“Several nonsubstantial changes” in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s BSE regulations will slightly loosen a few remaining export restrictions on Canadian cattle and related products. USDA on Friday announced amendments to its regulations on imports of animals and animal products from regions of “minimal risk” for BSE, or mad cow disease. USDA’s minimal-risk designation currently […] Read more
USDA tweaks minimal-risk BSE rules
CWB expands wheat storage program
Sign-up begins today for the Canadian Wheat Board’s expanded wheat storage program, which will offer farmers up to $15 per tonne to store high-quality wheat. The CWB announced on Tuesday that the storage program, in its second year, will be expanded to all delivery points across Western Canada that have access to high-quality spring wheat […] Read more
Quebec’s PMWS aid to roll in February
Quebec’s $17.5 million aid package for hog farmers with herds hit by post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) will include both direct aid, due next month, and interest-free loans, the province announced Tuesday. The aid package, announced in general terms before Christmas, will be in two parts. The first will be direct aid for PMWS-affected hog […] Read more
Alta. trucks to road-test biodiesel
Biodiesel blends have officially left the lab to be tested against an Alberta winter. Climate Change Central, an Alberta public-private partnership group backing and developing greenhouse gas reduction policies and projects, on Tuesday formally launched the Alberta Renewable Diesel Demonstration, with the announcement of $2.6 million in federal and provincial funding for the project. The […] Read more
Organic fruit projects eligible for U.S. funding
The U.S.-based Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) says it will invest US$450,000 over the next three years in organic fruit research and education projects in North America, including Canada. The projects will be funded in conjunction with Stretch Island Fruit Company, makers of FruitaBü organic fruit snacks, which has committed $450,000 to help growers increase […] Read more
PotashCorp clears first hurdle for N.B. mine
New Brunswick’s environment department will allow Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan to expand its Sussex, N.B. mine, on 18 conditions. The company announced plans in July for a US$1.8 billion expansion project at its potash operations at Sussex, northeast of Saint John, tapping into its Piccadilly deposit, two “relatively flat” seams of ore it says are […] Read more
Sask. canola, mustard groups name new brass
Mostly familiar faces are back at the board tables of Saskatchewan’s canola and mustard growers’ groups for the coming year. Meeting during Crop Production Week in Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission named its previous vice-chairman, Kelvin Meadows of Moose Jaw, as chairman of the commission. Meadows replaces Tisdale farmer Jim Caughlin, who remains as […] Read more
Olymel ships surplus pork to food banks
Quebec meat packer Olymel and the workers at one of its hog slaughter plants have put in extra hours to process surplus hogs for the hungry, the company announced Friday. Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (TUAC) local 1991-P working for Olymel at St-Esprit, about 60 km north of Montreal, pledged to extend […] Read more
NOFG hands over P.E.I. hog plant: CBC
Natural Organic Food Group (NOFG) has handed over the keys to its Charlottetown hog plant after the province called in a $1.5 million loan, CBC reported Friday. The company, which recently announced plans to go into receivership, told a news conference Friday that the P.E.I. government had given the company 10 days to repay the […] Read more
Canadian regulators approve UAP takeover
Canada’s top antitrust regulator has no quarrel with Agrium’s plans to buy input retailer UAP. Agrium announced Monday it has received a “no-action” letter from the office of Sheridan Scott, Canada’s commissioner of competition. A “no-action” letter signifies the commissioner does not plan to intervene in a proposed takeover, which allows it to proceed before […] Read more
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