TMCnet News
INDEX:Agriculture(Broadcast News Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The Canadian Wheat Board welcomes a ruling by the Federal Court of Appeal as a win for farmers in their ongoing struggle for fair rates and service for grain transportation. In dismissing appeals by C-N Rail and C-P Rail, the court upheld a February 2008 Canadian Transportation Agency ruling that cut grain rates by eight per cent. The rates reflect actual railway maintenance expenditures for government-owned grain hopper cars. The ruling, retroactive to August 1st, 2007, saved farmers an estimated 72 (m) million dollars per year. The board helped support efforts by the Farmer Rail Car Coalition to pursue this issue with the transportation agency, on the basis that railways were charging triple their actual costs for the rail car maintenance under the revenue cap for grain. (The Canadian Press) (CWB-Trade-Mission) A senior Canadian Wheat Board delegation, led by President and C-E-O Ian White, is in Asia this week. The group will meet with customers in Tokyo, Japan and Beijing, China. The board has maintained an office in Japan for 47 years and an office in Beijing since 1994. (The Canadian Press) (CWB-Payments) Producers interim and final payments for 2007-08 will be combined into a single payment. They are expected to be distributed in mid-December once approvals have been obtained from the Government of Canada. Recommendations for the combined payment were submitted to the federal government for approval on November 26th. The decision to combine the two payments was made to reduce administrative and mailing costs. (CWB-Director-Elections) The ballots in the Canadian Wheat Board director elections are being counted. Elections were held in Districts 2,4, 6, 8 and 10. Results are scheduled to be announced Sunday. (The Canadian Press) (Pilgrim's Pride-Bankruptcy) U-S chicken producer Pilgrim's Pride is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Company spokesman Ray Atkinson says Pilgrim's Pride is reorganizing and not liquidating its assets. He says the company will keep operating. The company has been saddled by debt due to the acquisition of its rival Gold Kist. It's also is hurting due to volatile feed prices and an oversupply of meat on the market, which keeps prices down. (The Associated Press) (Agriculture Report by Irv Thomas) Copyright ? 2008 The Canadian Press |