(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Cash advances’ interest-free portion temporarily raised

APP funds now interest-free for first $250K

The federal government’s low-interest loan guarantee program for Canadian farmers will sweeten the interest-free portion of its offer for the next two program years to help with farm cash flow. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Thursday announced a temporary increase in the interest-free portion of the Advance Payments Program to $250,000, up from the usual […] Read more

Signage outside McCain’s Farms of The Future site at Florenceville-Bristol, about 110 km northwest of Fredericton. (Photos courtesy McCain)

Learning from McCain’s regenerative farming practices

Potato processing giant aims to 'de-risk' practices for growers

In 2021 McCain said it was going to launch three regenerative potato farming operations by 2025 and would label them “Farms of the Future.” The first, just outside of Florenceville-Bristol, N.B., now offers data to reflect on the effectiveness of the practices at the potato farm after its first fully operational season. “If we don’t […] Read more


File photo of Black Sea port facilities at Odesa, Ukraine. (Leskas/iStock/Getty Images)

Turkish team to discuss Black Sea grain corridor in Russia this week

Turkey proposes to monitor safe passage

Ankara | Reuters — Ankara’s military delegation will travel to Russia this week to discuss details of a possible safe sea corridor in the Black Sea to export Ukrainian grain, Turkish presidency sources said on Tuesday. Russia’s TASS agency confirmed plans for the talks, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine […] Read more

File photo of a CN locomotive. (Dave Bedard photo)

CN service continues as signals staff strike

Talks continue after IBEW-represented employees stopped work Saturday

Canadian National Railway is reporting “normal” rail operations after its signals and communications workers walked out on strike starting Saturday. Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), which represents about 750 CN employees across Canada, served the railway with strike notice last Wednesday and started their strike Saturday morning, the company said. IBEW […] Read more



File photo of a bulk port facility in Ukraine. (Olivia Sabeskaya/iStock/Getty Images)

Turkey says Ukraine grain ships could avoid mines

Russia offers safe passage

Ankara/United Nations | Reuters — Russia on Wednesday said it has offered “safe passage” for Ukraine grain shipments from Black Sea ports but is not responsible for establishing the corridors and Turkey suggested that ships could be guided around sea mines. Ukrainian grain shipments have stalled since Russia’s invasion and ports blockade, stoking global prices […] Read more


A view of BHP’s potash mine project north of Jansen, Sask. (BHP.com)

BHP open to potash partner but still will enter fertilizer business alone

Feds put $100M toward reducing emissions at BHP site

Ottawa | Reuters — BHP Group is open to taking on a partner as it builds its first potash mine in Saskatchewan, but can also go it alone and is not currently involved in discussions with rival Nutrien, a senior BHP executive said Monday. “We are more than happy and willing to work with partners. […] Read more

(Diane Kuhl/iStock/Getty Images)

Dairy farmers seek mid-year increase on farmgate milk prices

CDC to seek stakeholder comment next week

The Canadian Dairy Commission will seek out feedback from industry stakeholders next week on Canadian dairy farmers’ request for a mid-year raise in farmgate milk prices. The CDC said June 2 it had received a request from Dairy Farmers of Canada for the increase “due to the current inflationary environment.” If it’s approved, and if […] Read more


Nutrien’s head office building in Saskatoon. (Liam O’Connor photo)

Nutrien to further boost potash output amid global shortage

Company will also speed up nitrogen capacity boosts

Reuters — Nutrien, the world’s largest fertilizer producer, said Thursday it will increase its Canadian potash production by 20 per cent to an annual 18 million tonnes by 2025, helping to address tight supplies that have contributed to a global food shortage. Potash prices have soared since the West imposed sanctions against Russia for Moscow’s […] Read more

Vos uses temporary poly fencing for interior corridors so she can change configurations based on weather and growing conditions.

An unconventional start to a farming career

You can set aside any notion of ‘typical’ when it comes to this beef producer

Sandra Vos raises cattle in Brant County, Ont., in a way that works best for her and her land. Her story is both inspiring and thought-provoking when it comes to expanding the concept of who can be a participant in the business. Imagine taking on learning the ins and outs of raising cattle as a […] Read more