The Yukon government wants public input on plans to update its animal protection laws and expand the powers available to its protection officers. The territorial government on Monday released a discussion document in advance of a series of public consultations during April and May. Proposed amendments to the territory’s Animal Protection Act include: requiring owners […] Read more
Yukon to broaden animal protection powers
Seeding underway in southern Sask., Man.
Farmers in drier southern areas of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have already put some crop in the ground, according to their provincial ag departments. Peas, barley, lentils and wheat were seeded during the past week in the southern regions of Saskatchewan, while most northern and central areas are still two to three weeks away from seeding, […] Read more
Manitoba’s Kyoto plan eyes local, organic food
Funding for “local food” programs and conversions to organic farming are on Manitoba’s list of projects to reach its proposed Kyoto target by 2012. The province’s Kyoto action plan, outlined Monday, proposes $145 million in funding for a number of projects such as geothermal heating and cooling systems for new schools, rapid transit and an […] Read more
Viterra to raise $400M, go shopping
Canada’s biggest grain handler plans a share sale worth an expected $400.4 million, partly to finance “future acquisitions.” Viterra said Monday it will sell 28.6 million common shares at $14 a share to an underwriters’ syndicate led by TD Securities and Genuity Capital Markets, with an option for another 4.29 million shares at the same […] Read more
Atlantic Beef cuts weekly slaughter: CBC
About 30 workers at Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Beef Products have been laid off as the plant cuts back its weekly slaughter, CBC reported Friday. The weekly slaughter has been reduced to 280 head, down from over 400, as a cost-control measure, CBC said, noting that the plant has recently been losing about $250,000 a […] Read more
CN takes slight drop in Q1 net
A 10 per cent rise in grain freight revenue over 2007 levels helped offset Canadian National Railway’s (CN) first-quarter costs from the rising loonie, poor winter weather, reorganization and a conductors’ strike. The railway on Monday posted net income of $311 million on $1.93 billion in revenue for its Q1 ending March 31, down from […] Read more
Public partners back Que. organic packer
Capital Financiere agricole, the investment branch of Quebec’s provincial ag lending agency, plans to invest $300,000 in a new organic meat plant. Viandes biologiques de Charlevoix, which raises and markets hogs and chicken and produces organic meat at Baie-St-Paul, about 90 km northeast of Quebec City, plans to build a 6,300-square foot plant to Eco-Cert […] Read more
New mode of bug-killing action registered
Coragen and Altacor, two new insecticides for the potato and fruit markets, have picked up federal registration for their shared new chemistry. The two products, both owned by DuPont Canada, use the company’s Rynaxypyr chemistry, which the company said is the only active ingredient from the Anthranilic diamide class of insecticides and offers a “breakthrough” […] Read more
Sask. to process cull pork for food banks
The Saskatchewan government will pay up to $440,000 to process animals from the federal cull breeding swine program and donate the pork to food banks throughout the province. Sask Pork, the province’s pork industry development board, will administer the funding and co-ordinate the processing of sows with hog farmers and processors, then handle distribution to […] Read more
Agrium, UAP move to shed retail outlets
Fertilizer firm Agrium has extended its offer for U.S. ag retailer UAP for a fifth time for an extra two days’ grace after coming to terms with U.S. antitrust regulators. The Calgary fertilizer company on Friday said it has agreed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on terms of a consent decree that it […] Read more
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