GFO study seeks to explain price spikes Tuesday, May 17, 2011 by PAT CURRIEA new study released by the Grain Farmers of Ontario has concluded that neither farmers nor the diversion of grain into production of ethanol can be blamed for persisting higher food prices that do not mimic any cyclic fall after each rise in world grain prices.A comparison showed many similarities between the recent double price spike in 2008 and 2011 – when ethanol production boomed – and the double spike in 1974 and 1980, well before the ethanol industry was established. Common factors were crop failure in key production regions caused by extreme weather, high oil prices and price increases for agricultural inputs like fertilizer. Both double spikes were followed by several decades of declining real grain and food prices. "The truth is that farmers receive only about 19 per cent of the retail price of food," said GFO CEO Barry Senft.The impact of bio-fuels on world food prices in 2007, according to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, was no more than three per cent.In the 1970s and 1980, it was forecast that high food prices were permanent and that the world’s food-supplying capacity will have to increase by 70 per cent between 2000 and 2050, or about 1.1 per cent per year, just to keep pace.But in inflation-adjusted dollars, crop and food prices moved to new lows after 1980 as the world food supply grew at a rate that exceeded population growth, the study found. The GFO study noted that average world grain yield increased by 1.5 per cent per year from 1987 to 2007 and concluded that continued growth is achievable with modern agriculture. BF Ritz returns Research combines water, agriculture
BASF introduces Surtain herbicide for field corn growers Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Field corn growers in eastern Canada have a new crop protection product available to them. After about 10 years of research and trials, BASF has introduced Surtain, a residual herbicide for corn that combines PPO inhibitor saflufenacil (Group 14) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15) in a premix... Read this article online
We Didn’t Start the Fire! Impacts of Wildfire Smoke on Corn Monday, September 16, 2024 Assistant Professor of Corn Production at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, Daniel Quinn, PhD. recently provided fascinating insights into the impacts of fire on major corn producing areas, many of which have been impacted by smoke from wildfires. Quinn was the keynote... Read this article online
New home for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario Saturday, September 14, 2024 The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) has announced it has moved into its new office building in Ingersoll. Located at 274620 27th Line in Ingersoll, the new office will serve as the hub for CFFO’s ongoing efforts to advocate for and support Ontario’s Christian farmers.... Read this article online
Canadian Ag Youth Council Welcomes new Members Saturday, September 14, 2024 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has announced the latest members to join the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (CAYC). This update introduces nine fresh members alongside thirteen returning youths, marking a significant step towards involving young voices in agricultural... Read this article online
New CEO for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation Friday, September 13, 2024 Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) is promoting from within with the appointment of the organization’s newest Chief Executive Officer. Industry Services Manager Kelly Somerville has been tapped to assume the role as of September 3, replacing retiring CEO Mike McMorris.... Read this article online