Reading Time: 2 minutes The index that determines how much Prairie grain handling revenue Canada’s big two railways get to keep will be raised in the coming crop year, mainly on way-higher-than-expected fuel costs. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) on Thursday announced the volume-related composite price index (VRCPI) for Canadian National Railway (CN) for 2023-24 will be 1.8295, up […] Read more
‘Unexpectedly high’ fuel costs lift railways’ revenue index
VRCPIs for CN, CP increased for 2023-24
Avian flu outbreaks climb in Quebec poultry
Thirteen outbreaks reported in province so far in April
Reading Time: 2 minutes After a relatively quiet March with just one outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in domestic poultry, Quebec has turned up 13 outbreaks so far this month. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency in April has reported detections of high-path avian flu at 13 sites in that province, including: three commercial barns in the regional county […] Read more
Merit Foods co-owner Burcon partnering on bid for assets
Unnamed 'plant protein company' now in on Burcon's bid
Reading Time: 2 minutes A major shareholder in beleaguered pea and canola protein processor Merit Functional Foods has brought on an unnamed partner in its bid to buy the business out of receivership. After announcing last month it would submit a bid for the next-to-new Merit assets, Vancouver-based plant protein firm Burcon NutraScience said Monday it’s now “participating in […] Read more
Thompson returns as P.E.I. ag minister
Ag and land ministry split; Compton not returning to cabinet
Reading Time: 2 minutes Prince Edward Island’s former agriculture minister is again its current ag minister, in a post-election cabinet shuffle by returning Premier Dennis King. Bloyce Thompson, MLA for the district of Stanhope-Marshfield since 2019 and ag minister from 2019 until last summer, was again appointed April 14 as King’s minister of agriculture, justice and public safety and […] Read more
Matador, Voliam insecticides back in ‘limited’ release
Revised labels prohibit feeding, foraging of treated crops
Reading Time: 4 minutes Syngenta Canada no longer plans to keep its lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide products off the market in Western Canada this year — but it’s planning to have a smaller supply. The crop chem and seed company announced Friday it will have a “limited amount” of its lambda-cy-based products Matador 120EC and Voliam Xpress available in the West […] Read more
CNH sheds Russian business
New Holland, Case IH maker had suspended shipments last year
Reading Time: 2 minutes The maker of Case IH and New Holland tractors and combines is selling its business activities in Russia for about US$60 million. CNH Industrial, which employs about 200 people in Russia, announced the divestment in a release Wednesday without naming the buyer. CNH in March last year suspended all shipments and supplies to Russia and […] Read more
Toromont to sell Manitoba Agco, Claas dealer chain
Dutch firm to buy AgWest
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada’s Caterpillar equipment distributor for Manitoba and points east is set to sell a major Manitoba dealer of Agco’s farm equipment brands as well as the province’s exclusive dealer for Claas combines. Toromont Industries announced Monday it will sell its AgWest Ltd. arm to Dutch equipment distributor Mechan International, effective May 1. Neither company would […] Read more
Olymel to shut one Quebec hog slaughter plant
New provincial hog supply agreement in works as Vallee-Jonction facility set to close
Reading Time: 4 minutes Quebec-based meat packer Olymel’s bid to stem losses in its fresh pork business now includes closing down one of its five Canadian hog slaughter plants. Olymel, the protein arm of Sollio Co-operative, announced Friday it will wind down operations at its hog slaughter, cutting and deboning plant at Vallee-Jonction, Que. and permanently close the facility […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures continue climbing
Lean hog futures down on day
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle and feeder cattle futures continued climbing Tuesday, with most-active June live cattle again reaching a new contract high. CME June live cattle closed Tuesday at 163.95 cents/lb., up 0.25 cent on the day, while lightly-traded front-month April also closed at a new contract high of 172.3 cents, up 0.925 […] Read more
Bidding open for Merit Foods for two more weeks
Stakeholder Burcon plans to put up 'compelling bid'
Reading Time: 3 minutes The fate of Winnipeg pea- and canola-based protein processor Merit Functional Foods won’t be confirmed until the end of April at the earliest. Merit, whose major shareholders include Vancouver plant-based protein firm Burcon NutraScience, U.S. agrifood firm Bunge and former executives of Hemp Oil Canada, was placed into receivership March 1. According to the first […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
