Weak Pound Revives U. K.’S Ailing Livestock Sector

Aweak pound has revived Britain’s ailing livestock sector, boosting prices and helping restore profitability despite the global economic downturn, industry sources said April 8. “Exchange rates are having a tremendous impact on our markets at the moment. From around October the vast majority of producers have been above the line (making positive margins),” said Mick

Fungicidal Treatment For Cereals Registered

U. S. chemical firm Chemtura and ag input retail firm UAP Canada have registration in hand for a new fungicidal seed treatment for use by Prairie cereal growers. Rancona Apex will be available this season for use by farmers in Western Canada, UAP said in a release March 6. UAP has the Chemtura product’s Prairie


Pilgrim’s Pride Eyes 2009 Bankruptcy Exit

U. S. chicken producer Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. has idled plants and is streamlining operations in hopes of exiting from bankruptcy protection by the end of 2009, CEO Don Jackson told Reuters on Feb. 27. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in December after struggling for nearly a year with high feed costs and low meat

Who picks up the tab for last year’s overpriced fertilizer?

It’s a classic “chicken” scenario, with both sides waiting to see whether the other caves first. Fertilizer retailers, stuck with overpriced inventories bought during last summer’s market peak, are hoping that the fear of shortages amidst the seeding rush will force farmers to start cutting cheques. Farmers, on the other hand, are holding out for


Musical Chairs Occur At Milk Price Review Commission

“There are some advantages that have been given away here.” – CRAIG LEE The Manitoba government has sacked all independent members of a provincial milk price regulator and replaced them with civil servants as it moves towards a single western Canadian fluid milk price. Letters went out to members of the Manitoba Milk Prices Review

Finding an economic “sweet spot”

The latest Canada West Foundation profile and economic forecast for Manitoba underscores a reality that still bites in the farming community. The wheat economy that built this province has, over time, been overshadowed by a highly diversified economy, which means it doesn’t grow as fast during boom times and it doesn’t fall as far during


Social marketing comes to the farm

Ever wonder why, when you’re Googling the Internet, certain advertisements appear on the computer screen as if they’re anticipating you? It’s not an accident. Google knows which websites you visit and tailors ads according to what it thinks your interests might be. Let’s say you’re a farmer surfing the Net. You might see herbicide ads

Tyson to tighten beef, pork COOL labelling

U. S. meat company Tyson Foods Inc. said this week it will tighten its country-of-origin labelling (COOL) practices starting early next year to identify more of its beef and pork products as sourced exclusively from the United States. The leading U. S. beef and No. 2 pork producer had initially planned on categorizing its beef