BUSINESS

Canadian government invests in canola's future

Mar. 3, 2010 -A government investment of $25 million for agronomic and nutrition research will boost demand and production for Canadian canola producers, as part of a joint Canola/Flax Agri-Science Cluster and Clubroot Risk Mitigation Project, running from April 2010 to March 2013.   READ MORE

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Rule calls for more than a billion gallons of biodiesel

Mar. 3, 2010 -New regulations handed down by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) call for an expanded Renewable Fuels Standard, requiring 1.15 billion gallons of biodiesel to be used in the US by the end of this year.    READ MORE

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Soybean outlook: watch South America

Mar 3, 2010 -Soybean production in Brazil and Argentina is expected to be substantially larger than in recent years, so much so that US soybean exports are likely to decrease as China looks to the two South American countries to fill their soybean demand.           READ MORE

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Find the sweet spot
Quiz time: What is it worth to keep that $500,000 tool working when it can be used only 30 to 40 days in a year? More than a few farmers have pondered that as they watched the rain. At seeding, and at harvest, it is an understatement to say than an hour of field time is precious to a Prairie grain farm.

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Setting up a shochu barley value chain
"Kampai” is a common Japanese toast before a meal, and more Alberta farmers are likely to be using it in the future. Shochu, a fermented and distilled liquor, is a growing market opportunity for Alberta barley thanks to efforts by the Alberta Barley Commission, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (AARD) and Rahr Malting Canada Ltd. in Alix, Alberta.

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2009 distrillers grains exports set new record

Feb. 17, 2010 -The US ethanol industry set a new mark for exports of dry distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) in 2009, with 5.64 million tonnes sold, with Mexico and Canada as its top customers. The value of the exports was nearly $1.0 billion and the volume was 24 percent higher than in 2008.   READ MORE

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Government of Canada invests in flax industry

Feb. 15, 2010 -The Government of Canada is investing up to $5.9 million to help create new flax varieites geared to delivering high quality products to consumers at home and around the world, including $4.0 million directly from the fed's Developing Innovative Agri-Products (DIAP) program.     READ MORE

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Government help needed for agriculture

Feb. 15, 2010 -Farmers in Nova Scotia are concerned about sustainability of agriculture in the province, and posed a number of ideas at a recent forum in Stewiacke, including new food taxes, measures to help keep people in rural areas or having an agriculture minister with one, not multiple, portfolios.                   READ MORE

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Skilled labour: the key to helping farmers compete

Feb. 4, 2010 -The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council met in Moncton, New Brunswick this week, with a chance to interact with experts in employment and skills development. The goal of the conference is to help farmers compete in today's global economy.     READ MORE

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Opportunities exist to expand farm exports

Jan 28, 2010 -Improved export development that emphasizes market access, a reformed regulatory structure and increased productivity are the keys to achieving success in expanding farm exports to Third World Countries, according to Dr. Larry Martin of the George Morris Centre.   READ MORE

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