The federal government plans to put “special agricultural safeguards,” a form of duty allowed by the World Trade Organization, around Canada’s supply-managed dairy, egg and poultry sectors. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced Thursday that the government has served the WTO with notice of Canada’s intent to proceed with “finalizing the operationalization” of special agricultural safeguards […] Read more
Ottawa to put WTO duties on supply-managed goods
Governments sitting on Atlantic Beef cash: CBC
A $12 million bailout for the Atlantic Beef Products plant on Prince Edward Island is on hold waiting for the company to hold up its end of the agreement, CBC reported Thursday. As per an agreement announced in December, the federal government was to invest $6 million through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and […] Read more
Flour miller rolls out Prairie wheat branding
Ontario flour miller Dover Industries has joined in on the Canadian Wheat Board’s bid to build a domestic brand for Prairie wheat, by taking it on the road. Dover, which owns flour mills at Cambridge, Ont., Acton, Ont., Halifax and, most recently, Saskatoon, will carry the CWB’s brand with the slogan “Made from Canadian Wheat […] Read more
Manitoba “hog pause” runs to Feb. 29
The Manitoba government’s “pause” on approvals for new or expanding hog operations will extend to Feb. 29, while the province ponders a report on the industry’s sustainability. The province has received its long-awaited report from the provincial Clean Environment Commission (CEC), reviewing its environmental protection measures already in place relating to hog production. The CEC […] Read more
Runoff forecast sees shortages in southern Sask.
Many of Saskatchewan’s grain-growing areas can expect either too much or too little water from their spring thaw, according to the province’s first spring runoff forecast. The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority’s first streamflow forecast for the year, released Tuesday, finds snowpack “well above normal” in northern areas of the province’s grainbelt. So far in those areas, […] Read more
JRI to expand two Pioneer sites in Sask.
James Richardson International (JRI) has expansions planned for two of its Pioneer Grain facilities in eastern Saskatchewan. The company announced Wednesday that it will build a new 4,000-tonne capacity fertilizer storage building and blending facility at its Pioneer Grain elevator at Yorkton, Sask. The site is expected to be open this spring. Pioneer Grain will […] Read more
Simplicity herbicide registered in wheat
Dow AgroSciences Canada has picked up registration for use of its new Group 2 herbicide Simplicity against grass and broadleaf weeds in spring wheat and durum. Simplicity, a cross-spectrum pyroxsulam herbicide, can be tank-mixed with MCPA Ester or Attain for “excellent overall” broadleaf weed control, Dow marketing manager Chad Lesyk said in a release Monday. […] Read more
U.S. to allow Ont. firm’s E. coli vaccine
An Ontario firm developing a vaccine expected to cut down the amount of harmful E. coli bacteria in cattle and cow-pies is now eligible to get a conditional license for the vaccine’s use by U.S. cattlemen. The company announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture now finds the data from Bioniche Life Sciences of […] Read more
Ridley agrees to $6M settlement in BSE lawsuit
Winnipeg feed maker Ridley Inc. will pay $6 million to Canada’s cattle producers to end its exposure to class actions over the arrival of mad cow disease. The company said in a press release Tuesday that it will pay $6 million into a plaintiffs’ settlement trust fund to settle claims against it in four co-ordinated […] Read more
P.E.I. maintains seed potato virus level cap
Prince Edward Island’s provincial government won’t raise its three per cent cap on virus levels in seed potatoes for the 2008 season. Agriculture Minister Neil LeClair made the announcement Tuesday, citing reports that virus levels in some varieties during the 2007 growing season exceeded levels from 2006. “There was an increase in aphid infestation during […] Read more
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