

Unions rip supply chain report’s language on strikes
Task force calls for 'new labour relations paradigm'
Recommendations from the federal government’s National Supply Chain Task Force to strengthen the country’s supply chains have drawn a cheer but also one significant jeer from unions in the transport sector. The task force’s final report, released Oct. 6, offered up 21 recommendations aimed at easing congestion in Canada’s ports, filling labour shortages and improving […] Read more

Grazing over-mature forages
Fall grazing has many benefits, but make sure the cow and calf’s nutritional needs are being met
Grazing mature cattle on mature forages and crop aftermath late into fall are options that reduce overall feeding costs. Kaliel and Kotowich (2002) reported that 60 per cent of production costs in a cow-calf operation are associated with winter feeding. Extending the grazing season reduces costs but there are limitations on what can be done. […] Read more

Arbitration leads to deal for CN signals staff
IBEW held 17-day strike in summer
Canadian National Railway (CN) has labour peace with its signals and communications workers through to the end of 2024 coming out of binding arbitration. The 750-odd workers, represented by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) System Council 11, had agreed to take their dispute with CN to arbitration in early July, ending a 17-day strike. […] Read more

Dittmer: Skeptical of the unproven
Free Market Reflections with Steve Dittmer
I’ve often had to apologize for something inane our politicians or fringe ranchers have been doing down here. But you weren’t supposed to try to catch up. Please tell your politicians to quit trying to outdo our stupidity. It’s unseemly, un-Canadian. I’ve always been appalled at the left’s devotion to dogmas impossible to scientifically, logically […] Read more

Richardson makes first entry in branded crop inputs
Company launches new N stabilizer, CirrusX
Prairie grain handler and agribusiness Richardson Pioneer has launched itself into self-branded crop inputs with a nitrogen stabilizer, CirrusX. Steve Biggar, associate vice-president of fertilizer and energy products for Winnipeg-based Richardson, said it was the right time for the company to launch CirrusX because of new treaters the company has installed to allow liquid products […] Read more

U.S. railroad strike averted
Biden calls deal a 'win for America;' strike's impact would have reached up into Canada
Updated | Washington | Reuters — Major U.S. railroads and unions secured a tentative deal on Thursday after 20 hours of intense talks brokered by President Joe Biden’s administration to avert a rail shutdown that could have hit food and fuel supplies across the country and beyond. Biden called the deal a “big win for […] Read more

U.S. rail embargoes may stymie some Canadian rail traffic
CN halts most cross-border traffic; CP also monitoring situation
Mindful of the potential for snarls on their own tracks, Canada’s big two railways are monitoring talks between a clutch of major U.S. railways and several of their labour unions to avert strikes and/or lockouts that may begin as early as Friday. As of Wednesday, three unions out of the 12 representing unionized rail workers […] Read more

U.S. railways to halt grain shipments ahead of potential shutdown
Fall fertilizer traffic also at risk
Chicago | Reuters — Some U.S. railroads will start halting crop shipments on Thursday, a day ahead of a potential work stoppage, an agricultural association and sources at two grain co-operatives said on Tuesday, threatening exports and feed deliveries for livestock. With farmers starting to harvest autumn crops that are shipped to meat and biofuels […] Read more

U.S. working with U.N. on Russia food, fertilizer export complaints
Black Sea pact up for renewal in November
New York | Reuters — The United States is working with the United Nations to address Russian complaints that sanctions are hindering its food and fertilizer shipments, even though there has been no disruption to Moscow’s exports of the commodities, a senior U.S. official said on Friday. The United Nations, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia agreed […] Read more

Canada can cut fertilizer emissions 14 per cent by 2030, industry groups say
Report touts use of 4R practices
Winnipeg | Reuters — Canadian farmers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from applying nitrogen fertilizer by 14 per cent by 2030 through adoption of more sustainable farm practices and new technology, without any overall reduction in fertilizer use, agriculture industry groups said on Wednesday. Such reductions of nitrous oxide from 2020 levels would fall well […] Read more