Renewable energy program launched for B.C. farmers

Farmers in British Columbia can now apply for federal/provincial funding to help sort out how to fit renewable energy technology in their farm or food processing operations. The two levels of government last week released application forms for their Renewable Energy Technology (RET) Feasibility program, under which “in-depth” assessments are run on the viability of […] Read more






Grape demand seen rising on Ont. winery upgrades

Canada’s largest wine producer and marketer expects to have need of an extra 4,000 tonnes of Niagara grapes with provincially-backed upgrades at its plant in the area. Vincor International, which owns the Jackson-Triggs, Sawmill Creek and Inniskillin wine brands, will get $750,000 from Ontario’s Rural Economic Development program for new grape pressing equipment at at […] Read more

Alta. biodiesel maker fined over waste dumping

A release of flammable wastewater from a now-shuttered southern Alberta biodiesel plant will set the cash-strapped company back $160,000 and spells house arrest for a former employee. Western Biodiesel was fined for a breach of provincial environmental law over the October 2008 dumping of wastewater containing methanol out on the ground at the back of […] Read more



B.C. university backed for food research equipment

Agriprocessing companies and startups in British Columbia’s Central Interior can expect access to new testing and product research equipment through federal funding for the region’s university. Kamloops-based Thompson Rivers University has picked up about $890,000 in Western Diversification Program (WDP) funding for equipment which until now “has not been available regionally,” the government said in […] Read more


Historic N.S grist mill to shut for repairs

A 137-year-old flour mill and museum in Nova Scotia’s Colchester County will close for a $1.1 million maintenance project from Monday (Aug. 15) until next June. The Balmoral Grist Mill, one of 27 sites in the province’s museum system and still functioning as a flour mill, will shut for the remainder of its summer and […] Read more

U.S. rolls out second bid at livestock tracking plan

A livestock tracking plan introduced on Tuesday aims to improve the United States’ ability to combat disease outbreaks faster, marking the U.S. government’s second attempt on such a system after an earlier plan fizzled out over cost and privacy concerns.  The plan introduced by the U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) could reduce the time it takes […] Read more