Man. waste plant upgrades to boost pork capacity

Manitoba will direct cash from a federal community development plan to upgrades on municipal wastewater treatment plants that will allow expansions at two major pork processing facilities. The province announced Friday that it will flow part of the federal government’s pledged $41.9 million Community Development Trust funding package into upgrades of industrial wastewater treatment facilities […] Read more

Manitoba pledges $14.7M for cattle producers

Manitoba’s cattle producers will be eligible for direct payments from a $14.7 million fund to help support them through high feed costs, low cattle prices and the high Canadian dollar. The province announced Friday it will put $7.35 million toward the payments, while the other half will come from the federal government’s $41.9 million Community […] Read more


Saudis’ subsidy boosts CWB Pool B barley

A move Wednesday by the Saudi Arabian government to raise its import subsidy for feed barley has prompted the Canadian Wheat Board to issue an unusual mid-month pool return outlook (PRO) reflecting higher prices. The CWB’s mid-March 2007-08 PRO, released Friday, raises No. 1 Canada Western Pool B feed barley to $275 per tonne, up […] Read more

Quebec hog sector talks collapse: report

Mediated talks between Quebec’s hog producers and processors, aimed at a revival of the beleaguered industry, have failed, according to farm newspaper La terre de chez nous. The newspaper, on its web site Friday, quoted provincial Agriculture Minister Laurent Lessard as saying producers and processors have missed a fine opportunity by instead opting for arbitration […] Read more


Farm fair fact-finding funded

The Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions plans to put a $500,000 federal investment to work on a survey of farm fair-goers. In a federal government release Friday, CAFE said it will use the funding to conduct a Canada-wide survey of 16,800 fair and exhibition attendees. “Results from this study will help our agricultural societies […] Read more

Manitoba to tap communities fund for livestock sector

Aid to livestock producers, investment in hog processing capacity and a strategy to deal with U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) will take part of Manitoba’s share of federal Community Development Trust funding. Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty came to Winnipeg Thursday to announce the province will get $41.9 million from the program, which splits up $1 […] Read more


B.C. to broaden animal protection powers

British Columbia has introduced amendments to its animal cruelty legislation to boost the powers available for animal protection agents. The amendments, announced Thursday, will boost penalties for offences and give agents of the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals greater leeway to step in on suspicion of cruelty or of people causing […] Read more

Study eyes disease-preventing dairy proteins

New joint research by scientists in Manitoba and Australia will seek out proteins in dairy for their impact in preventing and managing chronic diseases. The initiative, led by the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals in Winnipeg, will involve scientists at University of South Australia’s Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, the Centre for Agri-Health in […] Read more


Quebec backs Gatineau dairy project

Quebec’s provincial government will put up $150,000 to support the development of la Laiterie de l’Outaouais, a $2.76 million project planned for Gatineau’s agri-food industrial park. The new co-operative dairy, scheduled to open this summer, is expected to produce milk, organic milk, chocolate milk, maple-flavoured milk and cream and plans to add ice cream, cheese […] Read more

Quebec to shift priorities after CAAAQ report

Quebec’s provincial government plans an overhaul of its ag income stabilization programs among other new policy priorities for its agriculture department, following the recent Pronovost report on the future of the ag industry. The report from the Commission sur l’avenir de l’agriculture et de l’agroalimentaire quebecois, released last month, urged a stronger focus on innovation, […] Read more