The new owner of an antibiotic-free poultry processing plant in the Centre-du-Quebec region is set to shut the plant next week after a “thorough review” of its condition. Volaille Giannone announced Friday it will close the former Avicomax plant at Drummondville effective Nov. 6, after having bought it from Maple Leaf Foods in July for […] Read more
Quebec poultry packer to shut ex-Maple Leaf plant
Giannone to close Drummondville facility
Former federal ag minister Don Mazankowski, 85
Long-time Alberta Tory MP deemed a 'minister of everything'
A private memorial is planned for long-time Alberta MP Don Mazankowski, whose work in the cabinets of prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark included a stint as Canada’s minister of agriculture. Mazankowski, the MP for the east-central Alberta riding of Vegreville from 1968 to 1993, died late Tuesday at age 85, his family said […] Read more
Feds seek feedback on farm worker living conditions
Consultations focused on 'primary agriculture' labour stream of TFWs
Improving and standardizing living conditions for temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in Canada — specifically, those on Canadian farms — is the subject of a new round of federal consultations. Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough and Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Tuesday announced consultations are now underway until Dec. 22 with “provinces and territories, employers, workers, worker […] Read more
Cenovus to get Prairies’ biggest ethanol maker in Husky sale
Plants can take up to 750,000 tonnes of wheat, corn, rye per year
A proposed takeover of Husky Energy by Cenovus Energy is expected to create not only Canada’s third-biggest oil and gas producer but also a new owner for the Prairies’ biggest ethanol business. The two Calgary companies on Sunday announced a friendly all-stock deal which would see Husky shareholders get 0.7845 of a Cenovus share — […] Read more
Cream of Wheat maker to buy Crisco line from Smucker
Shortening, cooking oil brand goes to B+G Foods
The U.S. company behind the Crisco brand of cooking oils and shortenings is selling that product line to the maker of Cream of Wheat cereal and Green Giant vegetables. New Jersey-based B+G Foods announced Monday it will buy the Crisco product lines from Ohio-based J.M. Smucker for about US$550 million (C$725.1 million). The sale includes […] Read more
Saskatchewan agriculture minister cruises to election win
NDP's ag critic trailing, with mail-in votes still to come
Another incumbent agriculture minister easily held his seat as Saskatchewan’s governing Saskatchewan Party scored another decisive majority in Monday’s provincial election. David Marit, MLA for the southwestern riding of Wood River since 2016, held his seat by a spread of 5,177 votes over the New Democrats’ challenger, teacher Roger Morgan, with 459 mail-in ballots remaining […] Read more
More farmers expected to benefit from new CEBA eligibility expansion
Businesses operating via personal accounts to now be eligible
The latest tweak to the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) pandemic aid program is expected to allow farmers who run their business via personal bank accounts to seek CEBA loans. Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced Monday that “as early as” Oct. 26, CEBA will be available to businesses which until now have been operating […] Read more
B.C. ag minister, critic expected to win re-election
NDP projected to form majority government
British Columbia’s incumbent agriculture minister and opposition ag critic both appear set to head back to the provincial legislature as the New Democrats are projected to end three years of tentative minority governing. John Horgan’s NDP, which in 2017 overturned a minority Liberal government with the help of the Green Party, was projected Saturday evening […] Read more
Southwestern Ontario elevator to handle Scoular grain
Martin Farming to take grain at new elevator
Scoular Co. has set up a new delivery point for southwestern Ontario growers from whom it buys grain. The Omaha-based, privately-held grain firm announced Thursday it has made a deal with Martin Farming — which operates at Paris, just northwest of Brantford — that will direct grain to Martin’s new 22,000-tonne-capacity elevator. The agreement “allows […] Read more
Shutdown urged for Quebec pork plant after COVID-19 death
Union calls on Olymel to close site for at least two weeks
The union for over 1,000 workers at a major Quebec hog slaughter plant is calling on the owner to temporarily close the facility against a COVID-19 outbreak now blamed for the death of an employee. Le Syndicat des travailleurs d’Olymel Vallee-Jonction-CSN said Wednesday the death of a worker earlier this week led it to demand […] Read more
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