Man. to process cull pork for food banks

The Manitoba government will put up $500,000 to process ground pork from animals slaughtered through the new federal cull breeding swine program, for use by the province’s food banks. The pork will be distributed to Manitoba food banks through Winnipeg Harvest, the city food bank which also distributes to 50 rural food banks and two […] Read more

Maple products named national “historic event”

Tapping into a maple tree in Canada has been sweetened by a new designation as a nationally significant historic event. Federal Environment Minister John Baird on Tuesday announced the official designation of maple products as “an event of national historical significance,” which gives the products an added profile through the national commemoration program. “Maple products […] Read more


Alberta pumps up ag budget for 2008

Alberta’s agriculture and rural development programming returns to “normal levels” of spending in the province’s 2008 budget, released Tuesday. Finance Minister Iris Evans’ budget brings ag department program spending to just over $1 billion for 2008-09 and for each of the next three years, a 16.9 per cent increase over forecast spending for 2007-08. “The […] Read more

CPR’s Q1 profit down, grain handle up

A six per cent jump in grain handling revenue helped offset dips in forestry and automotive freight that bit into Canadian Pacific Railway’s (CPR) first-quarter net income. The railway on Tuesday posted overall net income of $90.8 million on $1.12 billion in revenue during its Q1 ending March 31, down from $128.6 million on $1.09 […] Read more


Declaration forms online for wheat growers

The new declaration forms that Prairie wheat growers will need to fill out each year starting August 1 are now available online. The Declaration of Eligibility for the Class form is part of the new declaration system to be introduced by the Canadian grain industry on August 1. That’s when Prairie farmers will be required […] Read more

Ont. ag leadership training funded

Training programs will soon be offered to help Ontario farmers mentor the next generation of agricultural leaders. The federal government on Tuesday announced $1.1 million for development of leadership programs, to be delivered by a partnership between the Centre for Rural Leadership, 4-H Ontario, the Ontario Rural Council and the Foundation for Rural Living. Funding […] Read more


Sask. Food Centre’s new extruder funded

Equipment to pull new ingredients out of crops for the food and manufacturing sectors will be set up at the Saskatchewan Food Centre. Saskatchewan MP Brad Trost announced almost $800,000 in funding Tuesday in Saskatoon, where the centre is based at the University of Saskatchewan, for investment in extruder equipment. Extrusion is used to extract […] Read more

Yukon to broaden animal protection powers

The Yukon government wants public input on plans to update its animal protection laws and expand the powers available to its protection officers. The territorial government on Monday released a discussion document in advance of a series of public consultations during April and May. Proposed amendments to the territory’s Animal Protection Act include: requiring owners […] Read more


Seeding underway in southern Sask., Man.

Farmers in drier southern areas of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have already put some crop in the ground, according to their provincial ag departments. Peas, barley, lentils and wheat were seeded during the past week in the southern regions of Saskatchewan, while most northern and central areas are still two to three weeks away from seeding, […] Read more

Manitoba’s Kyoto plan eyes local, organic food

Funding for “local food” programs and conversions to organic farming are on Manitoba’s list of projects to reach its proposed Kyoto target by 2012. The province’s Kyoto action plan, outlined Monday, proposes $145 million in funding for a number of projects such as geothermal heating and cooling systems for new schools, rapid transit and an […] Read more