
Celebrating Canada’s colours
Canadians are proud of their country and its gorgeous landscape. From east to west, each province has its own unique terrain and natural colours and each season brings a new look and feel to our personal outdoor experience. Fashion designer Simon Chang, who has a background in photography and graphic design, has paid tribute to
National biosecurity standard for cattle completed
Biosecurity plans started in Canada as the result of avian influenza, but have now spread to all sectors
Just in time for Christmas, the Beef Cattle On-Farm Biosecurity Standard is complete and available online for that hard-to-please bovine on your gift list. And if all goes to plan, an owner’s version should by ready by then, too. “The standard has been published. We’re still working on a producer’s manual that will be anDisappointing Canada canola harvest sets off battle for supplies
A disappointing Canadian canola crop is setting up a tug of war between domestic crushers and exporters over supplies, with global vegetable oil markets already stretched tight by a drought-damaged U.S. soybean crop. Canadian farmers were expected to shatter the record for canola production and harvest 15.4 million tonnes of the oilseed in 2012-13, according
Nitrogen plants popping up like mushrooms
Lured by the promise of cheap and plentiful natural gas, more hopefuls are jumping into the nitrogen fertilizer production. Earlier this spring, Northern Plains Nitrogen (NPN) launched plans for building a $1.5 billion North Dakota project, and in mid-September, CHS Inc., the largest farmer co-op in the United States, unveiled its plan to open a
End of CWB monopoly lures largest U.S. farm co-op north
Reuters / CHS Inc., the largest U.S. farm co-operative, plans to acquire farm retail supplier DynAgra Corp., continuing its steady move into the newly opened Western Canada grain market. Minnesota-based CHS says it will operate its new division under the name CHS DynAgra. DynAgra has four Alberta sales offices, and sells fertilizer, chemicals and seed.
Cargill adds another beef-processing plant
U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill Inc. said July 12 it bought a former AFA Foods Inc. ground beef-processing plant in Fort Worth, Texas, for $14.1 million, in a move that will add to its already strong position in the U.S. and Canadian consumer market. Based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, AFA filed for Chapter 11 protection in
New player in deregulated market
A Southeast Asian agri-food processor and a U.S. commodity trading firm are pairing up to enter the deregulated Prairie grain and oilseed supply chain. Singapore-based Olam International and Kansas City’s Lansing Trade Group have announced a new 50-50 joint venture, Lansing Olam Canada, to “originate and merchandise Canadian grains and oilseeds.” The two companies said
Global dairy companies offer China “safe” alternatives
Reuters – Global food and dairy companies are making another round of big bets on China’s fast-growing dairy sector, hoping to position themselves as safe alternatives even after a lethal baby formula scandal burned many of them the first time around. They are lured by a projected 10 per cent annual growth and by Chinese
Pasta plant on hold
AGT says it’s a maybe for 2013 Alliance Grain Traders Inc. has put its plan to build a $50-million pasta-processing plant in Regina on hold, citing uncertainty in the North American market and the need to focus on working capital. “Pending developments, such as the de-monopolization of the Canadian Wheat Board and the proposed sale
CGC guarantees Canadian grain quality worldwide
The baker is already planning his production and quality-control program for months ahead, based on grain from halfway around the world he has never laid eyes on, much less inspected. But he isn’t worried. He knows he will almost certainly get exactly the right kind of wheat with the precise specifications he requested. He also
With roots going back to 1925, each weekly issue of the Manitoba Co-operator contains production, marketing and policy news selected for relevance to crops and livestock producers in Manitoba.