Ontario dairy co-op Gay Lea Foods and BC-based dairy ingredient supplier Vitalus Nutrition have announced a joint investment in dairy processing in Manitoba. The joint venture’s plans include upgrading an existing food processing plant in Winnipeg, which will increase drying capacity in Western Canada and expand butter production. “Gay Lea Foods is excited by the opportunities… Read More

Deere & Company has reached a deal to provide a precision agriculture competitor with products from the planting equipment company it’s in the process of buying. If Deere completes its acquisition of Precision Planting from Monsanto’s Climate Corporation, it will provide Ag Leader with licenses and technology to manufacture and sell Precision Planting’s SpeedTube, and… Read More

Mildew doesn’t impact the milling qualities of wheat as much as it affects appearance, according to a two-year study conducted by the Canadian Grain Commission. For this reason, the CGC says it’s allowing an increased presence of mildew in milling wheat classes in Western Canada effective immediately. The commission initiated the study after extensive downgrading… Read More

The federal agriculture minister says the prime minister’s announcement of a national carbon pricing framework this week shouldn’t come as a surprise to the farm community. Lawrence MacAulay also says it will be up to the provinces to decide how agriculture fits into their carbon policies. Ottawa will require provinces implement a minimum price on… Read More

With a count of 198 nays to 84 yeas, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith’s controversial private member’s bill C-246 was voted down in the House of Commons this week. This means the bill is dead and will not move forward to committee. Titled “The Modernizing Animal Protections Act,” Liberal MP Erskine-Smith’s bill focused on banning shark finning and… Read More

Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blindsided not just provincial environment ministers but also premiers (and perhaps Canadians) by announcing a national carbon tax scheme that must be implemented by 2018. Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall released an emotionally-charged statement yesterday outlining how detrimental the carbon tax platform will be to Saskatchewan’s economy and the cost to individual… Read More

They’re not crop input suppliers or machinery companies, but two big rivals in a market near and dear to farmers’ hearts have announced they’re consolidating. Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s have entered an agreement which sees Bass Pro Shops acquire its rival in the hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation world to the tune of US$5.5 billion. “Cabela’s… Read More

The Canadian Farm Writers Federation held its annual national meeting in Saskatoon, Sask. from Thursday through Saturday, wrapping up with the annual awards banquet at the (reportedly haunted) Delta Bessborough. Starting the night off right, video editor extraordinaire, Jason Stroeve, brought home gold for his work with Tom Wolf, Jason Deveau, and Bern Tobin on Spray Tips Special… Read More