Reading Time: 2 minutes The Saskatchewan and Alberta governments are asking Ottawa to take a “more progressive stance” on opening up market access for Canadian farmers at global trade talks. Bob Bjornerud and George Groeneveld, the two provinces’ respective ag ministers, on Wednesday jointly urged the federal government and the other provinces to support a World Trade Organization position […] Read more
Alta., Sask. urge export focus at WTO
Ex-Imperial Oil CEO joins Viterra board
Reading Time: < 1 minute Canada’s largest grain handling company has named the now-retired CEO of Imperial Oil to its board of directors. Tim Hearn, who had been the oil company’s CEO from 2002 until earlier this year, joins Viterra’s board effective immediately and will also sit on its audit committee, Regina-based Viterra announced Thursday. Hearn, who was born in […] Read more
Corn-fed beef group to boost traceability
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association’s corn-fed beef program will add a new layer of traceability to its product through a deal with OnTrace. OnTrace, an Ontario industry-led food traceability corporation, will provide premises identification validation and technical support services for producers affiliated with Ontario Corn Fed Beef Inc. (OCFB). Premises identification has been described as […] Read more
N.S. adopts “Queens Soil” as symbol
Reading Time: < 1 minute One of Nova Scotia’s official symbols will now be its reddish-brown clay loam soil. The province announced Wednesday that Queens Soil, developed from reddish brown clay loam till derived from red shales and mudstones, and significant to the province’s agriculture and forestry sectors, will be its official soil. The decision followed lobbying and research by […] Read more
Norwegian fertilizer firm buys into Agrico
Reading Time: < 1 minute Fertilizer supply firm Agrico Canada will expand further into Quebec by partnering with a Norwegian company operating there. Oslo-based fertilizer supply company Yara International announced Wednesday that it’s bought a 25 per cent ownership stake in the 77-year-old Mississauga firm for an undisclosed sum. Agrico operates a supply terminal and retail centre at Chambly, Quebec […] Read more
UAP’s Thrasher herbicide registered
Reading Time: < 1 minute A combination Group 4 and 6 herbicide has picked up registration for broadleaf weed control in Prairie spring wheat and barley. UAP Canada now holds the registration for Thrasher, which is made for UAP by MANA Canada, the Canadian wing of the Israeli generic crop protection company Makhteshim Agan Industries. “Thrasher has a fit for […] Read more
Bacteria-based pulse fungicide approved
Reading Time: < 1 minute California pesticide firm AgraQuest says it’s picked up Canadian approval for use of its “biofungicide” Serenade ASO on pulse crops such as peas, lentils and beans and a “variety” of others. The company, in a recent announcement, said its liquid product is based on a naturally-occurring bacterium, Bacillus subtilis. “It provides growers an effective tool […] Read more
Commons passes biofuels bill
Reading Time: < 1 minute The House of Commons has passed the government’s bill to legislate the minimum level of farmed fuels coming out at the pump. The bill passed Wednesday will require all gasoline sold in Canada to contain five per cent ethanol by 2010, and all diesel and heating oil to contain two per cent renewable fuels by […] Read more
Stoney Creek now plum pox-free
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Ontario community of Stoney Creek, east of Hamilton, has been removed from Canada’s list of areas infected with plum pox virus. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz on Wednesday announced the “successful eradication” of the virus in what had been one of seven areas in Ontario and Nova Scotia where it’s been detected since 2000. […] Read more
P.E.I. gov’t sets up biofuel review panel
Reading Time: 2 minutes An interdepartmental committee of the Prince Edward Island government will review proposals to produce farmed fuels in the province. The interdepartmental biofuels committee (IDBC), launched Tuesday, will be led by the provincial ag department and will include representation from the innovation, fisheries, transportation, environment, environment, energy and forestry and treasury departments. Any biofuel project proposals […] Read more