Saskatoon will soon be host to a UK company that develops rapid bacteria detection tests using blood and milk samples. Announced today, PBD Biotech has chosen Saskatoon, SK, as the headquarters for its Canadian subsidiary. The company’s Actiphage technology is a “highly sensitive and specific assay” that detects live bacteria in the blood or milk of… Read more »
Category: News
$8.5 million in fed-prov funding announced for Ag-West Bio
Ag-West Bio will receive $1.7 million per year over the next five years from the federal and provincial governments through the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Saskatchewan Ag Minister Lyle Stewart announced the funding — totalling $8.5 million — to support the development of the ag biotechnology sector in Saskatchewan… Read more »
$540 million committed to long-awaited outlet for Lake Manitoba
The federal and Manitoba governments announced joint funding of up to $540 million on Monday to build permanent outlets for mitigating flooding around Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin. Flooding caused major damage to homes, pastures, and farmland around the lakes in 2011 and 2014 after water was diverted from the Assiniboine River into Lake… Read more »
SaskWheat meeting to feature information on discovery of GM wheat
Each June, SaskWheat holds its semi-annual meeting at Canada’s Farm Progress Show at Regina. It’s a chance for the board to meet with the farmers they represent and for all attendees to hear from interesting speakers on timely topics. Dallas Carpenter, communications manager for SaskWheat, says they had an interesting and informative meeting planned for this… Read more »
Canadian combine sales down 9 percent as of the end of May
New farm equipment sales in U.S. are higher than in 2017, while Canadian agricultural machinery sales are mixed relative to last year, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers‘ latest data. The Canadian numbers for May show slight year-to-date increases over 2017 for tractors. The below table shows total 2WD tractors are up 3.2% year-to-date… Read more »
Saputo planning to build $240 million dairy processing plant in Port-Coquitlam, BC
Quebec-based dairy processor Saputo has quietly announced a plan to build a $240 million dairy processing facility in Port-Coquitlam, British Columbia. Construction of the “state-of-the-art facility to be commissioned in fiscal 2021” was mentioned in the company’s fiscal 2018 annual report published last week. (Saputo’s 2018 fiscal year ended March 31, 2018.) The company says… Read more »
SaskCanola research manager receives recognition
Errin Willenborg, research manager with SaskCanola recently took home some hardware from the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists (SIA). Willenborg manages $3 million in investments per year on behalf of Saskatchewan canola growers. “We’re invested in a lot of research in agronomy, and looking at some of the genetics behind diseases in the province. We have… Read more »
Japanese officials to visit after suspending shipments of Canadian wheat
Update, June 18: South Korea’s government has also suspended the sale of wheat and flour from Canada. Japan’s agriculture ministry has suspended shipments of Canadian wheat after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed on Thursday that genetically modified wheat plants were found growing in southern Alberta last summer. The CFIA says none of the wheat from… Read more »
Olymel announces deal to buy Pinty’s Delicious Foods
Quebec-based pork and poultry processor Olymel has announced a deal to acquire all the shares in Pinty’s Delicious Foods, a poultry processing company in Ontario that specializes in chicken wings, boneless wings, fillets and fully cooked food products. Pinty’s operates three processing facilities, in Port Colborne, Paris, and Oakville, with headquarters in Burlington. The company… Read more »
New food safety regulations finalized for cross-border sales
What’s new The Safe Food for Canadians Act was drafted in 2012 and on Wednesday, after years of industry consultation and review, the regulations were finalized. The federal government has consolidated 14 different food regulations into one under published earlier this week in Canada Gazette, Part II. The new rules include licensing and traceability requirements for… Read more »
CPTPP implementation bill introduced in the House of Commons
Legislation required to implement the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership — better known as the CPTPP — was tabled in the House of Commons on Thursday morning. “The momentum of our progressive trade agenda continues with this next important step on CPTPP. We negotiated the best deal for Canadians from coast to coast… Read more »
Nuffield Canada announces scholarship recipients for 2019
Nuffield Canada has announced five recipients of its scholarships for 2019. The recipients will receive funding to travel internationally to study a particular topic or issue in agriculture. They’re expected to travel for a minimum of 10 weeks, with at least six weeks of consecutive travel. “These five scholar candidates will spend the next two… Read more »
Manitoba government appoints ag research committee
The Manitoba government has announced the formation of a new committee to provide input on government investments in agricultural research. Joanne Buth, CEO of the Canadian International Grains Institute, will chair the Manitoba Agriculture Research and Innovation Committee (MARIC), which will make funding recommendations regarding research proposals submitted under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership — the… Read more »
Farmers Edge, Lindsay Corporation form partnership to improve irrigation precision
Digital agriculture company Farmers Edge has announced a partnership with Nebraska-based irrigation equipment manufacturer Lindsay Corporation to sync the companies’ farm management and water application technology. Farmers Edge says its digital agronomic tools, including satellite imagery, will be offered through Lindsay’s Zimmatic network. Lindsay’s FieldNet software and Farmers Edge’s digital platform will also have the ability… Read more »
Canada made dairy offer, but it wasn’t enough: U.S. ag secretary
The Canadian government has offered to allow more dairy imports under its supply management system as part of NAFTA negotiations, but the U.S. administration felt the concessions that were offered weren’t enough, according to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “They made an offer most recently that they felt like was a very fair offer. I… Read more »