LMAC’s industry champion Danny Skeels (centre) accepts the limited-edition bronze auctioneer figurine from peers (l. to r.) Dean Edge, Blair Vold, Rob Bergevin and Chance Martin.

Livestock marketing champs

Marketing: News Roundup from the June 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

A new recognition program to honour peers from the past was introduced to celebrate the 20th running of the Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championships during the Livestock Markets Association of Canada’s 38th annual convention in May. Leonard Patterson of Dawson Creek, B.C.; Bruce McCall of Brussels, Ont.; Peter C. Gregory of St. Boniface, Man.; Terry Schetzsle […] Read more


Sacramento-based Origin Materials in March started working with bottled-water firms Nestle Waters and Danone on development of plastic bottles made from biomass feedstocks. (Nestle-WatersNA.com)

Bioprocessor coming to Sarnia

Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) has invested in California bio-based products company Origin Materials. Origin Materials will be building its first commercial-scale demonstration facility in Sarnia, Ont. by late next year. It will be using bio-based feedstocks such as crops and biomass to make new polymers, surfactants and carbon blacks, which are used as fillers and […] Read more

(Video screengrab from Enlist.com)

Dow’s Enlist corn cleared for Canada

Corn growers in Canada can begin ordering Dow AgroSciences’ genetically modified Enlist corn later this summer, now that China will allow imports of grain grown from corn with the Enlist trait. Dow Agro announced Wednesday the glyphosate- and 2,4-D-tolerant corn will be commercially available in Canada and the U.S. for use in the 2018 growing […] Read more


(CNW Group/Ultima Foods)

Iogo maker to ramp up drinkable yogurt production

The yogurt-making joint venture of dairy co-ops Agropur and Agrifoods International plans to boost its drinkable yogurt output by adding another production line in Quebec’s Monteregie. Ultima Foods announced last week it will put up $10.8 million of its own funds plus a $3.6 million interest-free loan from Investissement Quebec, the investment arm of the […] Read more

Canada Beef welcomes a new executive vice-president

NewsMakers from the June 2017 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Francis Andres is the new executive vice-president of Canada Beef. Working with the board of directors he will lead all aspects of the organization’s domestic and international market development and promotion efforts and as the senior officer will essentially replace former president Rob Meijer who resigned unexpectedly last September. Andres’ background is in global branding […] Read more


(Syngenta.com)

Syngenta exits canola seed business

Canola growers checking out Syngenta Canada’s 2018 seed guide for Western Canada will notice canola by its absence. Syngenta, which entered the Prairie canola seed market in 2013 and by this spring had six hybrid varieties on offer, said in a statement it has “recently taken the decision to exit the canola seed business.” The […] Read more




Sugar beets. (Photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

DLF to buy Syngenta sugar beet seed business

One of the world’s biggest forage seed firms is set to enter the sugar beet seed business by buying Syngenta’s. Swiss ag chemical and seed firm Syngenta announced Thursday it will sell its sugar beet seed business to Danish forage and turf seed producer DLF Seeds for an undisclosed sum. “Sugar beet seeds is a […] Read more