Canada’s biggest dairy co-operative has been given the all-clear to close its deal for an Atlantic dairy co-op’s ice cream business. Agropur Co-operative on Thursday announced it has bought the assets of Truro, N.S.-based Scotsburn Co-operative Services, which include the company’s plants in Truro and in Lachute, Que. as well as the Scotsburn brand name. […] Read more
Scotsburn ice cream business sale to Agropur cleared
Federal forecast sees more oilseed acres, less in grains
Canadian farmers are expected to cut back the summerfallow allocation and put more acres in production this spring, planting more of those acres in oilseeds and fewer in grains and pulses. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s market analysis group on Monday released an outlook for principal field crops which, assuming a return to average or trend […] Read more
Textron to buy Arctic Cat
A U.S. firm with multiple brands in the utility vehicle market is set to add Minneapolis-based ATV and snowmobile maker Arctic Cat to its roster. Providence, R.I.-based Textron Inc. announced Wednesday it has signed an all-cash merger deal to buy NASDAQ-traded Arctic Cat for $18.50 a share, or about $247 million (all figures US$). Arctic […] Read more
Richardson buys eastern Saskatchewan input shop
Prairie grain firm Richardson Pioneer has added to its share of the eastern Saskatchewan crop input retail market with a deal for Crop First Agro. Financial terms aren’t being disclosed for the deal between privately-held Richardson and Crop First Agro, an independent retailer at Grenfell, Sask., about 100 km south of Yorkton, except that the […] Read more
Anonymous midge appears in Prairie canola
Canola crops in northeastern Saskatchewan and east-central Alberta have run up against a potential pest problem so new it doesn’t yet have a name. Researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the University of Guelph and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have reported a new species of midge damaging canola crops in those areas. The species […] Read more
More commissioners named for Grain Commission
The Canadian Grain Commission’s deck of commissioners has been refilled with two farmers with long resumes in Prairie farm policy. The federal government on Friday announced governor-in-council appointments to the CGC for Doug Chorney, as assistant chief commissioner, and Lonny McKague as commissioner. Their appointments, both effective Feb. 13, follow the announcement earlier this month […] Read more
Quebec ag minister pulled from caucus
Quebec’s agriculture minister has been removed from the provincial government’s cabinet and caucus, the premier’s office said Thursday. In a short press release, Premier Philippe Couillard said he was informed Thursday evening that Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis is the subject of a police investigation. Given the circumstances, Paradis has been relieved of ministerial duties and […] Read more
McDonald’s, A+W roll out all-day breakfast for Canada
Burger chains McDonald’s and A+W expect to dial up their demand for Canadian eggs as they offer all-day breakfasts alongside their beef and chicken wares across the country, starting next month. Toronto-based A+W announced Thursday it would be “the first national burger chain to offer all-day breakfast at its restaurants” coast-to-coast starting Feb. 27, after […] Read more
Quebec agriculture minister temporarily sidelined
Quebec’s agriculture minister Pierre Paradis is off work temporarily with what’s reported to be a concussion. Premier Philippe Couillard announced Wednesday that Paradis’ responsibilities as minister of agriculture, food and fisheries would temporarily go to Transport Minister Laurent Lessard. News outlets in Quebec including Radio Canada, La Presse and TVA reported Wednesday that Paradis had […] Read more
Grain handle helps lift CN to record Q4
Traffic in Prairie grain and U.S. soybeans got credit Tuesday for helping Canadian National Railway (CN) to a record profit for its fourth fiscal quarter. Montreal-based CN booked net income of $1.018 billion on revenue of $3.217 billion for the quarter ending Dec. 31, up from $941 million on $3.166 billion in the year-earlier period. […] Read more
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