Reading Time: 3 minutes Growers in parts of Ontario may get an early start on planting this spring, while Prairie fields may see lingering snow and later-than-average last frosts. WeatherFarm’s spring forecast, powered by U.S.-based DTN Progressive Farmer, projects a cold start to the spring as likely for the western half of Canada, reversing the milder conditions shown over […] Read more
Spring outlook cooler for Prairies, warmer for Ontario
Norway to upgrade ‘doomsday’ seed vault
Reading Time: < 1 minute Oslo | Reuters — Norway plans to spend 100 million Norwegian crowns (C$16.1 million) to upgrade a doomsday seed vault on an Arctic island built 10 years ago to protect the world’s food supplies, the government said on Friday. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is meant as a natural deep freeze to back up the […] Read more
Southern Ontario median farmland price jumps in 2017
Reading Time: 2 minutes The threat of interest rate increases hasn’t dampened the prices southern Ontario farmers are paying for land. The annual Valco study of land values showed an increase in value of 9.76 per cent for farmland sold in 2017 over 2016. This increase is the largest since 2013. The median price for land in the surveyed […] Read more
Growing potatoes without chemicals
Organic potato production on a commercial scale is a challenge, but one Ontario grower is meeting it
Reading Time: 4 minutes Isaiah Swidersky offers a careful answer when asked if organic potato production is a risk worth taking. “To some degree it is, but there’s a reason I haven’t expanded it to 200 or 300 acres,” Swidersky says. “It’s a challenge to grow organic potatoes. But I’m optimistic. It’s a good challenge.” Swidersky’s operation, Rose Mountain […] Read more
Simplot to supersize Portage la Prairie fry plant
Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. agrifood giant J.R. Simplot plans to bulk up its potato processing footprint in southern Manitoba with a $460 million plant expansion. The company and the provincial government on Wednesday announced construction will begin this spring on a 280,000-square foot expansion at its 180,000-square foot french fry processing plant at Portage la Prairie. The expansion, […] Read more
Moving freight to get more expensive for food companies
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — U.S. food companies called out rising freight costs as a reason for lower profit margins in the holiday quarter, with more pain seen in 2018 as a dearth of drivers and higher diesel prices make it even more expensive to transport products to stores. Hershey, Mondelez International, J.M. Smucker and Campbell Soup said […] Read more
At least two killed in potato farmer protests in Peru
Reading Time: 2 minutes Lima | Reuters — At least two people have been killed in clashes at protests by potato farmers across the Peruvian Andes, police said on Thursday, as demonstrators demanded the government make good on promises to buy excess potatoes after a sharp price drop. Thousands of farmers took part in the protests on Wednesday and […] Read more
Rising diesel could surge with U.S. infrastructure plan
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Diesel costs in Western Canada are roughly eight to 10 cents higher on average than anytime in 2017, and an industry expert warns that gap could grow even more with a potential surge of U.S. construction. “I think we’re already seeing more evidence of a robust, consumption-driven U.S. as more disposable income […] Read more
Campbell to shut Toronto soup, broth plant
Reading Time: 2 minutes Campbell Soup Co. will call a halt to all Canadian soup and broth production by mid-2019 when it closes the doors on its Toronto manufacturing plant. The Camden, N.J. company’s Canadian arm announced Wednesday it will close the plant in phases over a period of up to 18 months and move its production to three […] Read more
The Keg to merge into Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s parent
Reading Time: 2 minutes Major Canadian steakhouse chain The Keg is set to merge into Cara Operations, the parent for dining chains such as Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, St-Hubert and Milestones, in a $200 million cash-and-stock deal. The two companies said Tuesday a merger will afford them “synergistic opportunities in marketing, real estate and overall costs that will help further […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
