The federal government will promote from within to replace the retiring chief executive at its ag lending agency. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz on Monday announced Michael Hoffort, executive vice-president and chief risk officer of Farm Credit Canada, will be the lender’s new president and CEO for a five-year term starting July 1, replacing the retiring […] Read more
Replacement named for retiring Farm Credit chief
Livestock, grain groups hail step forward on Korea trade deal
For groups hoping to maintain access to South Korea’s markets for meat and crops, the Canadian government’s move to get its free trade pact with Korea before the House of Commons couldn’t come soon enough. International Trade Minister Ed Fast on Thursday tabled the text of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement, briefly noting the deal’s […] Read more
Anti-spam rules to weigh on all commercial email
Farmers who market their wares directly to customers by email will need to rethink their efforts come July 1, as new federal anti-spam legislation takes effect. If you’re already on a company or ag association’s email list for newsletters or promotions, you’ve likely had email lately asking you to provide consent to continue to receive […] Read more
Ontario voters return ag incumbents in Wynne’s win
Ontario’s incumbent agriculture minister and her opposition critics are all headed back to Queen’s Park as voters gave Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals a new majority mandate Thursday night. Wynne, who pledged during her campaign for the Liberal leadership in 2012 to name herself as minister of agriculture for at least a year, won 59 of […] Read more
CWB seals Sask. terminal deal on PWT shareholders’ approval
The grain company formerly known as the Canadian Wheat Board now formally owns an elevator network in western Saskatchewan. CWB announced Monday it has formally completed its friendly takeover of farmer-owned Prairie West Terminal (PWT) after the company’s farmer-owners and other shareholders voted 99.5 per cent in favour of the deal at a May 30 […] Read more
Dress for success to apply pesticides
Farm safety
With the planting season upon us, pesticides will be part of the arsenal of tools used to prepare for and maintain the impressive patchwork of golden wheat, creamy oats, mustard canola and azure flax across the Prairies. Keeping pests at bay often requires handling chemicals, so the right mix of safe handling practices and personal […] Read more
Revived Thunder Bay terminal boosts Richardson’s capacity
Reviving a mothballed port terminal bought from Viterra is expected to more than double Richardson International’s grain handling capacity at Thunder Bay. The Winnipeg grain company took over Viterra’s Current River grain terminal, with storage capacity of 235,000 tonnes, in a side deal last year stemming from Viterra’s takeover by Glencore Xstrata. Richardson’s own 95-year-old […] Read more
Quebec poultry co-op to buy P+H’s Butterball business
Winnipeg agrifood firm Parrish and Heimbecker has signed a deal to shed its P+H Foods poultry processing business, which includes the Canadian business for the U.S. turkey brand Butterball. Exceldor, a Levis, Que.-based poultry producers’ processing co-operative, announced Thursday it will expand its market reach across Canada by buying the P+H Foods business for an […] Read more
Dairytown’s farmers approve merger into Agropur
New Brunswick butter co-operative Dairytown Products is expected to become part of major Quebec dairy co-op Agropur by month’s end, now that Dairytown’s farmers have approved the deal. The two co-ops announced Wednesday that Dairytown’s “beneficiaries,” the province’s 206 active dairy producers, voted 99 per cent in favour of the merger Tuesday. Member turnout topped […] Read more
Manitoba senator to lead grains institute
Canada’s lead market development institute for Canadian grains, oilseeds and pulses has reached into Parliament’s upper chamber to pick its new chief executive. Cigi, the Canadian International Grains Institute, on Tuesday announced Senator JoAnne Buth will be its new CEO, replacing Earl Geddes on his retirement effective Sept. 8. Buth, president of the Canola Council of […] Read more
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