Dutch potato breeding co-operative Agrico has stepped up its direct interest in the North American seed potato sector by buying control of one of its major seed dealers. The co-op last week announced it has bought a 21 per cent stake in Parkland Seed Potatoes, raising its ownership to 60 per cent of the Edmonton company. […] Read more
Dutch potato co-op buys control of Alta. seed firm
CWB plans new concrete in southern Sask.
The grain company formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board plans to add to its handle in south-central Saskatchewan with a new concrete-and-steel high-throughput elevator. CWB announced Thursday it will start construction this fall on a 42,000-tonne capacity elevator, plus grain cleaning facilities, on Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) track near Pasqua, Sask., a hamlet about […] Read more
Cargill gains Ont. chocolate plant in deal with ADM
Archer Daniels Midland’s (ADM) exit from the chocolate processing business will see Cargill expand its own chocolate arm in Ontario. The two global grain and agrifood players on Tuesday announced an agreement in which Cargill will buy ADM’s worldwide chocolate business for US$440 million. The sale includes ADM’s chocolate plant at Georgetown, Ont., about 15 […] Read more
Livestock tax deferral expansion open to comment
The federal government’s plan to expand its income tax deferral provisions on breeding livestock to cover bees and horses has entered a month-long public comment period. Then-finance minister Jim Flaherty proposed in February to expand the tax deferral provision as part of his final “Economic Action Plan” budget before his death in April. [Related story] The […] Read more
SW Ontario grain handler to change hands
The family-owned company behind what’s billed as Ontario’s biggest inland grain terminal is set to exit the grain handling business. The owners of Palmerston Grain — which operates from Palmerston, Ont. and handles wheat, corn, soybeans and canola through its 57,000-tonne capacity terminal at nearby Minto — have reached a deal to sell the business […] Read more
Service to flag possible farm equipment safety issues
Farmers wanting to air concerns about possible safety hazards on new equipment now have another channel to move those issues forward. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) last week launched its “Speak Up For Safer Equipment” tool, an online form farmers can use to report safety concerns with farm equipment manufactured in the past five […] Read more
Sask., B.C. reach deal on direct wine, spirits sales
Consumers in each of British Columbia and Saskatchewan may be able to order wine and craft spirits directly from the other province’s producers, starting next summer, without having to involve the Crown or third-party vendors. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and B.C. Premier Christy Clark announced an agreement Friday they said will “lift barriers to consumers […] Read more
P.E.I. field quarantined with potato wart
A 35-acre field on Prince Edward Island is under quarantine and its crops set to be destroyed after the plot was confirmed to have potato wart. The finding was confirmed last week by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which has ordered “movement controls” on all equipment, plants, potato tubers and soil from the affected farm. […] Read more
Western Sask. terminal owners approve CWB bid
Shareholders in western Saskatchewan’s Great Sandhills Terminal (GST) have unanimously approved an offer from the grain company formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board. CWB announced Friday it’s completed its $17.4 million acquisition of GST, following an Aug. 18 meeting at which 100 per cent of shareholder votes went in favour of the deal. CWB’s […] Read more
Levinoff-Colbex beef plant to be sold for parts: report
A Quebec cattle producer group’s bid to buy and reopen the shuttered Levinoff-Colbex beef packing plant in the Centre-du-Quebec region has been rejected, according to the province’s main farm organization. The ill-fated cull cow slaughter plant’s receiver, Richter Advisory Group of Montreal, had been taking bids on the St-Cyrille-de-Wendover plant’s assets this summer, for sale […] Read more
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