Pulse, canola and special-crop processing firm Legumex Walker has declared itself open to “strategic alternatives” for its future, including a sale or merger. The publicly-traded Winnipeg company said Monday its board of directors has set up a review committee to “identify and consider strategic and financial alternatives… with the ultimate goal of maximizing shareholder value.” […] Read more
Legumex Walker puts sale, merger options on table
Canada blocking poultry from Kansas, Arkansas
Canada has expanded its restrictions on imports of live poultry, uncooked poultry products and eggs to include those from Kansas and Arkansas, as avian flu has now appeared in birds in both states. The Kansas cases of highly-pathogenic (“high-path”) H5N2 avian flu are in a backyard chicken and duck flock in Leavenworth County, on the state’s […] Read more
Ag Safety Week urges farmers to “be the difference”
Acting to improve a farm’s safety systems before a problem appears is the focus of this year’s Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, beginning Sunday. The week, running March to 21 in a co-promotion between the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) and the Federation of Agriculture (CFA) with sponsorship from Farm Credit Canada, is themed “Be the Difference.” […] Read more
Ont. ag minister to review GFO proposal on bee health, neonics
Ontario corn and soybean growers have secured a meeting with the provincial ag minister on the farmers’ proposed Plan B to balance crop pest control against bee health. Grain Farmers of Ontario said Thursday its representatives will meet March 26 with Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal to discuss the proposals laid out in GFO’s Ontario Pollinator […] Read more
N.L. ag department moving to fisheries oversight
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, which oversees public policy for the province’s livestock, crops and agrifood sectors, is under new management. Premier Paul Davis on Thursday appointed provincial Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Vaughn Granter to added responsibility for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency. The agency, headquartered in Corner Brook, was set up in […] Read more
U.S. grains: Grains retreat as dollar soars
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. wheat futures retreated on Friday after a five-session rally, led by declines in corn and soybeans as a surging dollar prompted broad weakness in commodities. The dollar set a fresh 12-year high against the euro on expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike. At the Chicago Board of Trade, […] Read more
Spring seeding fast approaching in Western Canada
CNS Canada –– An early melt in many areas of Western Canada should allow farmers to get on their fields within the next few weeks, although the uncertainty of spring weather remains a wild card in the background and seeding won’t begin in earnest until late April or May as the fields warm up. Areas […] Read more
Loblaw’s ugly-duckling produce to get swan moment
Produce growers supplying Canada’s Loblaw grocery chains with fruit and vegetables are expected to benefit in sales through a new in-store marketing program for “misshapen” wares. Through its Real Canadian Superstore chain, some of its No Frills stores in Ontario and some of its Maxi stores in Quebec, Loblaw on Thursday launched “Naturally Imperfect” fruit […] Read more
U.S. bird experts mystified by Midwest avian flu spread
Chicago | Reuters — A virulent strain of avian flu that has killed turkeys in the heart of the nation’s poultry region has been found through molecular testing to be nearly identical to viruses isolated in migratory ducks. But some wildlife experts are skeptical of suggestions that wild birds are responsible for spreading the H5N2 […] Read more
After first lab-grown burger, test-tube chicken is next on menu
Tel Aviv/Frankfurt | Reuters — Two years after scientists cooked up the first test-tube beef burger, researchers in Israel are working on an even trickier recipe: the world’s first lab-grown chicken. Professor Amit Gefen, a bioengineer at Tel Aviv University, has begun a year-long feasibility study into manufacturing chicken in a lab, funded by a […] Read more