When 2011 comes knocking, most of us may not get up to let it in. Expectations are low, to say the least. But even if nothing revolutionary looks likely, our newspapers will keep publishing. Will we read these (admittedly light-hearted) stories in the months ahead?
February 7 –National Post
Spec Funds Seek Farmers
As the Chicago Board of Trade enters its third straight week without any sales to or from farmers, spec funds planned a news conference today to urge farmers to return to the market. However, the press conference was postponed twice and then cancelled as spec traders rushed back to the market floor, where major commodities traded up limit, then down limit, and then up and down again.
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Editor’s Note: No pressure
What is your playbook going into this year’s crop? Not an easy question to answer right now, given the global…
March 26 –New York Times
Food Scare Goes Organic
Cross-country food poisoning has been traced to moulds on organic vegetables. Scientists say the moulds always made a few consumers sick every year, but now that big box stores are selling organic, more shoppers are exposed. Ironically, the epidemic is increasing confidence in organic foods. Said Gary Jones, a patient at Holy Cross, “I feel so much better knowing that what is making me sick is natural.”
June 19 –Regina Leader Post
Food Fight at Farm Meeting
A farm meeting here turned ugly last night when Dairy Farmers of Ontario representatives hurled buns and slices of bread and shouted “Down the wheat board” after they had been drenched with glasses of milk by angry Prairie farmers who shouted “Down with the milk board.” The meeting had been called to build peace and understanding between the two groups. In a side story, thousands of Ontario grain and oil-seed growers have donated $3.6 million to the Prairie group to hold more meetings.
Sept 19 –Reuters
China Promises Open Market
Answering to international criticism today, China’s minister of agriculture announced the country will no longer distort commodity markets “when this aligns with essential national objectives.” On a trade mission in Beijing, Canadian Prime Minister Michael Ignatieff responded, “Huh?”
Nov. 24 –Manitoba Co-operator
Globe &Mail Called “Failure”
After the Globe &Mail launched another of its annual series promising facts and insight on agriculture with its front-page story, “Why farmers aren’t smart like us,” The Co-operator introduces its own look into faltering productivity at the country’s national newspaper. According to the Cooperator’s analysis, if the Globe was as productive as the average farmer, you’d not only get a copy of the paper for five cents, you’d be able to eat it too. “Nonsense,” said reader Eliot Goode of Neepawa. “But it might be good for the pigs.”
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tom. [email protected]. Happy New Year!
