The Canadian Wheat Board’s vice-president of farmer relations and public affairs has “left to pursue other interests,” the Winnipeg Free Press reported Friday. The newspaper quoted CWB spokespeson Maureen Fitzhenry as confirming Deanna Allen’s departure but providing no further details nor the specific reasons for her exit. “We cannot comment on personnel matters,” Fitzhenry said. […] Read more
CWB public affairs VP exits: report
PFRA gets new chief for reorganization
The federal Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) will get a new boss for its reorganization. Jamshed Merchant, who’s currently executive director of the federal National Land and Water Information Service, will serve at the same time as acting director-general for PFRA, replacing Harley Olsen effective immediately. Olsen, who also directed PFRA in an “acting” capacity, […] Read more
CTA expects “short delay” on revenue caps
The Canadian Transportation Agency is running behind schedule to set the price index that will cap railways’ revenue from hauling Prairie grain for 2007-08. The CTA said Wednesday it expects to have a new adjusted volume-related composite price index in place “as soon as possible in February 2008” but that there will be a “short […] Read more
Liberals propose pro-CWB legislation
The federal Liberal Opposition has put forward a private member’s bill it hopes will hem in the government’s plans to deregulate Prairie barley marketing. The bill, announced Thursday by Manitoba Liberal MP Ray Simard, proposes to put authority over changes to the Canadian Wheat Board Act in the hands of the CWB’s board of directors. […] Read more
Man. boosts labour standards for farm workers
Labour standards such as minimum wage and work breaks are among the new regulations Manitoba announced Thursday for the province’s farm workers. Amendments to the province’s Employment Standards Code — the first such changes affecting farms since 1957 — lay out new standards for workers on grain and vegetable farms. They also bring workers in […] Read more
Alta. Verified Beef funding deadline looming
Alberta beef producers who took part in a Verified Beef Production workshop have until March 31 to get funding for half the cost of related equipment. Eligible producers can get back 50 per cent of the cost up to a maximum of $750 for eligible livestock equipment including chutes and headgates that facilitate neck injections; […] Read more
Ont. dairyman to head farm products council
Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has named southern Ontario dairyman William Smirle to chair the National Farm Products Council. Smirle, whose term runs to Feb. 14, 2010, is a partner in the family dairy farm at Morewood, southeast of Ottawa, and also worked as a teacher and principal in Ottawa. He also served as deputy […] Read more
N.S. funds renos for four food firms
Four Nova Scotia agri-food companies will share $750,000 in funding to upgrade or add on to their existing plants and equipment. The provincial government announced this round of funding Thursday from its Strategic Infrastructure Investment Fund, worth $6 million over four years starting this year. “These projects were chosen for their strong business plans and […] Read more
Training funded for Ont. food processors
Ontario’s food processing plants can get a piece of $3 million in new provincial funds for training, research, expert advice and environmental audits. Of the funding announced Thursday, $2 million will go to the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors to develop and deliver a program to encourage innovation and productivity. Funds could go to pay […] Read more
Agropur buys Wisconsin cheesemaker
Agropur, Canada’s biggest dairy co-op, has taken another step into the U.S. market by buying Trega Foods of Wisconsin for an undisclosed sum. Trega, headquartered in Little Chute on the east side of Appleton, runs three facilities in eastern Wisconsin making cheddar, feta, mozzarella, provolone and mozza sticks for a number of wholesale and retail […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
