U.S. buyer completes takeover of ag chem firm Arysta

U.S. industrial chemical producer Platform Specialty Products Corp. has sealed its deal to buy ag chemical firm Arysta LifeScience for about US$3.5 billion (C$4.35 billion). Miami-based, publicly-traded PSPC, which in the past year has bought ag chem firms Agriphar Group and Chemtura AgroSolutions, announced its plans to buy the Dublin-based multinational Arysta business last fall. […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. ‘intransigence’ continues in WTO COOL hearing: officials

The U.S. government’s defense of its country-of-origin labelling (COOL) rule still shows “blatant protectionism and intransigence” according to Canadian officials at what’s expected to be the law’s last appearance before the World Trade Organization (WTO). U.S., Canadian and Mexican officials appeared Tuesday in Geneva before the WTO Appellate Body, where the U.S. hopes to overturn […] Read more

(Versatile-Ag.ca)

Ag equipment maker Buhler cutting production, staff

Winnipeg farm equipment manufacturer Buhler Industries is reducing its workforce and paring back production ahead of an expected drop in farm incomes. The company, whose brands include Versatile tractors and Farm King implements, announced its first-quarter financials Friday for the period ending Dec. 31, booking net profit of $1.5 million on fourth-best quarterly revenue of […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

CP engineers, conductors halt strike

Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and its unionized conductors, engineers, trainmen and yardmen agreed Monday to binding arbitration in their contract talks, ending a strike the day after it began. The end of the strike, which began Sunday just after midnight, comes under the threat of federal back-to-work legislation, which was due to be tabled Monday […] Read more



Kellie Leitch speaking in Ottawa in March 2014. (Labour.gc.ca)

Railway back-to-work legislation going to Commons

Back-to-work legislation to halt a day-old strike by engineers and conductors at Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) is scheduled for introduction Monday in the House of Commons. Federal Labour Minister Kellie Leitch is booked on the Commons’ order paper for Monday to introduce “An Act to provide for the continuation and resumption of rail service operations.” […] Read more

(CPR.ca)

CP’s engineers, conductors on strike

Engineers, conductors, trainmen and yardmen for Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) are on strike after 11th-hour talks ended Saturday night without a new agreement. “Picket lines are now being set up across Canada and the rail shutdown is happening,” Doug Finnson, president of the workers’ union, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), said in a release […] Read more