A vanishing act in April involving 31 sheep from an eastern Ontario farm under federal quarantine has now led to criminal charges against the animals’ owner and three other people. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Wednesday announced it has laid criminal charges against Hastings, Ont. farmer Linda Montana Jones and three other people — […] Read more
Ont. shepherd charged over alleged CFIA quarantine breach
Quebec ag minister unseated in PQ minority win
Quebec’s agriculture minister was among the Liberals defeated Tuesday in a squeaker of a provincial election, out of which the Parti Quebecois returns to power — but at a low wattage. Pierre Corbeil, the Liberal MNA for the southwestern riding of Abitibi-Est from 2003 to 2007 and 2008 until now, had been Quebec’s minister of […] Read more
Go-ahead for BHP’s potash plan not expected in 2013
Mining giant BHP Billiton, in the midst of putting various other projects on hold, now doesn’t expect to seek the final blessing from its board for its potash play in Saskatchewan anytime in fiscal 2013. The Australian/British mining firm on Wednesday released its results for the year ending June 30, logging overall profit of US$15.42 […] Read more
Baskin-Robbins to shut Peterborough ice cream plant
A Nova Scotia dairy processor’s gain will be a loss in central Ontario as retail ice cream giant Baskin-Robbins moves to close the last of its company-owned plants. Baskin-Robbins, the world’s biggest chain of ice cream specialty stores, said Wednesday it will permanently shut its facility at Peterborough, Ont. by mid-October, lay off its 80 […] Read more
WTO appeal body upholds ruling against COOL
Updated, June 29 — The U.S. government plans to comply with a new world trade ruling against its country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law, which since 2008 has added hassles for would-be importers of Canadian meat and livestock. The Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Friday upheld a November 2011 ruling on COOL from […] Read more
Asian/U.S. j.v. seeks post-CWB market share
A Southeast Asian agrifood processor and a U.S. commodity trading firm plan to pair up to stake a new claim in the deregulated Prairie grain and oilseed supply chain. Singapore-based Olam International and Kansas City’s Lansing Trade Group last week announced a new 50/50 joint venture, Lansing Olam Canada, to "originate and merchandise Canadian grains […] Read more
Recovered Ontario sheep were scrapie-negative
Over two dozen sheep that vanished from a scrapie-quarantined eastern Ontario farm for about two months have all tested negative for the brain-wasting disease. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Thursday confirmed it had recovered, euthanized and tested 26 of the 31 adult sheep that went missing in early April from Linda Montana Jones’ quarantined […] Read more
CWB lines up handling deals with Viterra, others
Canada’s biggest grain handler and five other companies have now committed to move Prairie grain on behalf of CWB. Viterra on Thursday announced a new agreement to accept deliveries of grain that farmers commit to CWB contracts at all its locations across Western Canada. The agreement also includes port handling services, the Regina company said. […] Read more
Canada asked to address ‘reality’ of food insecurity
A United Nations expert sees Canada’s "export-led" agricultural and trade policies hampering the farming sector’s ability to move to "sustainable and decentralized" food systems. Olivier De Schutter, the UN’s special rapporteur on the right to food, wrapped up his official visit to Canada on Wednesday with a statement that credits Canadian farmers for their support […] Read more
Dairy co-ops to keep making Yoplait for Canada
The dairy farmer co-operatives now making Yoplait for the Canadian market will do so for at least six more years but will also launch their own new yogurt and dairy goods line this summer. A custom processing agreement announced Tuesday between Ultima Foods and the Canadian arm of the Yoplait brands’ majority owner, U.S. food […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
