Rib Ends:
Notes, news 'n' notions
Fertilizer price increase
Anticipated increases in the price of fertilizers will be another
expense for many producers in the region. Pictou-North Colchester
Federation of Agriculture President Joe Ebbett anticipates the
cost of fertilizer to double or go even higher, based on information
given to him by a fertilizer company sales representative. One
tonne of triple-17 fertilizer sold for about $640 last year but
could reach as high as $1,500 this year. (TDN, Feb 9/09)
2009 herd letter
The beginning of 2009 brings with it a new calf crop. A reminder
to all that the herd letter for 2009 is "W".
Challenging COOL
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA) is encouraging the
federal government to challenge the U.S. government on its Country-of-Origin
Labeling (COOL) legislation. The CCA says substantive changes
suggested by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack will
cause further disruptions in cattle and beef trade between Canada
and the U.S. The CCA wants the Canadian government to resume
a World Trade Organization (WTO) challenge against the trade-restrictive
actions of the U.S. To read more on the challenge, follow the
CCA: Time to Take COOL to the WTO link at www.AtlanticFarmer.com.
(TCS, Mar 2/09)
Ottawa farmer donates hay
When George and Julia Bourque's main dairy barn collapsed in
Fredericton, N.B., most of the 70 cattle got out safely but all
the stored hay was lost. Even worse, the barn was not insured.
That's when Craig Penk, an Ottawa-area man in his fifth year
at UNB, who also happens to work part time at the farm, mobilized
help from home to send a crucial shipment of hay. Neighbors pitched
in to help, and Ottawa-area farmer Peter Eastman donated thousands
of dollars worth of hay. New Brunswick trucking firm Sunbury
Transport delivered the hay to the Bourque farm at no charge.
(TOC, Feb. 12/09)
Resuming beef trade
For the first time since 2003, Canadian beef exporters will
be able to ship boneless beef from animals under 30 months of
age to the lucrative Saudi Arabian market. Prior to a BSE-related
ban on beef exports in 2003, Saudi Arabia was the sixth largest
market for Canadian exports of beef. (thebeefsite.com, Feb 20/09)
N.B. provincial vet fees increase
New Brunswick's provincial veterinarian fees are scheduled to
increase by approximately 10 percent on April 1, leading to some
producers complaining about the added expense. However, while
Middle Sackville dairy and cattle farmer Alan Prescott isn't
happy about the additional costs, he recognizes that farmers'
vet bills are still less than they would be using private-sector
vet and lab services. "Everything is going up nowadays,"
he says. "It seems to be a thankless job sometimes."
(STP, Feb 16/09)
Pryor elected
Bill Pryor, cow-calf producer from Williamstown, N.B., has been
chosen to succeed Henry Knight as president of the New Brunswick
Cattle Producers. Larry Ratcliffe is secretary-manager of the
agency with offices in Fredericton.
Will they settle?
With money in trust to pursue Bill Sauer's BSE class action
suit against the Department of Agriculture, will the government
let the case go to trial, or settle out of court? That's what
feed purveyor Ridley Canada Inc., based in Winnipeg did, paying
$6 million into a trust fund that's to be used to argue that
government agencies dropped the ball allowing BSE to enter the
Canadian herd. In turn, that lead to loss of U.S. markets and
a devastated industry. The government has until April 6 to enter
a statement of defense. Follow developments on the BSE Class
Action link on www.AtlanticFarmer.com.
