Quebec’s cheese industry, fighting an uphill marketing battle against a recent listeria crisis of its own, will get $8.4 million in provincial support over the next three years for development. The cash will go to fund the province’s five-point plan for development and economic growth in the province’s fine cheese sector, Agriculture Minister Laurent Lessard […] Read more
Quebec to back beleaguered cheese industry
Income fund buys up Sask. pulse processor
A Regina special crop-processing firm has bought up all the shares of a Saskatchewan pulse processor that it didn’t already own. Alliance Grain Traders Income Fund, owner of 55 per cent of Saskcan Horizon Trading, has closed into escrow its purchase of the remaining 45 per cent of the Aberdeen, Sask. company’s shares. Saskcan Horizon […] Read more
Alberta’s ALMA launches web site
Alberta’s provincial Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA), has opened up its new website for information on programs coming up as part of the province’s livestock and meat strategy. The site features updates on livestock and meat sector competitiveness initiatives and information about the Alberta Livestock and Meat Strategy (ALMS) and ALMA as well as the […] Read more
Scotian Gold apple facility gets $2M loan
The biggest apple packing and storage business in Eastern Canada will get a $2 million provincial loan to retool its packing system. The Nova Scotia government on Thursday announced a loan through its Industrial Expansion Fund to Scotian Gold Co-operative Ltd. at Coldbrook, just west of Kentville in Kings County. The loan will help the […] Read more
Man. extends TB mustering fee funding
The Manitoba government has announced a three-year extension of its program to help cover ranchers’ costs to gather animals for bovine tuberculosis (TB). The provincial ag department said Thursday it will put up $468,000 over three years to support the tuberculosis mustering fee program, which has been in place for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 testing […] Read more
Agrium seeks buyback, shares drop
Calgary fertilizer giant Agrium has announced plans to buy back up to five per cent of its common shares, considering them undervalued, the day before its stock and those of other fertilizer and ag firms took a hit in trading. “We believe the current price of our shares does not reflect Agrium’s achievements nor our […] Read more
P.E.I. potato growers up for AgriRecovery aid
Potato growers on Prince Edward Island affected by “extreme wet weather” can now share up to $12.4 million in federal/provincial aid through the AgriRecovery program. AgriRecovery, one of the programs under the federal government’s Growing Forward ag policy framework, is meant to help governments address gaps not covered by existing programs and respond quickly to […] Read more
Saskferco now “Yara Belle Plaine”
The Saskatchewan government and the Mosaic Company have sealed their $1.6 billion deal to sell Regina-based nitrogen maker Saskferco to a major chemical firm from Norway. Yara International on Wednesday officially assumed control of Saskferco, whose holdings include a fertilizer plant at Belle Plaine, about 30 km east of Moose Jaw, and a warehouse at […] Read more
Editors’ Picks: Fertilizer mix cuts explosion risk
A New Jersey firm says it’s discovered a mix that makes it “extremely difficult” to weaponize ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Honeywell Resins and Chemicals, which bills itself as one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of ammonium sulfate fertilizer, said Sept. 23 it’s picked up what’s called “SAFETY Act” designation for its new, patented product from the […] Read more
Canada’s farms still largely Tory blue: poll
A new poll by Ipsos Forward Research before the Oct. 14 election puts Canadian farmers’ support for the federal Conservatives at 59 per cent overall, well ahead of the pack but still down six points from 2006. The poll, conducted online from Aug. 22 to Sept. 6 with 856 members of “Producers’ Perspectives: The Ipsos […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
