Similar to regulations introduced in Ontario in 2015, Quebec announced this week that farmers will require an agronomist's prescription before accessing any of the three neonicotinoid insecticides, chlorpyrifos (also an insecticide), and the herbicide atrazine. Isabelle Melançon, Quebec's Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, cited the risk to pollinators as... Read More
Category: News
One of two Canadians appointed to represent Ontario in the Senate of Canada on Thursday has a strong connection to the agriculture community. Robert (Rob) Black of Wellington County is a 4-H Canada past president, board member and staff member, having been involved in 4-H for over 40 years. He's also a board member for... Read More
Two years after the closure of its Medicine Hat distribution facility, PepsiCo has announced it will close the Spitz International Inc facility at Bow Island. PepsiCo first acquired the Alberta-based company ten years ago. The food and beverage giant sent this statement to RealAgriculture, February 16: "Yesterday we announced our difficult decision to close our... Read More
Protein Industries Canada was named today as one of the winning proponents under the federal Innovation Superclusters Program. The funding model is part of the federal government's Innovation and Skills Plan "to spark growth and help Canada realize its potential as a global leader in innovation" though creating large-scale industry partnerships. Protein Industries Canada, based... Read More
Simplot announced a $460 million expansion of its potato processing facility at Portage la Prairie, Man. on Wednesday. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister and Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler were on hand with J.R. Simplot CEO Bill Whitacre to announce the investment, an expansion that will add nearly 100 jobs to the facility. “Manitoba delivers in so... Read More
The Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission has hired its own agronomist to support flax growers in the province. Michelle Beaith joined SaskFlax as of Monday. “Having a flax agronomist will be hugely beneficial to our organization and to flax producers,” says Wayne Thompson, executive director for SaskFlax, in a statement. “Michelle will be able to help... Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario have named its 2018 executive, including Markus Haerle as its new board chair. Haerle replaces Mark Brock, who served as chair for the last three years. The province’s largest commodity organization, Grain Farmers of Ontario represents 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers. The balance of the 2018 executive committee... Read More
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada this week announced a release of all quarantines related to the bovine tuberculosis investigation in Western Canada. According to a press release, the release from quarantine includes 79 trace-out herds with approximately 15,000 animals, and 71 trace-in herds, also with roughly 15,000 animals. "I am... Read More
The Ontario government has made a 10-year, $713 million commitment to fund agriculture research at the University of Guelph. Jeff Leal, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, was joined by University of Guelph President Dr. Franco Vaccarino, in Guelph today to sign the agreement and mark Canada's Agriculture Day. “We look forward to... Read More
The Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA) has found a new home. The provincial flax organization was previously headquartered in Winnipeg at the Flax Council of Canada's office, but the Flax Council closed its doors at the end of January. As of March 1, 2018, the provincial flax organization will have its operations and programming administered... Read More