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
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
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
Fiona batters Eastern Canada’s farms, fishery
'You'll hear me swearing in Saskatchewan'
Winnipeg | Reuters — Powerful storm Fiona slammed into Canada’s eastern fishing and farm industries over the weekend, smashing wharves, food processing plants and barns that will take months to repair. One of the worst storms Canada has ever faced left more than one-third of customers in Nova Scotia without power, swept homes into the […] Read more
Fiona pounds Bermuda as Canada braces for major jolt
Up to eight inches of rain expected along path
Hamilton, Bermuda/Halifax, N.S. | Reuters — Hurricane Fiona pounded the Atlantic island of Bermuda with heavy rain and winds on Friday as it tracked northward toward Eastern Canada, where it threatens to become one of the most severe storms in Canadian history. Fiona had already battered a series of Caribbean islands earlier in the week, […] Read more
McDonald’s and McCain support regen ag potatoes
McCain pledges to implement the practice on 100 per cent of acreage by 2030
Reading Time: < 1 minute McDonald’s Canada and McCain Foods Limited have announced the Future of Potato Farming Fund, a joint initiative that will offer $1 million to support the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices and technology by Canadian potato growers. The fund will be open to more than 130 farmers with more than 76,000 acres of potato farmland, and […] Read more
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