British Columbia’s Agricultural Land Commission credits new funding, and a new regime of performance measures, with helping it to clear its backlog of applications. The ALC, the tribunal overseeing provincial measures to conserve farmland and enable farming-related land use, recently announced it has “eliminated” a backlog of 185 applications — and has processed over 90 […] Read more
Extra funds, orders help B.C. ALC clear backlog
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia impose spring weights
Spring weight limits on trucks and other vehicles are coming into effect on certain roads in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The Nova Scotia transportation department on Thursday announced a maximum weight of 15 tonnes on gravel roads starting at noon Friday (Feb. 24) “until further notice.” “Unseasonably warm weather is softening gravel roads to […] Read more
Coop federee cracks $6 billion mark in revenues
Revenues for expansion-minded Quebec agrifood and retail co-operative La Coop federee crossed the $6 billion mark in fiscal 2016, leading to a substantial jump in patronage dividends to producers. The co-operative at its annual meeting reported earnings, before patronage dividends and income taxes, of $275.44 million on $6.335 billion in revenues for fiscal 2016, up […] Read more
Newfoundland shifts Lands Branch to new department
The government branch overseeing Crown land in Newfoundland and Labrador will join the provincial ministry handling the agrifoods file, as the province moves to cut public sector costs. Premier Dwight Ball on Wednesday announced what he billed as the “Flatter, Leaner Management Structure” for the provincial government, a reorganization which will see 287 management positions […] Read more
Quebec extends organic conversion funding plan
A support program for Quebec farmers to convert crop, livestock or maple syrup operations to organic production will get an extension. Provincial Agriculture Minister Laurent Lessard on Monday announced the three-year, $4 million organic agriculture conversion support program set up in June 2015 will now run to the end of March 2022. The program offers […] Read more
Canada stresses NAFTA talks to involve all members
Toronto | Reuters –– Any talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement would involve all three member nations, a top Canadian official said on Tuesday, dampening speculation the U.S. might seek to sit down with Canada first and then Mexico. “We very much recognize that NAFTA is a three-nation agreement and were there […] Read more
French MNAs take EU-Canada trade deal to court
Paris | Reuters — More than 100 French left-wing lawmakers decided Tuesday to appeal to the country’s Constitutional Council to block a contentious free trade deal between the European Union and Canada. Supporters of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) say it will boost economic growth and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. […] Read more
U.K. farming minister seeks big changes to farm policy post-Brexit
Birmingham | Reuters –– Britain’s farm policy is set for a major shake-up when the country leaves the European Union because the current system is poor value for money, has too much red tape and provides few incentives to use the latest technologies, farming and environment minister Andrea Leadsom said Tuesday. Leadsom said she was […] Read more
Kraft walks away from ‘friendly’ bid for Unilever
New York | Reuters –– U.S. food company Kraft Heinz withdrew its proposal for a US$143 billion merger with larger rival Unilever, the companies said Sunday, raising questions about whether Kraft will turn its focus to another target. Kraft had made a surprise offer for Unilever to build a global consumer goods behemoth — an […] Read more
Austere empire-building weighs on Kraft’s Unilever bid
Reuters — Buyout firm 3G Capital managed to build a consumer empire with a market value of over US$140 billion in just seven years. Yet its ruthless approach to costs may end up hampering 3G-backed Kraft Heinz’s US$143 billion bid for Unilever Plc. 3G made its name in corporate America by orchestrating large debt-laden acquisitions […] Read more