Two major players in the Canadian medical marijuana market are set to create one of the world’s biggest pot production firms in a friendly $1.1 billion cash-and-stock deal. Edmonton-based Aurora Cannabis announced an agreement Wednesday in which it will ante up on its previous hostile bid for CanniMed Therapeutics and buy all the shares of
Aurora, CanniMed to form Canadian weed giant
CN’s Q4 grain handle down in ‘challenging conditions’
U.S. income tax reform more than offset “challenging” conditions, including reduced grain handle, in Canadian National Railway’s fourth fiscal quarter. Montreal-based CN on Tuesday reported net income of $2.611 billion on total revenues of $3.285 billion for its fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, up from $1.018 billion on $3.217 billion in the year-earlier Q4. The
The Keg to merge into Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s parent
Major Canadian steakhouse chain The Keg is set to merge into Cara Operations, the parent for dining chains such as Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, St-Hubert and Milestones, in a $200 million cash-and-stock deal. The two companies said Tuesday a merger will afford them “synergistic opportunities in marketing, real estate and overall costs that will help further
A row to hoe
Robots are the future of weed control, one researcher says
Forget about that old hoe — it’s time to go high tech with weed control. Researchers at the University of California-Davis say robotic weeders are already making headway in high-value vegetable crops, fuelled by a lack of chemical controls and lack of affordable labour. Steven Fennimore, an extension specialist at the university, pegs the cost
Soy Canada’s exposure limited in Richardson pullout
The industry group for Canada’s soybean sector faces relatively low exposure from a loss of funding by Prairie grain heavyweight Richardson International. The privately-held Winnipeg grain firm recently announced it would not renew its funding commitments to the Canola Council of Canada, Flax Council of Canada and Soy Canada. The company said its total annual
Grain handle down in CP’s ‘best-ever’ fourth quarter
U.S. income tax reform and significant increases in non-grain traffic more than offset a dip in Canadian Pacific Railway’s grain handle in its fourth quarter of 2017. Calgary-based CP on Thursday reported net income of $984 million on $1.713 billion in gross revenues in what it described as its “best-ever” fourth quarter, up from $384
Shiv Chopra recalled for milk whistleblowing
The microbiologist was fired for speaking out on the use of growth hormones to increase milk production
The controversial whistleblower who alerted Canadians to the use of growth hormones to increase milk production is dead at 84. Shiv Chopra sparked debate in 1989 when he and fellow scientist Margaret Haydon testified before a Senate committee they were being pressured to approve bovine growth hormone (BGH) for use in dairy cows. The move
JBS to shed U.S. feedlot chain
The remaining feedlots in meat packing giant JBS’s Five Rivers Cattle Feeding business, the world’s biggest cattle feeding operation, have found a buyer. JBS on Wednesday announced a deal to sell the U.S.-based assets of Five Rivers to affiliates of New York-based Pinnacle Asset Management for about US$200 million. The deal gives Pinnacle 11 feedlots
Cargill to expand western Manitoba elevator
Agrifood firm Cargill expects to provide more marketing opportunities for western Manitoba growers — particularly of soybeans — with a major elevator expansion. The U.S. company’s Winnipeg-based Canadian arm on Thursday announced it will put up $15 million to add 9,000 tonnes of storage capacity to its 13,500-tonne capacity elevator at Oakner, Man., about 70
AGI buys bin sensor, fertilizer blending system makers
Best known as the parent for several Canadian and U.S. manufacturers of grain handling and storage equipment, Ag Growth International is expanding its tech portfolio. Winnipeg-based AGI announced Wednesday it has bought Burnaby, B.C.-based CMC Industrial Electronics and Iowa-based Junge Control (JCI) for undisclosed sums. CMC, which formed in 1997 and has facilities at Burnaby