July 7, 2011 - The Western Producer

Page 1

THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2011

VOL. 89 | NO. 27 | $3.75

SOIL TURN ASH TO CASH | FIGHT SALINITY P18

SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923

|

WWW.PRODUCER.COM

KNEE DEEP IN NOZZLE ADJUSTMENTS

CLIMATE | UNPREDICTABILITY

New climate predicted for Prairies Volatile weather may be part of transition BY BRIAN CROSS SASKATOON NEWSROOM

LANIGAN, Sask. — Western Canada may be going through a turbulent, transitional phase that will eventually lead to a new, long-term climate regime that is more stable and predictable. “I actually think what’s happening is that we’re changing from one climate regime to another,” said David Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada, during the Western Beef Development Centre’s annual field day in Lanigan late last month. “And as nature sorts things out and completes that … (transition), we will continue to see more of that variability. But I think we are moving toward a time and a new regime where things are more stable and more static and more dependable.” He said changing land management practices and new land use trends may be to blame for the volatile weather and changing climate. SEE NEW CLIMATE, PAGE 2

CWB | CALLS FOR PLEBISCITE

CWB plans to hold plebiscite Ritz criticizes CWB | Federal government still intends to end wheat board monopoly BY BRIAN CROSS SASKATOON NEWSROOM

The battle lines continued to take shape this week in what is likely to be a long and bitter dispute over the future of the Canadian Wheat Board. Last week’s announcement by CWB chair Allen Oberg that the board will hold its own farmer plebiscite to gauge support for singledesk marketing drew immediate support from wheat board proponents and immediate criticism from

The minister always (says) that he wants to put farmers first and listen to their wishes. This plebiscite will be an excellent opportunity for him to do exactly just that. ALLEN OBERG CWB CHAIR

open market advocates, including federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz. In a June 29 speech to Grain Growers of Canada, Ritz made no secret of the fact that he was not happy with the board’s latest effort to force Ottawa’s hand.

He also reiterated that the Harper government will not stray from its plan to end the wheat board’s marketing monopoly. “Once again, the Canadian Wheat Board is failing to recognize that every single farmer should have the right to choose how they market their grain,” Ritz said. Current legislation requires the government to hold a producer plebiscite before changing the board’s marketing powers. However, Ritz has indicated that the majority Conservative government intends to introduce new legislation this fall that will end the CWB monopoly. Speaking to reporters on June 28, Oberg said the wheat board will hold the plebiscite regardless of Ottawa’s plans.

“They (the federal Conservatives) say the federal election results are a mandate from prairie farmers to dismantle our single desk marketing structure for wheat and barley. We disagree,” Oberg said. “The minister always (says) that he wants to put farmers first and listen to their wishes. This plebiscite will be an excellent opportunity for him to do exactly just that.” Details of the plebiscite are still being ironed out, but Oberg said farmers who have sold wheat or barley through the board during the past five years will be receiving ballots within the next few weeks. Results should be available this fall, before federal legislation to end the board’s monopoly is introduced. SEE PLEBISCITE, PAGE 2

»

u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv-:= JULY 7, 2011 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4 The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Inc. Publisher, Larry Hertz Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240; Registration No. 10676

Murray Purcell looks on as his brother, Dwight, the mechanic in the family, repairs a nozzle on their sprayer. The Purcells were spraying a crop of red lentils with herbicide on their farm near Pike Lake, Sask. FOR A RELATED STORY, SEE PAGE 15. | SEAN PRATT PHOTO

»


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.