Ag ministers lock in next policy funding framework

The new federal-provincial ag policy funding framework due to take effect next April 1 will include a new ecological goods and services plan and a sweetened compensation rate for AgriStability. Following meetings this week in Saskatoon, federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and her provincial and territorial counterparts on Friday mapped out the bones of their[...]

New greening programs planned for ag alongside carbon tax hike

A new federal climate plan which further cranks up taxes on carbon emissions also includes pledges of new programs to help sink more carbon into farmland. The government on Friday released the sequel to its 2016 Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change — a "strengthened" climate plan, titled A Healthy Environment and a[...]


Prizes put up to develop year-round berry production in Canada

A philanthropic foundation focused on improving public health now wants to improve diets by finding ways to juice up Canada's home-grown fruit supplies. The Weston Family Foundation on Tuesday pledged $33 million over six years for what it calls the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, a prize challenge pitting ideas against ideas with the goal of extending[...]

Mandated cuts in fertilizer use could be costly for Canada, report warns

Straight-up cuts in fertilizer rates -- if imposed to help Canada meet its targets for cuts in emissions by the end of this decade -- could translate to significantly reduced income for farmers, an industry group warns. Fertilizer Canada, the group representing manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors for nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur, on Monday[...]


Saskatchewan raises salvage threshold for parched crops

Saskatchewan's provincial crop insurance agency is raising the yield threshold at which drought-damaged crops can be grazed, baled for greenfeed or cut for silage with no penalty on future coverage. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. said Wednesday it would double the "low yield appraisal" threshold values on cereal or pulse crop acres put to feed. SCIC[...]

Tile drainpipe supplier AccuPipe changes hands

Winkler drain tile manufacturer AccuPipe is back with its previous owners after a six-year stint under U.S. management. Precision Land Solutions (PLS) announced Friday it has bought the AccuPipe business -- which makes HDPE tubing for the farm, commercial and construction tile drainage markets -- from Minnesota-based manufacturer Prinsco for an undisclosed sum. AccuPipe had[...]


Major investment to build Farmers Edge's data power

Canadian precision agronomy and farm data management firm Farmers Edge plans to keep taking its services to previously underserved acres around the world, with a major cash infusion from a group of its backers. Japanese commodities trading and investment firm Mitsui, Toronto commercial real estate company Osmington and the Green Growth Fund operated by investment[...]