Forms mailed for Ontario RMP

Ontario grain and oilseed growers who haven’t yet got a personalized application form for the provincial risk management program (RMP) can call Agricorp to get one, the agency said Monday. Over 20,000 application packages have been mailed to eligible Ontario farmers, who must review, revise (if need be), sign and mail back the personalized form […] Read more

Core extended as Dairy Commission CEO

Ontario dairy farmer John Core, the CEO of the Canadian Dairy Commission since 2002, has been re-appointed to the post for another year by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. Core served as both CEO and chairman of the commission from 2002 until the two positions were split in April this year. He was also previously a […] Read more


Grain Growers past president named to CGC post

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has named a past president of the Grain Growers of Canada to a three-year term as assistant chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission. At the time of his appointment, announced Friday, Jim Smolik of Dawson Creek, B.C. sat on the GGC’s executive committee as past president and is listed […] Read more

U.S. firm buys Prairie combine parts maker

Loewen Manufacturing, a Altona, Man. maker of parts for the North American and European combine aftermarket, has been sold to an Iowa parts company. A&I Products of Rock Valley, Iowa, bought Loewen for an undisclosed sum. The U.S. company said in a release Friday that the deal will allow dealerships and repair shops worldwide to […] Read more


N.B. puts up $34M for climate projects

New Brunswick crop growers may be able to dip into or benefit from a new fund to back projects supporting the provincial climate change action plan. The province on Friday announced $34 million for the New Brunswick Climate Action Fund, dedicated to public, private and not-for-profit initiatives to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions and […] Read more

Nova Scotia cider maker to expand

Nova Scotia’s Cider House Co. Ltd. plans to expand production of its high-end hard apple cider, citing opportunities in both North America and Europe. The company, affiliated with winery Grand Pre Wines Ltd. (50 miles northwest of Halifax on Minas Basin) plans to lease an area of the former Avon Foods building in nearby Berwick, […] Read more


Hytek buys pork processor at Neepawa, Man.

Manitoba hog producer Hytek Ltd. has opted to buy rather than build new to get into the pork packing business. The company, based at La Broquerie in southeastern Manitoba, announced late Thursday that it will buy the Springhill Farms pork plant at Neepawa, about 50 miles northeast of Brandon, for an undisclosed sum. The deal […] Read more

Man. moves again to plug livestock loophole

Amendments that would block farmers from splitting one large livestock operation into smaller ones to skirt the local hearing process are back on the table in the Manitoba legislature. The provincial government had sought last spring to close what it describes as a loophole in the Planning Act, but its bill was stopped by the […] Read more


Cap wells by Oct. 31, B.C. warns

All wells in British Columbia must have a secure cap in place by the end of this month to meet the province’s new ground water protection regulation, the government warned in a bulletin today. And the regulation, which will apply to all existing wells and those under construction, doesn’t allow well owners to get away […] Read more

Ontario reelects ag minister, critics

Election night in Ontario proved to be a good Wednesday night for provincial politicians with a hand in the agriculture or rural portfolios. Voters returned Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals for a second majority government, with the party elected in 71 of 107 ridings according to Elections Ontario at this writing. The Progressive Conservatives, whose leader John […] Read more