The idea of loosening interprovincial trade in certain foods made by provincially-inspected processors will get a major test in one of Canada’s very few province-crossing municipalities. The Saskatchewan, Alberta and federal governments on Jan. 19 announced the start of a two-year pilot project within the limits of Lloydminster, a city of over 31,000 people straddling […] Read more
Borderline city hosts interprovincial food trade pilot
Trade barrier on pause for two years for food businesses serving Lloydminster
Potato storage research to get boost
A federal-provincial investment goes to improve an existing storage facility at the University of Manitoba
Manitoba’s potato research landscape is getting a funding injection to improve infrastructure. The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $98,970 through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to upgrade the University of Manitoba’s horticulture storage facility so it can conduct potato research. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and provincial Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson made the announcement […] Read more
Step aside, bud the spud
Alberta ekes out top spot for potato production in 2022
Reading Time: < 1 minute It was a squeaker, but Alberta edged out P.E.I. and Manitoba as the country’s top potato producer this year. StatCan says provincial growers harvested 26.8 million hundredweight of spuds, just ahead of P.E.I.’s 26.6 million and Manitoba’s 26.1 million. Last year, P.E.I. – aka Spud Island – was the top dog but even though its […] Read more
The bid to irrigate east-central Alberta
BIG DREAMS: Many hurdles lie ahead, but proponents say massive $1.3-billion project is a lifesaver for struggling region
Reading Time: 6 minutes It’s the best thing that ever happened out here.” That’s how farmer Daryl Peers describes a proposal to spend as much as $1.3 billion to irrigate up to 108,000 acres in the Special Areas and Municipal District of Acadia. And while the project is far from a done deal, it’s desperately needed to rejuvenate the […] Read more
Once again, supporters of growing projects are making a difference
Reading Time: 4 minutes Just keeping track of the offers of help would likely keep the eight members of the Taber Foodgrains Project’s organizing committee busy. “There’s probably close to 100 organizations that help out in some way, shape or form,” said Jeremy Wind, the group’s chair. “We had no challenges getting people to help out. There’s always a […] Read more
Simplot to buy western Saskatchewan ag retail chain
G-Mac's AgTeam to rebrand under Simplot name
An independent crop input retail chain in western Saskatchewan is set to become part of agrifood firm J.R. Simplot’s retail arm. Simplot announced Nov. 15 it has a deal in place to buy G-Mac’s AgTeam, which owns and operates 15 outlets in the region, for an undisclosed sum. The deal, which will see the G-Mac’s […] Read more
Incentives for sustainable spuds take root
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmers who grow potatoes for McCain Foods, and who adopt the company’s sustainable ag practices, can get up to $2,000 in reduction on their loan costs with Farm Credit Canada thanks to a joint program by the lender and the french fry maker. The amount depends amount on the size of their loan but McCain […] Read more
Alberta reorganizes ag portfolio for returning minister
Horner to handle agriculture and irrigation file
Both Alberta and Quebec have re-upped with their incumbent agriculture ministers in cabinet shuffles this week — but incoming Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s shuffle will also streamline that province’s ag portfolio. Chosen by Alberta’s governing United Conservatives (UCP) on Oct. 6 to replace outgoing premier Jason Kenney, Smith on Friday announced Kenney’s incumbent minister of […] Read more
Alberta harvest on the verge of completion
MarketsFarm – Combining in Alberta is almost finished with the latest crop report indicating it’s at 96.3 per cent complete. The province’s Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development (AFRED) department noted that as of Oct. 4, the harvesting of all crops advanced nine points from the previous week due to dry weather. Of the 11 […] Read more
Conagra tops profit, sales estimates even as consumers turn thrifty
Reuters — Conagra Brands beat quarterly sales and profit estimates on Thursday, boosted by higher prices for its Marie Callender’s and Slim Jim brands even as consumer demand wanes under the weight of decades-high inflation. Global food companies have been increasing prices over the past year to shield profit margins, which have been squeezed by […] Read more
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