Fertilizer giant Agrium’s planned exit from the purchase-for-resale business now includes a US$50 million deal for two of its U.S. fertilizer facilities. The Calgary company announced Tuesday it’s reached a deal to sell its Illinois anhydrous ammonia storage and distribution terminals at Niota and Meredosia — about 150 km west of Peoria and 95 km […] Read more
Agrium to shed U.S. fertilizer terminals
Sask. to seek new animal protection agency
Saskatchewan’s agriculture ministry plans to seek other options for enforcement of animal protection laws, with three months before the current enforcer’s contract ends. The ministry confirmed Monday that the Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has decided not to renew its contract for enforcement of the provincial Animal Protection Act. The […] Read more
Ont. oat, barley growers approve GFO entry
Ontario’s barley and oat growers have voted just over three-quarters in favour of representation by the province’s wheat, corn and soybean growers’ organization. Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) confirmed Monday that eligible growers voted 77 per cent in favour of the move in a November vote conducted by the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission. GFO […] Read more
N.S. sheep producers backed for handling upgrades
Handling upgrades expected to help Nova Scotia’s sheep farmers cut down parasite loads in their flocks may be eligible for some public funding. The federal and provincial governments and Sheep Producers Association of Nova Scotia (SPANS) recently rolled out a Sheep Handling and Parasite Control Program, which will pay up to 40 per cent of […] Read more
FCC, BMO offer breaks on loans to poultry farmers
Poultry producers up against direct impacts from avian influenza outbreaks at farms in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley may be able to get breaks on their outstanding loans with some lenders. Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and BMO Bank of Montreal both recently announced they may grant affected customers some leeway on payments. FCC said it “will […] Read more
Agrium restarts potash output at Sask. mine
Fertilizer and ag retail giant Agrium has restarted potash production at its west-central Saskatchewan mine after a months-long expansion-related shutdown. Calgary-based Agrium said Wednesday its site at Vanscoy, about 25 km southwest of Saskatoon, is back in business after completion of what it called a “major turnaround” to tie in a one million-tonne expansion project. […] Read more
Ex-Viterra chief dropped as Dreyfus’ CEO-elect
The terms by which Mayo Schmidt would lead Louis Dreyfus’ commodities business have led the company and its chosen CEO to part ways. Offering no further details, Louis Dreyfus Commodities said Wednesday the company and the former Viterra CEO “have jointly decided not to proceed” with Schmidt taking the helm, “while retaining the highest mutual […] Read more
Que. Caterpillar dealer to shed ag equipment arm
Caterpillar’s dealer for Quebec and the Maritime provinces is set to sell its Quebec farm equipment business to a chain of Agco dealerships. Hewitt Equipment — the authorized Cat dealer for Quebec and western Labrador and, through its Atlantic Tractors and Equipment arm, for the Maritimes — announced recently it will sell its ag division […] Read more
Buhler books near-record sales
Winnipeg tractor and farm equipment maker Buhler Industries logged 2014 as its third-biggest sales year ever, but expects lower commodity prices to weigh on next year’s results. Buhler last Wednesday reported year-end profit of $12.5 million on $325.5 million in sales, down from its record net ($19.9 million on $340.3 million in sales) in 2013 […] Read more
Tax deferrals kick in for soaked and parched West
Ranchers under pressure from this year’s drought in B.C. and northwestern Alberta and excess moisture in western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan may get income tax deferrals for their trouble. The federal government on Tuesday released its first list of designated areas for 2014, within which eligible producers who sold breeding livestock may be allowed to […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
