Canola Council’s Promotion Funds Doubled

The Canola Council of Canada will have twice as much money to promote Canadian canola oil and meal exports this year thanks to $1.16 million from the federal government’s AgriMarketing program. “It enhances our ability to work in our existing markets, but it also frees up dollars to allow us to investigate and look at

Letters – for Jul. 14, 2011

Why would strictly grain, especially canola growers, be concerned over Bill 46, the Save Lake Winnipeg Act and the phosphorus regulation? Spreading nutrients in winter significantly increases their movement into waterways during spring thaw and flood events in Manitoba. Before 75 per cent of wetlands had been destroyed in agro- Manitoba, most excess nutrients were


Try These Annuals

What could be more satisfying than a flourishing sunny garden? However, not all plants enjoy full-sun locations and many prefer cool, shady areas. If you’re planning to grow a sunny garden, examine the conditions your plants will be growing in. Is the garden exposed to full sun most of the day, or will the plants

Can’t Go Back In Time

John Fefchak made a good point in outlining the process of producing (grain) to product (bread) in his May 12 letter. However he failed to point out that the seed used to grow the grain undergoes the route of


What’s ESN?

It’s the trade name for an Agrium product that’s being touted as the next-generation of polymer-coated urea. The coating encases the urea granule, preventing it from converting to plant-available nitrate, which is also a very volatile form of nitrogen that can escape from your fields. Agrium says – and research confirms – that the product

Phytosanitary Grain Rules Need Work

The international grain trade needs better phytosanitary rules and tolerances for low-level presence of genetically modified (GM) crops, says Dennis Stephens, a consultant contracted to co-ordinate the Canada Grains Council. “Zero thresholds are no longer obtainable,” Stephens told the council’s 42nd annual meeting in Winnipeg earlier this month. “We’ve reached a stage where we have


Study Finds Biodiesel Blend Can Handle Prairie Winter

Anew study on biodiesel performance has found you can go green – even on a frosty winter day. Tractors and other farm equipment using fuel containing as much as 10 per cent biodiesel operated normally even when the temperature dipped to -36 C, according to a study conducted by the Saskatchewan Research Council. “The study

Exporting To India Not Without Challenges

India is emerging as an attractive market for Canadian agricultural exports, but there are a few hurdles to keep in mind, participants in a recent business forum were told. While the rest of the world is struggling to spring back from a recession, India’s projected growth for 2011-12 is 8.75 per cent to 9.25 per


U.S. FDA Will Step Up Food Inspections From Japan

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said March 17 it was working on new steps to ensure food imports from Japan were safe as that country works to contain radiation from stricken nuclear power facilities. “As FDA assesses whether there is a potential health risk associated with FDA-regulated food products imported from Japan, the agency

In Brief… – for Mar. 17, 2011

Terminal deal:Richardson International Limited said March 10 it has agreed to buy the North East Terminal grain-handling facility in Wadena, Saskatchewan. The $25-million deal, which also includes crop input facilities at Wadena, Kelvington, Foam Lake and Ponass Lake, Saskatchewan, is expected to close on April 13. The sale hinges on approval by North East shareholders,