Manitoba Tories pledge to pump up biofuel content

Manitoba's incumbent Progressive Conservatives have pledged to boost provincial mandates for biofuel content in gasoline and diesel two weeks ahead of a provincial election. The Tories, whom recent polls favour for re-election on Sept. 10, included the pledge Tuesday in a campaign announcement specifically aimed at the province's farmers. The party noted its biofuel promise[...]


Canola biodiesel processor in receivership

An eastern Saskatchewan biodiesel processor using growers' heated, green, spring-harvested, tough and otherwise off-spec canola for feedstock is in receivership. Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench on Thursday appointed Calgary-based insolvency trustee Hardie and Kelly as the receiver for Milligan Biofuels, which operates at Foam Lake, about 90 km northwest of Yorkton. Alberta's Crown lending agency[...]

Farm fuel to be exempt from Manitoba carbon tax

Farm fuel will be exempt from a carbon tax, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said in an interview Thursday on the eve of announcing his government's Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan. "It does exempt some farm costs -- farm fuel, for example," he said. "I know we'll get pushback from some industry groups that are not[...]


Pattison merges Deere dealership chains

The Jim Pattison Group has consolidated its Prairie farm equipment dealerships in Saskatchewan and Manitoba under one new banner. Pattison on Tuesday announced the merger of its Maple Farm Equipment and JayDee AgTech chains, which deal mainly in John Deere farm equipment. The two chains are to be rebranded as Pattison Agriculture. Darrin Didychuk, now[...]

Debate: Sask. ag leaders seek rail response

If there's one thing all Saskatchewan's political parties can agree on, it's that the current rail system isn't working for grain producers -- but there's less consensus on the solutions. Transportation is the single most important issue facing grain growers in Saskatchewan right now, said Cathy Sproule, the provincial New Democrats' ag critic, during an[...]


Debate: Sask. farmers aim to bridge digital gap

Infrastructure has always been top of mind for many rural Saskatchewan residents -- but rural infrastructure needs in 2016 can't all be met with gravel, graders and culverts. With a provincial election around the corner, improving digital and cellular service was a focal point in an ag leaders' debate held in Saskatoon Tuesday. The Why[...]

Farm business tax credits on tap in Manitoba budget

Expansions and extensions for tax credits of use to Manitoba farmers and small agribusinesses were laid out Thursday in the province's latest budget. Finance Minister Greg Dewar's plan calls for an expansion of the province's small business venture capital tax credit, broadening its list of eligible businesses to include "non-traditional farming" ventures, as well as[...]


CP engineers, conductors halt strike

Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and its unionized conductors, engineers, trainmen and yardmen agreed Monday to binding arbitration in their contract talks, ending a strike the day after it began. The end of the strike, which began Sunday just after midnight, comes under the threat of federal back-to-work legislation, which was due to be tabled Monday[...]

Verticillium wilt makes jump to Canadian canola

A Manitoba canola field has been confirmed as the first in North America with Verticillium wilt, a fungal disease well known to northern Europe's canola and vegetable growers. With no seed treatments or foliar fungicides yet registered against it -- and with no resistant canola varieties available -- the disease, if here to stay, may[...]