of genetically modified material in shipments of grains and oilseeds is needed to keep exports flowing, say the Grain Growers of Canada and the Canada Grains Council. Both groups want Ottawa to keep pushing for an international agreement on low level presence (LLP) of GM material. “Canada has the chance to be

CGC issues warning on excessive canola dockage

The commission says buyers need to adjust for smaller but still sound canola seed harvested last fall

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is warning canola growers to be on guard for excessive dockage deductions this crop year. “Unexpected dockage levels are a common concern among canola producers this year,” CGC chief commissioner Elwin Hermanson said in a news release last week. “Were the dockage levels in your canola a little higher this


Letters, March 28, 2013

Farmers well represented by commodity groups I am replying to your recent article regarding farmer’s voice splintered. I am a grain farmer from Alberta growing wheat, canola and peas and have been involved in the canola and newly formed wheat commission in this province for the past 20 years. I take exception to your comments