A Portage la Prairie food processor that converts culled vegetables into nutritional purees has received $582,000 from the federal-provincial Growing Value program to increase its capacity. Canadian Prairie Garden Puree Products has acquired new equipment and modified its existing operation in order to cook more types of fruits, vegetables and pulse crops like chickpeas, navy […] Read more
Puree processor gets GF2 funds for expansion
Baltic Dry Index continues downward slide
CNS Canada — A downtrend in ocean freight rates shows no sign of letting up, as the Baltic Dry Index again hit fresh historic lows. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) was quoted at 445 points on Thursday, marking a new low since records began in 1985. The index was trading above 1,200 as recently as […] Read more
Equipment maker Buhler books year-end loss
Weak commodity prices and political unease in Eastern Europe have led to a year-end loss for Canadian farm equipment and Versatile tractor maker Buhler Industries. Winnipeg-based Buhler on Tuesday reported a net loss of $5.3 million on revenues of $245.7 million for its year ending Sept. 30, down from a $12.5 million profit on $325.5 […] Read more
Precision ag firm AgJunction plans post-merger job cuts
Precision agriculture equipment and software firm AgJunction is set to cut down its workforce in the wake of its merger with a U.S. competitor. AgJunction, which in 2013 relocated its head office from Calgary to Kansas and shut its Calgary manufacturing plant, announced Wednesday it will reduce its total workforce by about 20 per cent […] Read more
CN, CP both over revenue limits for 2014-15 grain haul
Canada’s big two railways will both be required to hand over seven figures in Prairie grain revenue from the 2014-15 crop year after taking in more than their federally-allowed maximums. The Canadian Transportation Agency on Tuesday ruled Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway (CN, CP) exceeded their grain revenue entitlements for the crop year […] Read more
CFIA to continue PEDv hog trailer policy until May
Emergency federal protocols that have allowed empty hog trucks coming into Manitoba from the U.S. to be cleaned and disinfected on the Manitoba side of the border will now continue until May. In a producer newsletter Thursday, Manitoba Pork chair George Matheson said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which had previously planned to end the […] Read more
VIDEO: Eight-wheel drive tractor “Big Roy” begins restoration at Versatile
Reading Time: < 1 minute As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, Winnipeg-based Versatile brought its model 1080 prototype eight-wheel drive tractor, dubbed Big Roy, home for a makeover. Although it’s now officially owned by an agricultural museum, the tractor will play an as-yet unspecified role in Versatile’s celebrations through public appearances arranged by the brand this coming season. Age […] Read more
Man. First Nations seek to buy Churchill port, rail line
Manitoba’s northern First Nations have responded to the “for sale” notice on the port and rail line that allow Prairie farmers and handlers to ship grain exports through Hudson Bay. The Canadian arm of U.S. shortline firm OmniTrax confirmed Friday it has a letter of intent in hand from a group of First Nations in […] Read more
Ocean freight rate index at historic low, again
CNS Canada –– The Baltic Dry Index, which gauges the price of moving grain and other goods by sea, is down to new historical lows, less than a month after setting the former floor. The BDI, compiled daily by the London-based Baltic Exchange, was quoted at 471 points on Wednesday after falling below 500 points […] Read more
CP revises hostile bid for Norfolk Southern, again
Reuters — Canadian Pacific Railway slammed railway Norfolk Southern on Wednesday, accusing it of misleading investors even as CP executives rolled out a new bid with increased shareholder protections to acquire the U.S.-based railroad. Executives from Canada’s second-largest railroad said the deal is now in the hands of Norfolk Southern’s shareholders, and urged its board […] Read more
