Biodiesel blends have officially left the lab to be tested against an Alberta winter. Climate Change Central, an Alberta public-private partnership group backing and developing greenhouse gas reduction policies and projects, on Tuesday formally launched the Alberta Renewable Diesel Demonstration, with the announcement of $2.6 million in federal and provincial funding for the project. The […] Read more
Alta. trucks to road-test biodiesel
Organic fruit projects eligible for U.S. funding
The U.S.-based Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) says it will invest US$450,000 over the next three years in organic fruit research and education projects in North America, including Canada. The projects will be funded in conjunction with Stretch Island Fruit Company, makers of FruitaBü organic fruit snacks, which has committed $450,000 to help growers increase […] Read more
PotashCorp clears first hurdle for N.B. mine
New Brunswick’s environment department will allow Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan to expand its Sussex, N.B. mine, on 18 conditions. The company announced plans in July for a US$1.8 billion expansion project at its potash operations at Sussex, northeast of Saint John, tapping into its Piccadilly deposit, two “relatively flat” seams of ore it says are […] Read more
Sask. canola, mustard groups name new brass
Mostly familiar faces are back at the board tables of Saskatchewan’s canola and mustard growers’ groups for the coming year. Meeting during Crop Production Week in Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission named its previous vice-chairman, Kelvin Meadows of Moose Jaw, as chairman of the commission. Meadows replaces Tisdale farmer Jim Caughlin, who remains as […] Read more
Olymel ships surplus pork to food banks
Quebec meat packer Olymel and the workers at one of its hog slaughter plants have put in extra hours to process surplus hogs for the hungry, the company announced Friday. Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (TUAC) local 1991-P working for Olymel at St-Esprit, about 60 km north of Montreal, pledged to extend […] Read more
NOFG hands over P.E.I. hog plant: CBC
Natural Organic Food Group (NOFG) has handed over the keys to its Charlottetown hog plant after the province called in a $1.5 million loan, CBC reported Friday. The company, which recently announced plans to go into receivership, told a news conference Friday that the P.E.I. government had given the company 10 days to repay the […] Read more
Canadian regulators approve UAP takeover
Canada’s top antitrust regulator has no quarrel with Agrium’s plans to buy input retailer UAP. Agrium announced Monday it has received a “no-action” letter from the office of Sheridan Scott, Canada’s commissioner of competition. A “no-action” letter signifies the commissioner does not plan to intervene in a proposed takeover, which allows it to proceed before […] Read more
CN fell short on grain service: CTA
Canadian National Railway (CN) didn’t meet its legal obligations for rail service to six Prairie grain shippers during the 2006-07 crop year, the Canadian Transportation Agency ruled Friday. But while the six shippers call that much a “milestone victory” toward fairness in rail car supply, the transport regulator said it can’t yet rule whether CN […] Read more
Ontario’s BIO hires new GM in overhaul
Beef Improvement Ontario (BIO) has hired a former executive director of the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association to manage the restructured organization. Mike McMorris, who most recently was a senior director for Agricorp, was previously the OCA’s executive director and before that worked for the provincial ag ministry. He takes the general manager’s job at BIO starting […] Read more
Feds fund N.B. biodiesel, bioplastics projects
Three federal programs will flow a total of $861,000 into New Brunswick for two biodiesel projects and research on making plastics from potato and grain starch. Christian Paradis, the federal secretary of state for agriculture, announced the funding for the three projects Friday in Edmundston. They include: retrofitting and buying equipment for a mill at […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
