A Saskatchewan company that offers farmers cash up front for canola to be grown later is now tentatively bringing its model to the farm mortgage business. Input Capital, which sources canola from Prairie growers through multi-year “streaming” contracts, announced Tuesday it has launched a “mortgage stream” as a pilot project. Input, which set up in
Canola ‘streaming’ firm eyes mortgage business
Dr. Oetker to shut New Brunswick pizza plant
In a bid to “restructure” its Canadian frozen pizza business, Dr. Oetker plans to shut its New Brunswick processing plant at the end of May. The German food firm announced Tuesday it will close the former McCain Foods frozen pizza plant it leases and operates at Grand Falls, about 180 km northwest of Fredericton. The
B.C. MP named NDP ag critic in shadow cabinet shuffle
The federal New Democrats have picked a rookie MP and small farm owner from southern Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley as their new lead critic for agriculture. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh on Thursday named Alistair MacGregor as critic for agriculture and agri-food, a role in which he’ll also serve as second vice-chair of the Commons standing
Ontario medical marijuana producers plan major merger
A southwestern Ontario greenhouse firm billed as one of Canada’s lowest-cost medical marijuana producers plans to expand its reach by buying a rival firm sourcing cannabis worldwide for processing. Aphria Inc., based at Leamington, Ont., announced Monday it has locked in a cash-and-stock deal to buy Toronto-based Nuuvera Inc. for $826 million. The deal, expcted
How flowers won
Flowering plants conquered the world, now scientists think they know why
It’s a problem that puzzled even geneticist Charles Darwin so much he called it the “abominable mystery” — how did flowering plants take over the world? They’re relative newcomers, yet they dominate most landscapes, are incredibly diverse, form the basis of our food system and drive the animal diversity we see all around us. A
PHOTOS: This Old Elevator: January 2018
The Manitoba Historical Society wants to gather information about all the grain elevators in Manitoba
In the 1950s, there were over 700 grain elevators in Manitoba. Today, there are fewer than 200. You can help to preserve the legacy of these disappearing “Prairie sentinels.” The Manitoba Historical Society (MHS) is gathering information about all elevators that ever stood in Manitoba, regardless of their present status. Collaborating with the Manitoba Co-operator it is
Campbell to shut Toronto soup, broth plant
Campbell Soup Co. will call a halt to all Canadian soup and broth production by mid-2019 when it closes the doors on its Toronto manufacturing plant. The Camden, N.J. company’s Canadian arm announced Wednesday it will close the plant in phases over a period of up to 18 months and move its production to three
Feds pledge funds for organic standards review
A review and update of Canada’s organic standards for compliance with international norms will get federal funding to make sure it’s complete by its 2020 deadline. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Friday announced the government will foot the “necessary funds” to the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) to cover the cost of the 2020 Canadian
Chicken, dairy farmers rip TPP concessions
Updated, Jan. 25, 2018 — Canada’s supply-managed producer groups warn that the new Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade deal stands to chip away unnecessarily at their markets. Chicken Farmers of Canada on Wednesday said the CPTPP deal, on which Canada pledged Tuesday it will sign in March, still includes concessions on market access
A new star on the horizon for canola growers
Our History: January 1984
Westar was the “new star on the horizon” for canola growers when advertised in our January 1984 issues. But the news in our January 26 edition was not particularly good, other than news that the Soviet Union had agreed to purchase another million tonnes of Canadian wheat that year, which was over and above the