FBC Staff

An investment banker with experience in mergers and acquisitions is the new vice-president of corporate development for Canada’s biggest grain handler. Viterra on Monday announced Andrew Muirhead will lead the company’s “strategic business development and growth.” Muirhead, who starts immediately, will operate out of the company’s Calgary office. Muirhead was previously a vice-president and director […] Read more

The Saskatchewan and federal governments on Monday announced $2.3 million to support six water projects in western Saskatchewan, ranging from feasibility studies to the laying of supply pipes. The approved projects include five research projects and a regional pipeline project, all of which are either already underway or complete. Among them are: a review of […] Read more

BASF Canada has picked up registration for its Group 2 herbicide Solo to be used in Clearfield lentil crops. The imazamox herbicide is already approved for control of 10 grasses and eight broadleaf weeds in field peas, Clearfield canola and, last week, Clearfield sunflowers. The company said the registration will allow lentil growers more rotation […] Read more

Dow Chemical Canada has stopped seeking buyers for its strawboard plant at Elie, Man., and will instead sell the plant’s press equipment to foreign buyers, the Manitoba Co-operator reports. The Jan. 3 issue of the farmers’ newspaper quotes a spokesperson for the chemical company as saying the plant’s pressboard and associated machinery has been sold […] Read more

Western Canada’s biggest grain elevator companies have weighed in on the Canadian Wheat Board’s proposed barley pricing option by calling for “the complete deregulation of barley as soon as possible.” The Western Grain Elevator Association, which as recently as August 2006 said it had “chosen to stay out of the debate concerning the future of […] Read more

Fertilizer company Agrico Canada, through its joint venture Northumberland Grain in southern Ontario, has bought a neighbouring ag retailer with plans to consolidate three outlets down to two. The company, 50 per cent co-owned by Agrico with Dexter and Karen Harder, has bought Hunco Farm Supply, an ag input, feed and farm supply dealer at […] Read more

Approval of a herbicide for use on Clearfield sunflowers is expected to clear the way for the Clearfield sunflower system this spring. BASF Canada on Thursday announced it has picked up minor-use registration for its Group 2 herbicide Solo to be used in Clearfield sunflower crops. The imazamox herbicide is already approved for control of […] Read more

Ballots will be in the mail next week for Ontario’s growers of cut flowers, potted plants, bedding annuals and “propagative plant materials” to vote on a proposed mandatory checkoff to fund Flowers Canada (Ontario). The group has applied to the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (OFPMC) to be recognized as the official representative association for […] Read more