The grain company formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board has picked a site for a second high-throughput Prairie grain elevator, this time in central Saskatchewan. CWB announced Thursday it has started construction of a 42,000-tonne capacity steel facility on Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) track just southeast of Colonsay, about 60 km east of Saskatoon […] Read more
CWB building grain elevator east of Saskatoon
PEDv found in hogs at W. Manitoba site
Veterinary officials in Manitoba are following up with hog farmers who’ve taken animals through an unnamed “high-traffic site” after a “small number” of hogs held there were confirmed positive for porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED). In its preliminary investigation, the office of Manitoba’s chief veterinary officer (CVO) finds it likely that the PED-positive pigs picked up […] Read more
Livestock price insurance plan now taking applications
With applications now available, Western Canada’s cattle and hog producers are being encouraged to consider the new federal/provincial livestock price insurance plan as a risk management tool against unexpected price drops. The Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP), announced in January, is an insurance policy product offering protection against an unexpected drop in prices of […] Read more
Que. ag minister, ag critics hold seats in PQ loss
The Parti Quebecois’ agriculture minister and his critics in Quebec’s assembly have held their seats in the wake of an election that’s upended the province’s government. Francois Gendron, who’d served as Premier Pauline Marois’ deputy premier and the province’s agriculture, food and fisheries minister since September 2012, held his Abitibi-Ouest riding in Monday night’s election […] Read more
Sask. to ease kill rules on wolves, ravens
Saskatchewan plans to clear a regulatory path for hunters to better target wolves in areas where they’ve become a predator problem — and will now allow landowners to kill ravens in areas where the birds are also predators. Amendments to the province’s Wildlife Regulations have been set up to allow landowners to protect property from […] Read more
Get grain piles safely binned before May, expert warns
One of the Prairies’ top experts in stored grain’s circle of life is warning farmers to get piled or bagged crops up off the ground before next month. Last fall’s bumper harvest and this winter’s grain rail freight backlog have together left Prairie farmers without sufficient bin space storing crops in Silobags or Quonsets or […] Read more
PotashCorp CEO to step down, replacement named
Saskatchewan-based fertilizer giant PotashCorp has announced its CEO’s plans to step down in July and has named a copper mining firm’s CEO as his replacement. Bill Doyle, PotashCorp’s CEO since 1999, announced Sunday he will step down as chief executive after 27 years with the company, and remain as a “senior advisor” through June 2015. […] Read more
U.S. appeal court to reconsider whether to block COOL
A U.S. appeals court which last month rejected North American meat and livestock industry groups’ plea to halt U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) on meat has scrapped its own ruling and will re-hear the groups’ case in May. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit announced Friday it has vacated the […] Read more
Toronto pork packer in creditor protection
Ontario’s hog farmers are still processing news that a mainstay of the Toronto meat packing industry is in creditor protection. Quality Meat Packers and its Toronto Abattoirs arm have been granted 30 days’ creditor protection Thursday to “evaluate restructuring alternatives,” Ontario Pork reported Friday morning. Ontario Pork, which represents the province’s 1,500-plus hog producers, said […] Read more
Mountie pursues stolen tractor on snowmobile
RCMP at Blackfalds, Alta., north of Red Deer, have charged a 25-year-old man with theft and breaking and entering in the wake of a rural “mini-crime spree” and a wild, albeit geared-down, chase through snow-covered fields. CLICK HERE to read Alexis Kienlen’s story on the Alberta Farmer website.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
