Saskatchewan semi truck drivers driving only for farming operations will get a pass on the province’s planned new mandatory minimum trucker training requirements. The province announced Monday it will require a minimum of 121.5 hours of training before a driver can obtain a Class 1 commercial driver’s licence, starting March 15 next year. A Class […] Read more
Saskatchewan farm truckers exempt on new training rule
Bovine TB case turns up in southern B.C.
Federal food safety officials are now looking into the life story of a slaughtered British Columbia beef cow confirmed with bovine tuberculosis. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday announced it has launched an investigation after a mature beef cow was confirmed Nov. 9 with bovine TB. The case comes a few months after the […] Read more
Canadian cattle’s access to Philippines restored
The regulatory path has been cleared to resume exports of live Canadian cattle to the Philippines, reopening a market worth an estimated $8 million per year. The federal government on Monday announced the resumed export clearance, along with new market access for Canadian sheep and goat genetics exports to both Indonesia and the Philippines. The […] Read more
P+H to double down on northwestern Manitoba grain
UPDATED/CORRECTED, Aug. 17 — Winnipeg grain company Parrish and Heimbecker has plans to double its grain handle out of northwestern Manitoba with a new elevator and crop input centre. The company announced Aug. 1 it will put up a new facility in the RM of Gilbert Plains, with 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of storage capacity […] Read more
Phase-outs planned for clothianidin, thiamethoxam
The remaining two of the big three neonicotinoid insecticides will be phased out of nearly all on-farm use in Canada in the next few years under a proposal from Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency. PMRA officials on Wednesday announced 90-day consultation periods on its decisions for both clothianidin and thiamethoxam, following “special reviews” which […] Read more
Extended-tolerance canola now on deck for 2019
Giving growers a wider window to spray in-crop weeds with glyphosate, the new platform for Monsanto’s future canola trait stacks is now booked to make its way into the Canadian market next year. The U.S. seed and chemical company’s Canadian arm announced last week it plans to commercialize TruFlex canola in 2019, following plot trials […] Read more
Richardson to take food innovation downtown
Canadian grain and agrifood firm Richardson International plans to marshal its food research and product development crews in a new downtown Winnipeg space. The privately-held, Winnipeg-based company announced Wednesday it will put up over $30 million to build what it calls the Richardson Innovation Centre, a four-story, 62,000-square foot facility to go up a block […] Read more
‘Cellared in Canada’ wine label on way out
An often-used euphemism for wines made in Canada from blends using imported product is set to disappear from wine labels. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced the voluntary statement “Cellared in Canada” will no longer be used on labels for wines blended in Canada, as per revisions made in March to the agency’s wine […] Read more
Spitz to continue using Canadian sunflower seed
The parent company for sunflower seed processor Spitz is poised to close the plant in the brand’s home town, but says it’s still “committed” to Canadian-grown seeds. PepsiCo, the U.S. parent for Frito-Lay, the owner of Spitz International since 2008, announced Thursday it will close the company’s processing plant at Bow Island, Alta., about 60 […] Read more
Conagra to shed Canadian processed vegetable, fruit business
The company behind Arctic Gardens, Graves and Bonduelle canned and frozen vegetables in Canada is set to add the Del Monte brand to its roster. Conagra Brands, which makes and sells Del Monte processed fruits and vegetables in the Canadian market, announced Tuesday it will sell that business to France’s Bonduelle Group for $43 million. […] Read more