The company behind about a quarter of the world’s frozen French fries plans to ramp up demand from New Brunswick potato growers with a line capacity upgrade at its recently expanded plant there. McCain Foods announced Aug. 27 it will put up another $12 million to add capacity to its Florenceville, N.B. plant’s French fry […] Read more
McCain to dial up fry production in New Brunswick
EU set to halt imports of Canadian cherries, other fruits
Ottawa | Reuters — The European Union will halt imports of Canadian cherries and other fresh fruits starting Sept. 1 as it enforces new import requirements related to pests, according to a Canadian government document sent to industry on Thursday. In the notice, which was seen by Reuters, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the […] Read more
British food lobby warns of food shortages from no-deal Brexit
London | Reuters — Britain will experience shortages of some fresh foods for weeks or even months if a disorderly no-deal Brexit leaves perishable produce rotting in lorries at ports, Britain’s food and drink lobby warned on Wednesday. Retailers such as Tesco have warned that leaving the European Union on Oct. 31 without a transition […] Read more
Excessive moisture causing crops to degrade in central Alberta
Alberta Crop Report: Conditions as of July 29
Reading Time: 5 minutes Since the last report crops in some central regions are beginning to degrade due to excessive rainfall. The effect varies substantially depending on location, topography and soil type. Hay operations have been extremely difficult in the same areas and the chance of a second cut is greatly diminished due to the late first cut. Producers […] Read more
Crop development varies across Alberta
Alberta Crop Report: Conditions as of July 16
Reading Time: 5 minutes Cooler than normal temperatures have prevailed in the past month across most of Alberta resulting in a slight setback of approximately a week for many fields. Combined with the dry conditions throughout the South, East and Peace regions and higher than normal precipitation along the foothills and North West region, the crop conditions and staging […] Read more
U.S., Canada, 14 others slam EU farm product regulation at WTO
Geneva | Reuters — The United States and 15 other countries launched a broadside of criticism at the European Union on Thursday, saying its “hazard-based” approach to regulating pesticides and other “critical tools” used by farmers was damaging livelihoods worldwide. Their statement, submitted to the World Trade Organization, said the EU’s approach created great uncertainty […] Read more
Crop conditions creep near five-year average, soil moisture levels still a concern
Alberta Crop Report: Conditions as of June 25
Reading Time: 4 minutes Following a dry spring, most parts of the province have received at least 80 mm of precipitation over June and experienced a wetter weather pattern, with some fields receiving significantly more rain through thunderstorm activities. However, southern parts of Alberta remained dry and in need of rain. Moisture stress in the northern half of the […] Read more
Rain gives farmers relief, for now, from three-year drought
Winnipeg | Reuters — With drought turning Chad Ross’s pastures brown, the southeastern Saskatchewan rancher sent 140 head of cattle to slaughter earlier than usual this spring, as the Prairies’ three-year drought made them too expensive to feed. The ranch and feedlot near Estevan has lost money two straight years. Long-awaited rains that swept the […] Read more
Flexibility available for farmers on FCC loan payments
Farm Credit Canada says it remains willing to work around the various forces majeures standing between its farmer clients and their cash flows this year. The Crown lending agency reiterated Monday it will work with customers “to come up with solutions for their operations on a case-by-case basis” in view of this spring’s weather worries […] Read more
EU crop chem firm Belchim buys full control of Canadian arm
The Belgian crop chemical firm that bought a majority stake of Canadian crop chemical distributor Engage Agro in 2016 has bought up the rest of the business. Belchim Crop Protection announced Monday it had increased its stake in the Guelph-based company — which it renamed Belchim Crop Protection Canada in 2017 — to 100 per […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
