Reading Time: 4 minutes Renewable diesel production is poised to take off in the next five years and the coming boom is great news for canola growers, says the Canadian Oilseeds Processors Association. “For canola crush, in terms of possible capacity growth in the years to come, we could see almost six million tonnes of increased capacity based on […] Read more

Renewable diesel demand expected to soar in next two years
Canola production poised to jump as new facilities come on stream in next two years

Conagra tops profit, sales estimates even as consumers turn thrifty
Reuters — Conagra Brands beat quarterly sales and profit estimates on Thursday, boosted by higher prices for its Marie Callender’s and Slim Jim brands even as consumer demand wanes under the weight of decades-high inflation. Global food companies have been increasing prices over the past year to shield profit margins, which have been squeezed by […] Read more

Mid-year farm gate price hike approved for milk
Processors say incremental hike may soften impact on consumers
A request from Canada’s dairy farmer organization for an unscheduled increase in the current farm gate price for milk, to help farmers catch up with steep rises in their costs of production, has been granted. The Canadian Dairy Commission said Tuesday it will recommend that the farm gate price for milk be increased effective Sept. […] Read more

Fifth-generation cattle rancher aims to build biggest U.S. beef plant
Chicago | Reuters — A fifth-generation cattle rancher and consultant plans to build the country’s largest beef plant in South Dakota with capacity to slaughter 8,000 head of cattle a day. The US$1.1 billion project could help address the Biden administration’s concerns about rising food prices and a lack of competition in the meat sector, […] Read more

Wastewater regulation eased for Nova Scotia on-farm processing
Nova Scotia has introduced regulatory changes that allow on-farm processing operations to better manage wastewater on their smaller scale. The changes, which took effect May 11, come at the request of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture (NSFA) — which has said that owners of small farm-level processing facilities shouldn’t be treated the same as […] Read more

Richardson crush plant workers to vote on new offer
UFCW team endorses latest offer
Unionized workers at Richardson International’s oilseed crush plant at Lethbridge, Alta. will vote Tuesday and Wednesday on a new offer from the company after rejecting a previous proposal. United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401 announced Tuesday (Jan. 25) its negotiating committee “fully endorses” the new offer after the company’s Richardson Oilseed division “enhanced […] Read more

Co-op, AGT plan to crush canola at Regina
Crusher would feed FCL's planned renewable diesel plant
Federated Co-operatives’ plans for a renewable diesel processing plant at Regina now also include processing the canola oil needed to supply that plant. Federated Co-op (FCL) on Monday announced a memo of understanding has been signed with Regina grain and pulse crop processor AGT Foods on a joint venture that will “look to construct” a […] Read more

Scoular fires up flax processing near Regina
Plant to process flax for food- and feed-grade markets
U.S. grain handler Scoular’s Canadian arm has opened a new flax processing operation at its site just southeast of Regina, into what it describes as a record-strong flax market. Scoular Canada on Wednesday announced the opening of its “high-speed” flax line at Richardson, Sask., where it already processes and cleans lentils, peas and canary seed. […] Read more

Biden unveils plan to boost competition in U.S. meat industry
Reuters — The United States will issue new rules and US$1 billion in funding this year to support independent meat processors and ranchers as part of a plan to address a lack of “meaningful competition” in the meat sector, President Joe Biden said Monday. The initiative comes amid rising concerns that a handful of big […] Read more

CGB, soy grower co-op to build North Dakota crushing plant
Reuters — U.S. grain handler CGB Enterprises and farmer co-operative Minnesota Soybean Processors are building a soy processing plant in North Dakota, the second new crushing facility announced in the state this year. The plant — which will be built near Casselton, about 25 km west of Fargo — is expected to crush 42.5 million […] Read more