Newsroom
The Bulletin
April 6, 2009
At a glance
- The CWB is making it easier for farmers to keep an eye on the weather. A new package of WeatherBug® equipment and services, designed specifically for agricultural use in Western Canada, has been introduced for spring 2009. It includes features that are more convenient for busy producers and improve network data collection at the same time. For more information, go to http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/farmers/weather/stations/ .
- Farm photographers have until April 9 to submit their best shots for the CWB’s annual calendar contest. This year’s theme is “In all Kinds of Weather” because farming goes on, no matter what Mother Nature brings. For details, check out www.cwb.ca/photo .
- The CWB’s offices will be closed for Good Friday on Apr. 10, but open for business on Monday, Apr. 13.
- CWB online permit renewal for the 2009-10 crop year began Apr. 1. Farmers can renew their permits online through e-Services or at their local elevators. Permit book packages will be sent out in June. Producers are urged to renew early to avoid delays when delivering their 2009-10 crop. Registering for an e-Services account is easy by going to www.cwb.ca , clicking the e-Services tab, then clicking on Register today.
- Producers and landlords currently listed on delivery permit as a joint operation, trade name or partnership must complete and submit a Continuing Personal Guarantee form by May 1, 2009 to be eligible to sign up a Producer Payment Option (PPO). This also applies to new producers applying for their first permit. For more information, go to http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/farmers/permit/cpg/ .
- The Western Grains Research Foundation has launched a Provincial Registration Trials Web site at www.pvttrials.com .The site allows farmers to compare varieties directly with results for their farm. It gives producers online access to Post-registration Variety data from all western Canadian provinces. Starting only with Canadian Western Red Spring wheat, producers can see the potential value of combining this information in one centralized location. The goal is to eventually include all crop types. The Web site will give producers a better idea of how a particular variety behaves overall in Western Canada, leading to better variety selection.
Pot-pourri
- The University of Manitoba’s Department of Entomology presents invited speaker David Lobb, Professor, Department of Soil Science, who will speak on “Soil landscape variability: its causes, management, and potential impact on pests” on Apr. 7 in Room 220 Animal Science/Entomology Building, 10 a.m.
Quote … Unquote
- “Little or no pain should be experienced by grain-based foods, and flour milling specifically, in considering the many implications of preliminary data issued by the Census Bureau on U.S. flour production in 2008. Yes, there’s no denying the disappointment of the basic finding that output of wheat flour dipped from the previous year…. Yet, when compared with the way other industries fared in response to the severe business declines, grain-based foods should be pleased by this performance.” – Morton Sosland, editor, Milling & Baking News.
From elevator to port
- During Week 36, there were 18 bids submitted under the tendering process. The CWB awarded six contracts to three grain companies for the movement of 200 cars of wheat to Prince Rupert and 112 cars of wheat to Vancouver.
- Rail car unloads for all grains for Week 36 were 3,941 at Vancouver, compared to 4,207 the previous week and 1,382 at Prince Rupert, compared to 1,577 the previous week. Unloads at Thunder Bay were 670, up from 621 the previous week.
- Primary elevator space for the week ending Apr. 3 was 22 per cent. By province: Manitoba – 24 per cent, Saskatchewan – 21 per cent and Alberta/BC – 22 per cent.
