Detroit | Reuters — General Motors will give its best-selling Chevrolet Silverado large pickup truck models a makeover next spring to fix competitive shortcomings that have left Chevy in third place in one of the most lucrative vehicle market segments in the world. Catching up with rival trucks from Stellantis NV and Ford Motor Co., […] Read more

GM’s pickup money machine gets a technology tuneup
Silverado ZR2 to appeal to extreme off-roading segment

Afghanistan ‘marching towards starvation,’ UN food chief says
Doha | Reuters — Millions of Afghans could soon face starvation due to a combination of conflict, drought and the coronavirus pandemic, the executive director of the World Food Programme said on Tuesday, calling on political leaders to act fast. “There’s a perfect storm coming because of several years of drought, conflict, economic deterioration, compounded […] Read more

U.S. extends travel curbs at Canada, Mexico land borders
Washington | Reuters –– The United States on Friday extended the closure of its land borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential travel such as tourism through Sept. 21 despite Ottawa’s decision to open its border to vaccinated Americans. The latest 30-day extension by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) came after Canada said in […] Read more

U.S. to ban use of chlorpyrifos on food crops
Cancellation already scheduled for most outdoor use in Canada
UPDATED, Aug. 25 –– Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday said it will ban the use on food crops of chlorpyrifos insecticide, which has been linked to health problems in children. The decision is a victory for environmental activists who have fought to stop the use of the chemical that […] Read more

Nova Scotia Tories’ ag critic returns as party wins election
PCs oust incumbent Liberals, form majority
The agriculture critic for Nova Scotia’s opposition Progressive Conservatives is set to return to the legislature, this time as part of a majority government, following Tuesday’s provincial election. As of about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Tim Houston’s PCs were elected or leading in 31 of 55 ridings, followed by Iain Rankin’s incumbent Liberals with 17 and […] Read more

Nutrien confident in potash demand even with BHP project
Calgary | Reuters — Canada’s largest potash producer Nutrien said Tuesday it is confident in growing global demand for the crop fertilizer, shrugging off BHP Group’s decision to press on with its massive Jansen project in Saskatchewan that will add millions of tonnes a year of potash supply. BHP announced Tuesday it is going ahead […] Read more

U.S. confirms will boost food stamps by record amount
Washington | Reuters –– The U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) on Monday will announce revised nutrition standards dramatically boosting average food stamp benefits, the agency confirmed Sunday. The New York Times first reported the plan to unveil the largest permanent benefits increase in the history of the government’s primary anti-hunger program, saying the change would result […] Read more

Tech seen as a game-changer for agriculture
Food companies are using technology to push boundaries and make production more sustainable, reliable and secure
Glacier FarmMedia – Compared to cattle, crickets punch far above their weight as a source of protein. “There’s a biological organism that is arguably the most ancient source of protein that humans have ever consumed in recorded history that has the most efficient feed-to-protein conversion and that is insects,” said Muhammad Ashour, co-founder and chief […] Read more

An enviable problem
Direct-to-consumer farm marketers learn to manage businesses that have grown much quicker than they expected
Farmtario talked to Amy Kitchen and Emma Butler early in the pandemic. We went back to see how they are managing the rapid growth in their direct-to-market farm businesses a year later. Nestled in the colourfully chaotic flower garden encompassing Sideroad Farm, Amy Kitchen’s sun-browned face flits between appreciation and concern. Sixteen months past the […] Read more

Farm transfer tax treatment bill now law, feds say
Government to add amendments against tax loopholes
Despite a previous statement from her ministry, Canada’s finance minister says a bill standardizing the tax treatment of farm transfers is now officially on the books. However, while Bill C-208 is now in federal tax law, further amendments are en route to plug legal loopholes the bill may have opened. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on […] Read more