Fruit/Vegetables & Production Tips

Dutch potato co-op buys control of Alta. seed firm

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News September 4, 2014

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

Crops, Grapes, Markets

Sask., B.C. reach deal on direct wine, spirits sales

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News September 2, 2014

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

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Potatoes

P.E.I. field quarantined with potato wart

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News August 29, 2014

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

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Grapes, Markets

N.S. sets up wine development board

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News August 28, 2014

Grape growers and wine producers in Nova Scotia have got a new advisory board to bring their ideas and issues to the provincial government. The province on Tuesday named nine members, including Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell as chairman, to a new Nova Scotia Wine Development Board. Nova Scotia’s wineries sold almost $16.7 million in wine […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Grapes, Reuters

California wine country quake losses seen in billions

By GFM Network News August 26, 2014

Napa, California | Reuters — A strong earthquake that jolted residents of California’s Napa Valley wine country from their beds on Sunday caused insured property damage likely in the hundreds of millions of dollars, but the region’s total economic losses will be several times that, experts said on Monday. The magnitude 6.0 quake, the biggest […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Potatoes

DuPont to shed Kocide fungicide business

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News August 21, 2014

DuPont’s copper fungicide Kocide, used in Canada to manage diseases in bean, potato and assorted hort crops, is set to meet a new maker. DuPont Crop Protection announced Wednesday it will sell its global copper fungicide business — including its Kocide and ManKocide brands and trademarks and its Houston, Tex.-based copper fungicide plant — to […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Markets, Reuters

EU fruit, veg growers get $180M to help with Russia ban

By GFM Network News August 18, 2014

Brussels | Reuters –– The European Union’s fruit and vegetable growers will get financial aid of up to 125 million euros (C$181.9 million) to help them cope with Russia’s ban on most Western food imports, which has created a glut of produce in peak harvest time, the European Commission said. Russia has declared a one-year […] Read more

Crops, Potatoes

Potato storage fungicide throws in three actives

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News August 12, 2014

A new post-harvest fungicide to preserve potato crops in storage gathers three active ingredients for use against fusarium dry rot and silver scurf. Syngenta Canada last week announced the rollout for Stadium, a combination of fludioxonil (Group 12), azoxystrobin (Group 11) and difenoconazole (Group 3) for control of fusarium and suppression of silver scurf in […] Read more

Crops, Fruit/Vegetables, Markets, Potatoes

McCain to shut P.E.I. fries plant

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News August 7, 2014

Prince Edward Island’s potato industry can expect a substantial blow this fall as french-fry giant McCain Foods moves to close its processing plant on the island by the end of October. The New Brunswick company, which supplies fries to both the retail grocery and restaurant and foodservice sectors, announced Thursday it will “cease operations” at […] Read more

Fruit/Vegetables, Poultry/Eggs

Feds fund poultry code updates and hort programs

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News July 31, 2014

The federal government has announced funding of over $2 million to the Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC) to develop and update poultry codes and further advance best practices for the care and handling of other farm animals. The government has also announced funding of over $1.4 million for the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to […] Read more

Daily Network News

JBS reaches deal with U.S. meatpacking workers who went on strike

Public consultation open on national beef code of practice

Pulse weekly: Indian forecasters predict below-normal monsoon

Fruit/Vegetables