Fertilizer and ag retail firm Agrium has officially shed its turf and ornamental business in a deal with U.S. producer Koch Fertilizer. Calgary-based Agrium said Wednesday it has sealed its deal to sell the business to Koch Fertilizer arm Koch Agronomic Services for about $94 million. When first announced in May, subject to regulatory approvals […] Read more
Agrium’s turf, ornamental business sale clears
Producer car application system going online
Grain growers wanting to apply for producer cars will be able to do so online later this month. Starting Monday (July 7), farmers who administer their own producer cars, as well as producer car administrators and agents, can apply for an account in the Canadian Grain Commission’s new online producer car application system. On July […] Read more
Juice maker Lassonde buys further into U.S. market
Quebec-based fruit juice processor Lassonde Industries plans to buy its way further into the U.S. juice market — this time in the branded juice business, with a play for a national-level manufacturer. Lassonde and its founding family on Thursday announced an agreement to buy privately-held Apple + Eve, LLC of Port Washington, N.Y. for $150 […] Read more
Manitoba calls provincial emergency
A provincial state of emergency takes effect in Manitoba at noon Friday as municipalities along the Assiniboine River brace for flood levels above those seen in 2011. Declaring a state of emergency allows the provincial government to “take action to prevent harm or damage to the safety, health or welfare of Manitobans, and to property and […] Read more
Funding available for rural fire departments and emergency services
Reading Time: < 1 minute Rural rescue organizations from across Canada are invited to apply for the Funding Initiative for Rural Emergencies (F.I.R.E.). DuPont Pioneer launched the program last year and gave out more than $100,000 to 32 rural fire departments and emergency services for rescue equipment and training. Among the equipment purchased last year was grain bin rescue equipment, […] Read more
Sunny weather doesn’t end Prairie flood risk
A period of relatively dry and sunny weather in eastern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba between now and the weekend may allow overland water to pass, but doesn’t end the flood risk, agencies say. A high pressure system has moved into Manitoba and is expected to bring sunnier weather for the next three days, the provincial […] Read more
PQ’s first agriculture minister Jean Garon, 76
Jean Garon, the lawyer and founding Parti Quebecois member who served as Rene Levesque’s first minister of agriculture, died on Canada Day at age 76. Garon, the MNA for the provincial riding of Levis from 1976 to 1998 and mayor of Levis from 1998 to 2005, died Tuesday at l’Hotel‑Dieu de Levis, the PQ said […] Read more
B.C.’s medical-grade grows won’t be farms
The five production sites licensed to grow medical marijuana in British Columbia will not get to call themselves “farms” for tax purposes starting next year. The provincial government announced Wednesday it will exclude federally-licensed medical marijuana production from the list of agricultural uses under which a property could be classified as a “farm” for assessment […] Read more
Storied western Manitoba farmhouse burns
The centrepiece of the tale of a famously unconventional western Manitoba pioneer family has been erased. The vacant old farm home at the Criddle/Vane Homestead Provincial Heritage Park, about 10 km south of Canadian Forces Base Shilo, was completely destroyed by fire Wednesday evening. Blue Hills RCMP, in a release Thursday, said they were called to […] Read more
Job postings in ag are soaring
Reading Time: < 1 minute In the past four years, AgCareers.com has seen almost a 50 per cent increase in the number of Canadian agriculture jobs posted to the popular job site. Here are the industries that are hiring. General agriculture Agronomy Crop protection/chemicals Finance/banking Seed Crops/grain Equipment/machinery Feed Commodities Retail Information courtesy of AgCareers.com’s 2013 Agribusiness Job Report. More […] Read more
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