The online arm of Winnipeg ag journal publisher Farm Business Communications (FBC) is representing at this fall’s Canadian Online Publishing Awards (COPAs). The COPAs, to be presented Nov. 7 in Toronto, are a juried competition to promote and support Canada’s digital publishing industry, and are operated by Mississauga-based publishing sector magazine Masthead. Finalists for the […] Read more
Farm Business Communications in online award running
Anderson named federal Tories’ ag critic in shuffle
A vocal critic of the former Canadian Wheat Board single marketing desk for Prairie wheat and barley is now the lead agriculture critic in Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. David Anderson, the MP for the southwestern Saskatchewan riding of Cypress Hills-Grasslands since 2000, was named Thursday as the Conservatives’ critic for agriculture and agri-food by interim Tory […] Read more
Two Albertans win $10,000 Keith Gilmore Prize
Reading Time: < 1 minute Rae-Leigh Pederzolli from Medicine Hat and Nicky Lansink from Three Hills have been awarded the Keith Gilmore Prize for Beef Cattle Innovation. The $10,000 prize is awarded to students who are recognized for academic excellence, leadership, and pursuing a career to improve, support, and promote the beef cattle industry. To be eligible, a student must […] Read more
Climate’s field software en route to Eastern Canada
San Francisco-based ag software firm and Monsanto subsidiary The Climate Corporation is making a run for the border with its Climate FieldView farm data suite. Appearing Wednesday at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, company representatives announced their suite of digital farm data tools, Climate FieldView, will be offered for sale in Eastern Canada this winter, for […] Read more
JBS chiefs return to posts
The CEO and board chairman of the world’s biggest beef exporting firm say they’ve received clearance from a Brazilian federal court to return to their positions, after being ordered off the job last week. Brothers Wesley Batista and Joesley Batista, the CEO and board chairman respectively at Brazilian meat packing giant JBS, were among several […] Read more
TPP study sees net ‘neutral’ effect on dairy sector
An economic impact study on Canada’s participation in a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal finds losses in Canada’s dairy sector would be “offset” by gains for dairy processors from cheaper dairy imports. The study, prepared for the federal government by its Office of the Chief Economist and released Friday, notes Canada has offered expanded access […] Read more
PotashCorp, Agrium make engagement official
The boards of two of the heaviest hitters in Canada’s fertilizer sector have formally agreed to a $47 billion “merger of equals” deal under a new, yet-to-be-named parent company. PotashCorp, the world’s biggest fertilizer company by capacity, and rival Agrium, which is also the world’s biggest crop input retail chain, announced an agreement Monday in […] Read more
Saskatchewan farmers to launch ag retail chain
A Saskatchewan family farm and seed retailing operation is set to become the home base for a new chain of crop input and seed retail stores. Brad Hanmer, who farms and operates Hanmer Seeds at Govan, Sask., about 100 km north of Regina, on Wednesday announced the launch of SynergyAG, which plans to open four […] Read more
Cara to buy control of Original Joe’s chains
Chain restaurant firm Cara Operations is set to buy a bigger presence in Canada’s West, with a deal for control of the Original Joe’s, State + Main, and Elephant + Castle pub-style restaurant chains. Cara, whose other chains in North America include Swiss Chalet and Harvey’s, announced last week it will pay $93 million for […] Read more
Antique tractors at auction offer a trip back through time
Reading Time: < 1 minute Norman and Judy Erickson’s farm near Viking was the place to be on Aug. 13, when 74 antique tractors (all but three completely restored) went on the auction block. More than 1,000 people came from across the Prairies and Ontario, with online bidders joining from the U.S. and the United Kingdom for the sale handled […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
