Monsanto Canada has named the Val Marie Curling Club in southwestern Saskatchewan as the grand prize winner of $10,000 toward needed improvements in the seed and chemical company’s “Imagine a Better House” contest. The club at Val Marie, south of Swift Current, won the grand prize from 240 applications and was announced as the winner […] Read more
Monsanto funds rural curling club renos
Golden nematode aid expanded in Que.
The federal government has expanded the range of compensation available under its golden nematode disaster program for potato growers in the quarantined St-Amable area east of Montreal. “We have listened to potato farmers and we are taking action to help them deal with the immediate transition costs incurred,” said Quebec MP and Minister of State […] Read more
Man. ag dept. to fund Aboriginal startups
Manitoba’s provincial agriculture department plans to help cover some costs of business startups for young Aboriginal people in rural and northern communities. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) announced the Young Rural Aboriginal Entrepreneur Initiative on Tuesday at the first general meeting of the Indian Agriculture Council of Manitoba at Long Plain. The new […] Read more
New Brunswick beekeepers get federal aid
New Brunswick beekeepers who suffered “serious winter losses” to their bee colonies in 2006-07 will be eligible for a share of $150,000 in federal aid, the government announced Tuesday. The New Brunswick Honey Bee Revitalization Initiative is intended to help beekeepers rebuild colonies that suffered at least 25 per cent over-wintering loss, and to encourage […] Read more
Project seeks feed use for dried dairy byproducts
A B.C. whey and milk protein processor will run a pilot project to make dairy byproducts into ingredients for livestock feed and pet food. Vitalus Nutrition of Abbotsford on Friday announced the pilot project, along with $220,090 in federal government funding through the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program to support it. Vitalus, which […] Read more
CAFTA concerned over Ont., Que. stance on WTO
A joint statement from the Ontario and Quebec provincial governments, urging a shift in the federal negotiating strategy at the World Trade Organization’s talks on ag trade, has drawn concern from an exporters’ industry group. The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is concerned over the “apparently complete focus” on the interests of Canada’s five supply-managed […] Read more
Liberals’ task force urges short-term livestock aid
The federal Liberals have jumped the gun on the release of the report from their task force on agriculture to roll out its recommendations for “immediate” short-term aid for livestock producers. The party, whose task force report was “scheduled to be released in the near future, announced the recommendations Monday. The task force, co-chaired by […] Read more
CWB 2007-08 initials hiked
Federal approval has been granted for the Canadian Wheat Board to raise its 2007-08 initial payments for wheat, durum and designated barley effective Feb. 21. Farmers who delivered wheat, durum and designated barley to the CWB between Aug. 1, 2007 and Feb. 20, 2008 will get an adjustment payment for the increased initials, the board […] Read more
Bevo Agro gets new financing
Farm Credit Canada has stepped in with a new financing package for B.C.-based greenhouse supply firm Bevo Agro Inc. Bevo Agro propagates and supplies vegetable, flower, berry and other seedlings to greenhouse operators, field growers and nurseries, including a substantial customer base in the U.S. It posted a net loss of almost $280,000 in its […] Read more
B.C. thinks local in provincial ag plan
A new ag plan for British Columbia will direct millions in provincial funding to strategies that promote locally grown food, including a provincewide “food miles” awareness campaign. Agriculture Minister Pat Bell rolled out the new B.C. Agriculture Plan on Friday in Abbotsford, describing the document as setting “a new direction for the agriculture and food […] Read more
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