Reforms Can Unlock Potential Of Eurasia Farms

Russia and Ukraine, where drought-hit harvests this year sent world grain prices soaring, could massively boost output with the right reforms, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). One key to development is land ownership classification, for example, allowing farmers to use land as collateral, or a system of crop receipts, as

In Brief… – for Oct. 7, 2010

Deer ticks now across province:The deer ticks known to harbour the bacteria that cause Lyme disease can now be found throughout Manitoba, including their “well-established” population in the southeast, according to U of M entomologist Terry Galloway. Until this season’s fieldwork is done, it’s not known if deer tick populations have also “established” themselves in


Independent Ag Retailers Band Together – for Sep. 23, 2010

A new umbrella group for independent farm input retailers was launched last week in a bid to continue offering farmers local service combined with top-notch agronomy support. Dubbed the “Grow Community of Independents,” the organization is designed to make the 20 dealers in its network who operate out of 73 locations across the three prairie

Agrium Sees AWB As A Platform For Retail Growth – for Sep. 9, 2010

Fertilizer maker and farm products retailer Agr ium Inc. sees Australia’s AWB as the perfect platform to continue expanding its global retail network, said a top company executive Aug. 16. Agrium has launched an unsolicited $1.1 billion bid to acquire AWB, Australia’s largest wheat exporter, trumping a rival offer from Australia’s GrainCorp. “The key is


BIC Clarifies Marketing Stance – for Aug. 26, 2010

The Beef Information Centre has clarified its policy regarding support for regional and provincial marketing initiatives. In a BIC committee meeting, members agreed in principle to accept a new draft guideline that states the centre will provide promotional materials and technical support for “buy local” and public relations campaigns and shows, provided that they do

Meat Price Surge Not Expected In Canada

“There’s definitely a stall on here.” – PERRY MOHR Canada is unlikely to see a surge in meat prices this summer, unlike the United States, where pork and beef prices soared earlier this spring. The wholesale price of pork in the U. S. increased as much as 25 per cent in April, while beef rose


Billion-Dollar Agriculture Fund For Sudan

Egypt’s Beltone Private Equity and Sudan’s Kenana Sugar Company are launching a $1-billion agricultural investment fund, Beltone said March 23. Gulf and other Arab countries have been investing in a range of farming projects in Sudan, Africa’s biggest country by area and long viewed as having huge agricultural potential. “We are launching the fund with

Agrium, Rivals Seen Focusing On Smaller Deals

“Consolidation of the fertilizer industry worldwide is far from over.” – JOERGEN OLE HASLESTAD Aprotracted takeover battle in the global fertilizer industry ended this week with a victory for CF Industries Holdings Inc., but the losers are unlikely to wait long before climbing back into the fray. CF Industries’ agreement to acquire Terra Industries brought


Rich Horse Owners Want Only The Best

They may have enviable riding weather in the Deep South, but it’s no place to try and put up hay. In Kentucky, home of the famed derby, they get 46 inches of rain in an average year. And in Florida, where horse racing and stud farms are a big industry, it rains a little nearly

They Need Hay — And They Can Pay

“Up until now, they weren’t really tracking their irrigation use, but now they are really cracking down, given what their water supply situation is going to be like over the coming decades.” – glenn friesen New markets for hay in the oil-rich Middle East could present a golden opportunity for Manitoba forage growers – if