Consolidation of "back-office functions," streamlining of operations, reduction of costs and shedding of assets are on the agenda over the next three years in Canada’s agriculture ministry. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, releasing the Conservative government’s 2012 budget on Thursday, announced plans that will see the federal agriculture portfolio’s overall annual budget reduced from current levels […] Read more
Agriculture department grazed in federal cost-cutting
Canada launches trade talks with Japan, eyes Thailand deal
Canadian ag commodity groups are hailing the decision by Canada and Japan to launch formal negotiations toward a free trade agreement. Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement Sunday in Tokyo during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Yoshihiko Noda, two days after announcing Canada will pursue "exploratory discussions" toward a free trade deal with […] Read more
CFIA widens burger recall from Saskatoon plant
An E. coli-related recall of ground beef from a shuttered Saskatoon burger processing plant has been widened to over 135 products made between last July and mid-February this year. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday rolled out an expanded list of products including retail brands such as PC, Western Family, Best Value, Calgary Stampede, […] Read more
Heated flax meal sparks Man. processor fire
Overheated flax meal is blamed for a fire that’s caused seven-figure damages at a major flax processing plant in western Manitoba. RCMP from nearby Russell, Man. report no one was injured when the Glanbia Nutritionals plant at Angusville., about 120 km southeast of Yorkton, Sask., caught fire Tuesday morning. Manitoba’s Office of the Fire Commissioner […] Read more
Canola crusher offers EU-grade sustainability program
A major Prairie canola processor that’s certified to crush "sustainable" feedstock oils for the European biodiesel market has set up a program to certify its canola growers. ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) Agri-Industries at Lloydminster, Alta. on Tuesday launched what it’s dubbed the Sustainable Grower Program, following its own certification through International Sustainability and Carbon Certification […] Read more
Prairie shortline railways look ahead to new reality
The looming end of the Canadian Wheat Board’s single desk for marketing wheat, durum, and barley in Western Canada on Aug. 1 may lead to changes to the shortline railways in the region. The shortlines predominantly move CWB grains, but industry participants expressed confidence in their viability and the continued use of producer rail cars […] Read more
AG SAFETY WEEK: Safety plan campaign enters home stretch
Canadian Agricultural Safety Week this year kicks off the final year of a three-year effort to encourage development of on-farm safety plans. "I encourage farm operations to assess, improve and if necessary further develop safe farming practices," Prince Edward Island’s Agriculture Minister George Webster said in one of many public-sector releases this week promoting the […] Read more
Ontario to boost fees for farm plates
Putting plates on farm vehicles in Ontario is going to get a bit more expensive each year starting in 2013. The province on Tuesday announced it will begin to boost the annual fees for vehicle licence validations across various categories, as well as driver’s license renewal fees and driver exam fees. Included among those, as […] Read more
Nearly-ended program backs Sask. biodiesel maker
A biodiesel processor in eastern Saskatchewan will get up to $1.7 million in loans from a provincial biofuel support program in its final days. Milligan Bio-Tech, based at Foam Lake, about 90 km northwest of Yorkton, will get a "repayable contribution" from the province’s four-year, $80 million SaskBIO program, which ends March 31. The program, […] Read more
Ont. to halt horse racing industry’s slots program
In a move which has the province’s horse breeders fearing a meltdown, the Ontario government has told its gaming agency to shut down the Slots for Racetracks program by the end of March next year. The program, a revenue-sharing agreement in place since 1998 between the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG), the province’s racetracks […] Read more
