General

A new environmental stewardship award that recognizes the efforts of Nova Scotia farmers who carry out sustainable farming practices was announced on Earth Day, April 22. The Farm Environmental Stewardship Award promotes the actions of farmers who are participating in the Nova Scotia Environmental Farm Plan program. More than 1,100 farms have developed plans for […] Read more

The Federal Court of Appeal has reduced the penalty levied against Canadian Pacific Rail Company for exceeding its 2006-2007 revenue cap.  The decision released this week means the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) is required to repay $415,550 to Canadian Pacific Rail Company (CP), the WGRF says in a release.  Under the Canadian Transport Agency’s […] Read more

Manitoba’s Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan has introduced amendments to the Buildings and Mobile Homes Act which would require farm buildings to be designed and constructed to meet building codes. “Currently, there is no legislation requiring these types of structures be constructed in accordance with building codes throughout the province,” said Allan. “Fires on […] Read more

The swollen Red River has created a lake nearly 16 kilometres wide and covering more than 975 square kilometres in southern Manitoba, officials said early this week. More than 2,200 people have been evacuated from their homes, but the ring dikes protecting communities and homes south of Winnipeg have for the most part done their […] Read more

Prairie farm leaders are applauding efforts of the Canadian government to strengthen trade ties with Morocco.  Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), and Wild Rose Agricultural Producers (WRAP) said in a release they are encouraged that the federal government has engaged in discussion with the Kingdom of Morocco on opportunities […] Read more

Leaders of the Prairies’ three general farm organizations met April 17 to discuss the Canada Grain Act, the livestock industry, the environment, inputs, and transportation. Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), and Alberta’s Wild Rose Agricultural Producers (WRAP) said in a release that they identified two major priorities, and developed […] Read more

Facing declining sales in commercial and consumer equipment such as riding mowers and leaf blowers, equipment giant Deere and Co. will merge that business into its ag equipment division. The Illinois-based company said Tuesday it will combine its agricultural and commercial/consumer equipment units into a single worldwide “agriculture and turf” division starting May 1. The […] Read more

(Revised, April 9) — The federal/provincial Growing Forward ag policy framework will fund a new nationwide trade and market development program for Canadian farmers and agrifood exporters. The program, announced Tuesday, is a collection of five separate initiatives meant to ensure exporters have “the information and support they need to sell more products in more […] Read more

The Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia governments have each co-signed their agreements with the federal government on the specifics of their funding through the new Growing Forward ag policy framework. Growing Forward is Ottawa and the provinces’ replacement for the previous five-year federal/provincial Agricultural Policy Framework (APF, 2003-08). The new $1.3 billion agreement is intended to […] Read more