The Canadian mills that make Robin Hood flour and baking mixes for industrial and foodservice users will be part of a new joint venture by the end of May — now that the U.S. Department of Justice has wrapped up its review of the deal. The department’s antitrust division on Tuesday announced a proposed settlement […] Read more
Ardent Mills j.v. clears U.S. antitrust review
Saccharin cleared for use in foods in Canada
An artificial sweetener famously banned in foods in Canada for decades has been quietly re-approved for use in some products. Saccharin, a non-nutritive ingredient created in the U.S. in the late 19th century and best known for its use in Sweet’N Low table-top sweetener, had been de-listed for use as a food additive in Canada […] Read more
N.S. backs apple orchard renewal plan
Nova Scotia’s government and apple industry will put up seven figures over the next six years to update over 400 acres of the province’s apple orchards with new varieties. The apple sector will put $6.9 million into the program while the provincial ag department will put up a total of $2.2 million over six years, […] Read more
B.C. plans for PEDv prevention
The federal and British Columbia governments are putting up funding for the province’s pork sector to fend off porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) before it arrives there. The two levels of government on Thursday pledged $613,050 from the Growing Forward 2 (GF2) ag policy funding framework for “increased surveillance and preventative measures” to keep livestock diseases […] Read more
Commons votes down bid for horse slaughter ban
A New Democrat MP’s run at new limits on the country’s horsemeat industry was stopped before the finish line Wednesday in the House of Commons. MPs on Wednesday voted 155 to 102 at second reading against British Columbia MP Alex Atamanenko’s private member’s bill, C-571, which sought amendments to the federal Meat Inspection Act and […] Read more
Grain company chief George Richardson, 89
Members of the Prairie grain industry’s influential Richardson family are planning a private memorial service for George T. Richardson, who helmed their wide-ranging business interests for 27 years. Richardson, who died Wednesday at age 89, was president of the family firm, James Richardson and Sons, Ltd., from 1966 to 1993, and is credited for overseeing the […] Read more
Ont. Pork offers partial payments after packer bankruptcy
The marketing division of Ontario Pork has put up money to offer partial reimbursement to hog farmers left unpaid in the wake of Quality Meat Packers’ bankruptcy. The offer, to be funded through the division’s accumulated surplus, applies to farmers who shipped hogs to Quality through the division between March 31 and April 3. The […] Read more
Registration open for 4-H camps
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta 4-H has added a third camp for its popular Junior Camp program. The Junior Camp is for 4-H members aged nine to 11 (dates are July 14-18, July 20-25, and Aug. 18-22) and features events such as crafting, archery and dancing, beach time and slip ‘n’ slide. Registration deadline is June 15 and an […] Read more
Sask. to release southern Crown habitat for sale
Updated, May 15 — Over 1.8 million acres of Crown wildlife habitat in southern Saskatchewan may soon be up for sale under a new provincial land management plan. The province on Monday announced what it calls the Southern Conservation Land Management Strategy, which it said will offer ranchers and farmers now leasing the Crown land […] Read more
Former Sask. ag minister won’t run again
Bob Bjornerud, the southeastern Saskatchewan farmer who served almost five years as the province’s agriculture minister, has confirmed his current term in office will be his last. Bjornerud announced Monday he won’t seek another term as the MLA for the constituency of Melville-Saltcoats in the next provincial election, expected in 2016. “Even though I don’t […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
