Montreal Climate Exchange begins trading

The Montreal Climate Exchange on Friday officially launched its new futures contract in Canada carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) units. Co-owned by the Montreal Exchange and the Chicago Climate Exchange, the MCeX thus becomes the first regulated environmental market in Canada, chairman Luc Bertrand said in a release Friday. Fully automated trading in the MCeX futures[...]

Sask. organic farmers earn international honour

Saskatchewan organic farmers Eric and Betty Leicht have earned an honourable mention from an international certifying body as its organic farmers of the year. The Leichts, who farm at Spalding, about 160 km southeast of Prince Albert, were named at the Organic Crop Improvement Association's (OCIA International) recent annual general meeting in Huatulco, Mexico. The[...]


"Hobby" grain farmers to lose CWB vote

Prairie grain growers would have to produce more than a permit book before they can vote in director elections for the Canadian Wheat Board, under a new bill announced Tuesday. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz introduced amendments to the CWB Act Tuesday in the House of Commons that would require a Prairie farmer to produce[...]

CPR's Q1 profit down, grain handle up

A six per cent jump in grain handling revenue helped offset dips in forestry and automotive freight that bit into Canadian Pacific Railway's (CPR) first-quarter net income. The railway on Tuesday posted overall net income of $90.8 million on $1.12 billion in revenue during its Q1 ending March 31, down from $128.6 million on $1.09[...]


Few surprises for farmers in Man. budget

A pledge to fund sustainable farming practices is among little new for farmers in Manitoba's provincial budget Wednesday. Finance Minister Greg Selinger referred to "a multi-year funding plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by supporting sustainable farm practices, trucking technologies, active transport initiatives and green heating technologies," but a dollar figure and specifics weren't yet[...]

Lorox L cleared for use in herb crops

Growers of coriander, caraway and dill can now use DuPont Canada's Group 7 herbicide Lorox L on several broadleaf weeds as well as some grasses such as green foxtail. The company has picked up the added registration on its linuron herbicide brand, which DuPont described as a "mainstay" of the fruit and vegetable sectors, for[...]


Harmony K cleared for durum

DuPont Canada has picked up regulatory approval for use of its herbicide tank-mix Harmony K in durum wheat crops. Harmony K combines the herbicides Refine Extra, Horizon and Banvel II in a lone 40-acre box along with Score, an adjuvant to improve the tank mix. The approval, announced Monday, clears the Harmony tank mix to[...]

Vineland centre plans "local" project

The Niagara region's Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has kicked off a new "Local Food" project with the goal of supporting and directly linking local growers, producers and suppliers with buyers. The plan, announced Monday with the launch of a Niagara Local Food pilot project, is meant to improve the public's access to high-quality, locally[...]


Agrium extends UAP offer, again

Fertilizer firm Agrium has extended its offer to buy U.S. ag retailer UAP for a fourth time while it works toward approval from U.S. antitrust regulators. The US$39-per-share offer, which was most recently extended to March 14, will now be open until midnight (ET), April 30, during which time the company hopes to resolve what[...]

Liberals' ag task force urges regulatory review

A review of regulations affecting Canadian farming and an AgriFlex fund to regionalize farm business risk management are among the recommendations of the federal Liberals' Opportunities in Agriculture task force. The task force, headed by Liberal ag critic Wayne Easter and a Quebec candidate, Cindy Duncan MacMillan, released its report Thursday after rolling out some[...]