A corn crop west of Grunthal, Man. on Aug. 17, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

StatsCan predicts more corn, less soy in 2020 harvest

Fewer acres but higher yields predicted

Statistics Canada’s latest round of expectations for the 2020 harvest calls for more corn and less soy than in 2019, with higher yields offsetting lower planted acres for both crops. In its Production of principal field crops report, using information from July — based on models created using satellite technology — StatsCan on Monday called […] Read more

Artist’s rendering of the Merit Functional Foods plant under construction in Winnipeg. (Merit Foods graphic)

Bunge buys into canola, pea protein maker Merit

Agribusiness giant takes quarter stake in processor

One of the world’s biggest grain companies is getting in on a processing facility under construction in Winnipeg to extract plant-based proteins from canola and peas. Winnipeg-based Merit Functional Foods announced Thursday it has received a $30 million “capital investment” from Bunge, giving the U.S. grain firm a “minority interest” worth 25 per cent. Burcon […] Read more


(Jack Dykinga photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Seed groups weigh options as CSGA rejects merger

Grower group's membership calls nay on Seeds Canada amalgamation

The boards of five national seed sector groups planning a major merger are considering their next move after a less-than-unanimous vote on the proposal. Members of the Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA), Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC), Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI) and Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) had […] Read more

Fall rye flowering in south-central Manitoba. (Allan Dawson photo)

Manitoba winter wheat, fall rye seeding deadlines extended

MASC spots growers an extra two weeks

Manitoba’s provincial crop insurance agency will spot growers of fall rye and winter wheat an extra couple of weeks to get insurable crops in the ground. Manitoba Agricultural Services Corp. (MASC) announced Tuesday that growers can get full coverage on winter wheat or fall rye seeded from Aug. 15 to Sept. 25, and reduced coverage […] Read more


A Meta Cannabis retail store on Yonge Street in Toronto. (CNW Group/Meta Growth)

Canadian cannabis retailers poised to merge

High Tide, Meta Growth to create biggest weed retailer

Two major Canadian cannabis sellers are poised to create the largest pot retailer in the country by revenue. Calgary retailer High Tide Inc., which operates the Canna Cabana chain of stores in three provinces, announced a merger deal Friday to take up Toronto-based Meta Growth Corp., which runs the Meta Cannabis and NewLeaf Cannabis chains. […] Read more

A vessel loading at Parrish and Heimbecker’s Goderich, Ont. grain terminal. (Photo courtesy P+H)

P+H reworks Lake Huron grain terminal for larger boats

Dust control also added at Goderich site

Grain and agrifood firm Parrish and Heimbecker has built out the mooring structures at its Lake Huron grain terminal to allow “all configurations” of boats to load and unload there. The Winnipeg company announced Friday it has completed a new mooring dolphin at its terminal at Goderich, Ont., as well as a new vessel-loading spout […] Read more


File photo of cranes at the Port of Montreal. (Jean-Paul_Lejeune/iStock/Getty Images)

Truce reached in Montreal port strike

Longshoremen to return to work Sunday

Striking longshoremen at the Port of Montreal plan to return to work Sunday morning, beginning a truce of up to seven months brokered by federal mediators. Federal Labour Minister Filomena Tassi announced Friday that the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 375, Syndicat des debardeurs and the port’s Maritime Employers Association (MEA) have “concluded […] Read more

(PorcOlymel.com)

Olymel’s Red Deer plant holds at one COVID case

Pork plant employee's contacts returning to work

A production line employee at Olymel’s hog slaughter plant at Red Deer, Alta. remains the facility’s lone COVID-19 case after her contacts at the plant tested negative for the virus, the company says. Olymel, the meat packing arm of Quebec ag co-operative Sollio, confirmed the lone COVID-19 case at its Red Deer site on Aug. […] Read more


(Lovelyshot/iStock/Getty Images)

B.C. ag ministry to take over regulation for on-farm slaughter

Class D- and E-licensed sites to move to ag ministry oversight

British Columbia is set to consolidate all provincial-level meat inspection duties into its agriculture ministry — including the regulatory oversight for on-farm slaughter work. The province announced Wednesday that all slaughter work licensed under its Meat Inspection Regulation for Class A, B, D and E sites will now be regulated through the ag ministry, starting […] Read more

File photo of the Confederation Building, home to Newfoundland and Labrador’s House of Assembly, in St. John’s. (Benkrut/iStock/Getty Images)

Newfoundland to revamp ag oversight in shuffle

MHA Elvis Loveless to handle ag and fisheries files

Newfoundland and Labrador’s new premier plans a “realignment” for several of the provincial government’s departments — including a slightly different home and a new minister for the agriculture file. Dr. Andrew Furey, who was sworn in Wednesday to replace Dwight Ball as premier, announced a new cabinet the same day for the province’s Liberal minority […] Read more