Robert Henderson, second from left, has been shuffled from health and wellness to agriculture and fisheries in P.E.I. Premier Wade MacLauchlan’s new cabinet. (PrinceEdwardIsland.ca)

P.E.I. names new agriculture minister

Prince Edward Island’s minister of agriculture and fisheries has quit the post after announcing his decision not to seek re-election. Alan McIsaac, the MLA for Vernon River-Stratford since 2007 and the province’s ag minister since 2015, announced Wednesday he won’t run in the next provincial election, scheduled for October next year. “Given this, I feel […] Read more

Flax Council of Canada agronomist Rachel Evans, shown here at left at a test plot site near Melita, Man. in July 2017, was the council’s most recent hire. (Manitoba Co-operator photo by Alexis Stockford)

Flax Council of Canada to shut office

The national promotional agency for Canada’s flax industry plans to move forward without a bricks-and-mortar office starting next month. The Flax Council of Canada announced Monday its downtown Winnipeg office, which it shares with the Manitoba Flax Growers Association, will close effective Jan. 31. Going forward, the council said it will “continue to operate on […] Read more


History: Alberta’s 1950 Master Farm Families Named

Reprinted from the November 1950
 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

By Lorne Stout, Calgary, Alta. Three prominent cattlemen were among five Alberta Master Farm Family winners for 1950. And the honours were even between the major beef breeds. Emil Cammaert of Rockyford, winner from southern Alberta, is a Shorthorn breeder; Roy Ballhorn, who took the Central Alberta award, is one of Canada’s most prominent Aberdeen-Angus […] Read more

Montreal-area processor Grisspasta, whose facilities are shown here, is one of three firms alleging dumping of pasta processed in Turkey into the Canadian market. (Grisspasta.com)

Canada to probe claims of Turkish pasta dumping

Three Canadian makers of dry wheat pasta have got their wish for a probe into whether competing products from Turkey are being dumped into the Canadian market. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced Tuesday it has launched an investigation into whether certain pasta products originating in or exported from Turkey are being sold at […] Read more





Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro announced provincial funding Dec. 8 for what will now operate as Lakehead University Agricultural Research Station. (LakeheadU.ca)

Lakehead University to operate Thunder Bay ag station

The not-for-profit Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station’s quest for a longer-term operating plan has ended with a new operator, and a new name. The Ontario government recently announced it will transfer the TBARS’s operating and research programming responsibilities to Thunder Bay-based Lakehead University, which will now operate the site as Lakehead University Agricultural Research Station […] Read more

(Staff photo)

PotashCorp, Agrium get last blessing for Jan. 1 wedding

Two major Canadian players in the global fertilizer industry now have what they say is the final blessing they need to close their merger deal Jan. 1, on two already-met conditions. Saskatoon-based Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan and Calgary-based Agrium Inc. announced Wednesday they’ve received clearance from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to close their […] Read more


(Government of Alberta via Flickr)

Loans pledged for wildfire-damaged Alberta farms

Ranchers and farmers in two southeastern Alberta municipalities hit by wildfire in mid-October may soon be able to apply for interest-free rebuilding loans. The province’s Agriculture Financial Services Corp. (AFSC) on Wednesday announced loan applications will be available Jan. 8 for eligible producers in Cypress County and the MD of Acadia. Applications under the Hilda […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Outside panel named for farm risk management review

A panel of 11 “external” experts from across the country has been picked to offer guidance and feedback on a federal/provincial review of farm business risk management (BRM) programming. The panel’s appointment follows an agreement by federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers back in July to launch a review of BRM programs, assessing those programs’ […] Read more