Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) — New tariffs on Russian fertilizer exports are not expected to affect sales from that country to Prairie farmers through the Saskatoon-based purchasing group Farmers of North America (FNA). The Russian government recently said nitrogen fertilizer exports will be subject to a tariff of 8.5 per cent of the customs value while […] Read more
Tariff shouldn’t hinder fertilizer imports: FNA
Canada’s canola, wheat, pea acres forecast to rise
Reading Time: 4 minutes (Resource News International) — Canola, wheat, and field peas appear poised to gain acres in Canada for the 2008-09 crop year, according to industry sources. Lentils and edible beans are also forecast to see increased acreage while barley and oat acres are expected to decline. Fertilizer prices, rotation concerns, economics and familiarity will be the […] Read more
Tendering stage next for new Sask. pork plant
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) — Plans to build a new one million-head-per-year hog slaughtering plant at Saskatoon are advancing as planned, with construction set to begin this summer, according to a consultant involved in the project. The Saskatchewan Hog Slaughter Plant Initiative, a partnership between Fishing Lake First Nation, the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board and Big […] Read more
Feed wheat priced out of ethanol market
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) — Ethanol plants in western Canada have decided to step back from the feed wheat market and are looking instead to alternative feed stocks, according to industry officials. Dennis Floate, senior communications advisor for Husky Energy, said the company has decided to back away from feed wheat use in its ethanol plants […] Read more
Sunflower acres seen steady, prices high
Reading Time: 3 minutes (Resource News International) — Acreage in Canada for both oilseed and confectionary sunflowers for 2008-09 is forecast to be similar to, or slightly above, the levels seen in 2007-08, according to industry sources. During 2007-08, 200,151 acres were seeded to sunflowers of both varieties, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. That compares to 190,267 acres […] Read more
Farm equipment demand seen as highest in years
Reading Time: 3 minutes (Resource News International) — Farm equipment dealers in Canada are selling out for 2008-09 as producer demand for farm equipment rises to the highest levels seen in years, according to industry officials. “It’s so busy that manufacturers are out of equipment,” said Alex Loewen, general sales manager for Deere Country Equipment in Steinbach, Man. “We […] Read more
Sask. seeks exit from Big Sky hog business
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) —Crown corporation Investment Saskatchewan Inc. (IS) is looking to sell its majority shares in Big Sky Farms Inc. at Humboldt, Sask., according to a Saskatchewan Party official. “It is part of our medium-term plan to sell this asset [Big Sky] when taxpayer returns can be maximized. That is our goal at the […] Read more
Opinions divided over 2008 barley acreage
Reading Time: 3 minutes (Resource News International) — Opinion is divided as to how the debate over the Canadian Wheat Board’s (CWB) barley marketing monopoly will affect barley acreage in the 2008-09 crop year. Based on conversations he has had with barley farmers, Western Barley Growers’ Association (WBGA) past president Doug McBain of Cremona, Alta., said he believes fewer […] Read more
Wheat stocks below industry expectations
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Resource News International) — The grain and oilseed stocks in all positions report from Statistics Canada Tuesday morning contained few surprises overall, with the exception of wheat, which saw tighter than expected supplies, market participants said. Mike Jubinville, an agricultural consultant with ProFarmer Canada in Winnipeg, said the report confirmed the general tightening scenario many […] Read more
Canadian official sees veto in U.S. Farm Bill’s future
Reading Time: 3 minutes (Resource News International) — The latest U.S. Farm Bill could be vetoed by President George W. Bush in coming weeks unless significant changes are made to the controversial legislation, according to Stephen Lavergne, director of U.S. trade advocacy for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. U.S. Farm Bills, re-drafted every five years, play a significant role in […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
