Toronto | Reuters — A U.S. recommendation that consumers avoid vaping products containing the active ingredient in marijuana ahead of their legalization in Canada next month could be a blow to Canadian cannabis companies’ hopes that the higher-margin products will help propel them to profitability. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said […] Read more

Vape product concerns weigh on cannabis companies

Storms leave close to 1,000 hail claims on Prairies
MarketsFarm — There were almost 1,000 claims for hail damage across the Prairies following a series of storms Sept. 15-20, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association (CCHA). The CCHA said the most destructive of the storms during that week came on Sept. 17. “There is significant damage from this late–season storm. There was heavy […] Read more

Ag extension staffer named Manitoba NDP ag critic
A former Manitoba provincial ag extension co-ordinator will be the new critic for agriculture on the opposition New Democrats’ bench. Manitoba NDP leader Wab Kinew on Friday announced a new shadow cabinet, appointing Diljeet Brar as his critic for agriculture and for sport, culture and heritage. Brar, a rookie MLA elected Sept. 10 in the […] Read more

Cargill’s quarterly profit up on beef, egg demand
Chicago | Reuters — Global commodities trader Cargill reported a three per cent increase in adjusted quarterly profit on Thursday, citing strong consumer demand for meat and eggs in North America and growth in its animal nutrition businesses. Cargill, the largest privately held U.S. company, said its adjusted operating earnings rose to $908 million in […] Read more

U.S., Japan sign limited trade deal
New York | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed a limited trade deal on Wednesday that cuts tariffs on U.S. farm goods, Japanese machine tools and other products while further staving off the threat of higher U.S. car duties. Trump said the deal would open up Japanese markets […] Read more

Trump says impeachment inquiry could derail North America trade deal
Washington/Mexico City | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that an impeachment inquiry against him could derail congressional approval of a North America trade pact, dragging down Mexico’s peso and stock market as investors fled riskier assets. While U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he was confident the U.S-Mexico-Canada trade agreement would […] Read more

Major Quebec hothouse grower seeks creditor protection
One of Quebec’s best known greenhouse propagators, who in recent years launched an aggressive expansion into organic vegetables, is seeking creditor protection. Les Serres Lefort, which operates almost 50 acres of greenhouse facilities at Sainte-Clotilde in Quebec’s Monteregie, announced Sept. 10 it had filed a notice of intention on Sept. 6 to file a proposal […] Read more

AAFC raises 2019-20 canola, wheat ending stocks
MarketsFarm — Canadian ending stocks of canola and wheat will be larger than earlier thought, according to updated supply/demand tables Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada released late Friday. AAFC raised its canola ending stocks estimate for 2019-20 to a record 4.5 million tonnes, up from the August estimate of 3.775 million and the upwardly-revised 2018-19 level […] Read more

Pearce: Autonomous platform makes Eastern Canada debut
It’s been dubbed “the future of agriculture” and for the first time, farmers in Eastern Canada had the opportunity to see the Dot A-U1 Power Platform with in-field demonstrations at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. The precision ag system, designed by Dot Technology Corp., attracted considerable attention going through its paces during the annual ag showcase, […] Read more

Tim Hortons retreats from Beyond
Tim Hortons is dialing back its Beyond Meat marketing in Canada and will keep the plant-based meat substitute on its sandwich menus in Ontario and British Columbia alone. The coffee-and-donut chain, an arm of Toronto-based Restaurant Brands International and Canada’s biggest fast-food chain by number of outlets, first test-marketed breakfast sandwiches with the U.S. company’s […] Read more