THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2011
VOL. 89 | NO. 41 | $3.75
AT HOME ON THE RANGE | P73
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
|
WWW.PRODUCER.COM
NEW INVESTMENTS | CWB
CANOLA | DISEASE
Will open markets bring investors?
Clubroot found in north-central Saskatchewan
Pasta plant planned | Demise of CWB played critical role in investment decision, says AGT president BY SEAN PRATT SASKATOON NEWSROOM
The developer of a proposed $50 million pasta and pulse processing facility in Regina says the pending demise of the Canadian Wheat
Board’s single desk factored into the decision. “Marketing choice allows a valueadded processor to buy directly from farmers. That is a critical element of our investment decision. It is one of the elements that made this
announcement imminent,” said Alliance Grain Traders Inc. president Murad Al-Katib. The federal government jumped on the Oct. 7 announcement of plans to build a durum mill and pasta plant in Saskatchewan as proof of its long-
held view that the open market it intends to create for wheat, barley and durum will lead to more valueadded processing on the Prairies.
Canola producer group unsurprised, disappointed BY SEAN PRATT SASKATOON NEWSROOM
SEE MARKETING CHOICES, PAGE 3
»
BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL
Clubroot has been confirmed in two canola fields in north-central Saskatchewan. It marks the first time the soil-borne disease has been detected on a live canola plant in the province. It has previously been detected in Alberta and been found on canola in the Edmonton area since 2003. “We’re far from happy that we have to announce this, but we’re just not surprised that we had to announce it,” said Brett Halstead, chair of the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission. “We’re very disappointed, but we knew it was probably going to be happening some day.” The only other appearance of the disease in Saskatchewan was in a 2008 soil sample collected in the west-central portion of the province. SEE CLUBROOT FOUND, PAGE 2
»
u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv%:,
Farm mechanic Rick McKenzie works into a September night , keeping an eye on harvest equipment at his brother Bill McKenzie’s farm near Strasbourg, Sask. | WILLIAM DEKAY PHOTO
n ed in our ow m has result ra g research ro p sm g la in p test germ g and test la in d e e t th re g b in st in u roducts tha y comb Viterra’s rob s powers p chnology. B c ti te e s n c e ti G e n T e V G ting, exclusive VT tensive tes tion with ex va o n in out more. . it e a and tr and valu a.ca to find e rr c e n it a .v d rm e o rf se n pe . Visit deliver prove ed products all Viterra br on s ic et en Look for VT G ADVIC E
OP PORT UNITI
ES
AC CE SS
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
OCTOBER 13, 2011 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4