Corrected, April 30, 2015 — Farmer co-operative IGPC plans to switch to Thompsons from Cargill as the main corn supplier for its southwestern Ontario ethanol processing plant, starting this fall. Thompsons Ltd. will start buying corn immediately for deliveries from Oct. 1 onward to the Aylmer, Ont. ethanol plant, IGPC (Integrated Grain Processors Co-operative) said in a […] Read more

Ont. co-op swaps corn supply line for ethanol plant

Third Ont. farm with avian flu cleared of birds
Updated, April 29, 2015 — Ontario is urging poultry farmers to look into the AgriStability income stabilization plan, after the province’s third poultry farm to catch H5N2 avian flu this month has put down all its turkeys. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed Monday that “humane depopulation” has already been completed at the Bright, Ont. […] Read more

From the Pampas to the Prairies, 1872-1885: Part 5
Final instalment, reprinted from the December 1948 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
From the Pampas to the Prairies, 1872-1885: Part 5 C.D. LaNauze, Lacombe, Alta. ‘I have been living most of this month with my old friends, the sergeants of the police, which costs me nothing. We had a most enjoyable Christmas and New Year’s. A grand ball was given by the police on the latter day […] Read more

GFO seeks longer comment period on neonic regs
Grain Farmers of Ontario wants the province’s environment ministry to reconsider the rush on the comment period for its proposed new controls on neonicotinoid seed treatments. The province has given the public, farmers included, a 45-day period ending May 7 to comment on its proposed regulations. “This is one of the busiest times of the […] Read more

ADM to upgrade crush plants for soy
Archer Daniels Midland plans to get ahead of increased soy acreage on the Prairies by upgrading two crushing plants to handle more soybeans. The U.S. agrifood firm said Monday it will upgrade its processing plant at Enderlin, N.D., about 80 km southwest of Fargo, to crush soybeans as well as canola and sunflower seed. At […] Read more

Co-op Atlantic seeks exit from grocery, fuel businesses
The board of Atlantic Canada’s biggest co-operative is planning its way out of the “increasingly competitive” grocery and fuel businesses. Co-op Atlantic said Saturday its board recommends members vote by a May 12 deadline in favour of the organization divesting its food and fuel wholesale assets. Co-op Atlantic is the overarching body for 128 co-ops […] Read more

Alberta ag minister named acting justice minister
Alberta’s agriculture minister is now also its justice minister. Premier Jim Prentice on Saturday appointed Verlyn Olson, MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose since 2008 and the province’s ag and rural development minister since 2012, as both acting justice minister and solicitor general. Prentice said his move follows having “asked for and received the resignation” of Calgary-Acadia MLA […] Read more

Arbitrator named for CP talks with running trades
The federal government has named its arbitrator to settle a new contract between Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and its conductors, engineers, trainmen and yardmen. Labour Minister Kellie Leitch on Monday appointed lawyer and professional mediator George Adams as the arbitrator and mediator for talks between CP and its 3,800 unionized running trades workers, represented by […] Read more
Owen Sound, Baie-Comeau in revamped port sale program
Two ports hosting grain terminals are up for sale and possibly divestiture under a new federal program to get out of the port business. Transport Minister Lisa Raitt on Friday announced a new Ports Asset Transfer Program (PATP) to “facilitate the transfer” of port facilities to other owners or levels of government, naming 50 ports […] Read more

Tests turn up avian flu at third Ont. poultry farm
Already under preventive quarantine, a turkey farm in southwestern Ontario’s Oxford County is now believed to have the province’s third avian flu outbreak in poultry. On its website Friday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it was notified Thursday that presumptive H5 avian flu had been detected at the farm in tests by the University […] Read more