Wheat Board to market organic wheat grown by a Canadian coop

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 00:35:45 +0000

In a bid to gain access to high-value markets in Europe and Japan, the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) is planning a pilot project to market organic wheat grown by a Canadian farmers' cooperative, reports the CBC. The initiative is slated for the 2006-2007 crop year, and if successful, the Wheat Board will start marketing all organic wheat.

Canadian Organic Certification Cooperative secretary Bill Rosher says that growers have long sought a program that would improve the way that organic grain is marketed, and are devoting resources to ensure that the initiative will be a success.

Currently, farmers who produce organic wheat market it themselves, or sell to accredited exporters. Under the voluntary program, reports Discover Moosejaw, the CWB would market the wheat overseas, and participating farmers would receive a pooled return and organic premiums.

The Canadian Wheat Board is currently one of Canada's biggest exporters of wheat and barley, according to Seedquest. It markets and sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all profits, minus the cost of marketing, to Prairie farmers.

Arrests cause anxiety among immigrants

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 22:07:12 +0000

In a recent government sweep dubbed "Operation Return to Sender," U.S. immigration agents walked the streets arresting undocumented workers and illegal immigrants, according to reports by the Washington Post.

Although criminals were targeted, neighbours and curious onlookers were
also questioned about their immigration status, and those who were found to be in the country illegally were arrested. The blitz has many immigrants
afraid to leave their homes, despite having lived openly in the U.S. for
years.

According to Reuters, approximately half of the 2,179 people arrested
in this operation have criminal records allegedly ranging from violent gang
members, to "fugitive aliens" who have remained in the country after
being ordered to leave.

Reports in the Detroit Free Press state that the families of the arrested immigrants claim agents barged into their homes, taking their family members without explanation, sometimes in the middle of the night. Eight hundred and twenty nine of those arrested on immigration violations have already been deported.

The arrests, which occurred between May 26 and June 13, are part of a
national crackdown on immigration violations that includes plans to build a 700
mile fence along the border between Mexico and the United States.

The Dominion - Johanna Skoreyko

Wheat Board to market organic wheat grown by a Canadian coop

Arrests cause anxiety among immigrants