Federal inspectors are again issuing certificates for exports of Canadian beef to China, as Beijing’s temporary ban on the Canadian product comes to an end. The Chinese government in late February announced a temporary ban on imports of Canadian beef, shortly after Canada confirmed its first case of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in a domestic […] Read more
Canadian beef again moving to China
Farm business tax credits on tap in Manitoba budget
Expansions and extensions for tax credits of use to Manitoba farmers and small agribusinesses were laid out Thursday in the province’s latest budget. Finance Minister Greg Dewar’s plan calls for an expansion of the province’s small business venture capital tax credit, broadening its list of eligible businesses to include “non-traditional farming” ventures, as well as […] Read more
Fire damages Bunge’s Hamilton crush plant
Fire officials in Hamilton, Ont. estimate a fire in a soybean drying unit at Bunge’s oilseed crush plant has caused about $20,000 in damages. The city’s fire department on Thursday said multiple fire crews responded to a report of a fire at the Bunge plant at about 12:40 p.m. The fire, officials said, broke out […] Read more
Cost index trimmed for railways’ grain revenue cap
A sharper-than-expected drop in fuel costs has led federal regulators to dial back the index that decides how much money railways get to keep from hauling Prairie grain. The Canadian Transportation Agency on announced Thursday it will cut its volume-related composite price index (VRCPI) by 5.6 per cent, to 1.2517, for the 2015-16 crop year. […] Read more
Ont. co-op swaps corn supply line for ethanol plant
Corrected, April 30, 2015 — Farmer co-operative IGPC plans to switch to Thompsons from Cargill as the main corn supplier for its southwestern Ontario ethanol processing plant, starting this fall. Thompsons Ltd. will start buying corn immediately for deliveries from Oct. 1 onward to the Aylmer, Ont. ethanol plant, IGPC (Integrated Grain Processors Co-operative) said in a […] Read more
Third Ont. farm with avian flu cleared of birds
Updated, April 29, 2015 — Ontario is urging poultry farmers to look into the AgriStability income stabilization plan, after the province’s third poultry farm to catch H5N2 avian flu this month has put down all its turkeys. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed Monday that “humane depopulation” has already been completed at the Bright, Ont. […] Read more
GFO seeks longer comment period on neonic regs
Grain Farmers of Ontario wants the province’s environment ministry to reconsider the rush on the comment period for its proposed new controls on neonicotinoid seed treatments. The province has given the public, farmers included, a 45-day period ending May 7 to comment on its proposed regulations. “This is one of the busiest times of the […] Read more
ADM to upgrade crush plants for soy
Archer Daniels Midland plans to get ahead of increased soy acreage on the Prairies by upgrading two crushing plants to handle more soybeans. The U.S. agrifood firm said Monday it will upgrade its processing plant at Enderlin, N.D., about 80 km southwest of Fargo, to crush soybeans as well as canola and sunflower seed. At […] Read more
Co-op Atlantic seeks exit from grocery, fuel businesses
The board of Atlantic Canada’s biggest co-operative is planning its way out of the “increasingly competitive” grocery and fuel businesses. Co-op Atlantic said Saturday its board recommends members vote by a May 12 deadline in favour of the organization divesting its food and fuel wholesale assets. Co-op Atlantic is the overarching body for 128 co-ops […] Read more
Alberta ag minister named acting justice minister
Alberta’s agriculture minister is now also its justice minister. Premier Jim Prentice on Saturday appointed Verlyn Olson, MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose since 2008 and the province’s ag and rural development minister since 2012, as both acting justice minister and solicitor general. Prentice said his move follows having “asked for and received the resignation” of Calgary-Acadia MLA […] Read more
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