(Video screengrab from CBSA-asfc.gc.ca)

Sharp differences over labour surface at NAFTA trade talks

Mexico City | Reuters — Tensions over sharp differences in pay between Mexican workers and their Canadian and U.S. counterparts surfaced on Sunday as negotiators discussed labour market rules in talks to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement. Canada’s biggest private-sector union said NAFTA should be scrapped if Mexico cannot agree to better labour […] Read more

Finance Minister Bill Morneau, shown here at a Hunter River, P.E.I. farm in July, proposes a major overhaul to Canada’s tax code affecting private corporations. (Fin.gc.ca)

Farm groups line up against feds’ tax proposal

National, regional and sector farm groups are forming up with several major business associations on the offensive against a proposal to reform how incorporated businesses are taxed in Canada. The federal finance department tabled a series of proposals July 18, opening them for public comment until Oct. 2 for a proposed effective date of Jan. […] Read more

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks Aug. 23, 2017 at a Montreal charity event. (PM.gc.ca)

NAFTA talks resume in Mexico City

Mexico City | Reuters — Trade negotiators from Canada and the U.S. gathered under rainy skies in Mexico City on Friday to discuss the North American Free Trade Agreement, with the mood darkened by U.S. President Donald Trump’s persistent threats to pull out. Teams from the three countries were due to kick off a second […] Read more

(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. retail, dining, ag sectors rip NAFTA produce proposal

Washington | Reuters — U.S. retail, restaurant and agriculture groups have weighed in against proposals regarding fresh produce put forward by U.S. negotiators as part of an effort to renegotiate NAFTA, according to letters sent to U.S. officials. Talks to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement resume this weekend in Mexico, the second round […] Read more

Alanna Koch appears with her family on a new website for her candidacy as Saskatchewan Party leader. (Alannaforleader.ca)

Koch to seek Saskatchewan Party leadership

A long-time Prairie agriculture policy player who last year became Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall’s seniormost bureaucrat has joined the race to replace him. Alanna Koch, who farms with her husband at Edenwold, Sask., about 40 km northeast of Regina, announced her candidacy Monday for the leadership of the province’s governing Saskatchewan Party. Koch was the […] Read more



(NHC.noaa.gov)

Harvey’s rains sending fuel prices higher

Houston | Reuters — U.S. fuel prices surged on Monday as two more Gulf Coast refiners cut output and a third considered reductions, leaving more than 13 per cent of the country’s refining capacity offline after Tropical Storm Harvey flooded plants and shut seaports. The storm swung back over the Gulf of Mexico on Monday […] Read more

(Video screengrab from AtlCat.ca)

Toromont to buy Cat dealer Hewitt

Reuters — Toromont Industries said Monday it would buy privately held Hewitt Group for about $1.02 billion in cash and shares to expand its network of heavy equipment dealers in Eastern Canada. Through the deal, Concord, Ont.-based Toromont will acquire Hewitt’s 45 Caterpillar dealerships in Quebec, the Maritimes, Labrador and Ontario, increasing the number of […] Read more



Taking part in Agco’s Aug. 24 groundbreaking ceremony (l-r) were Greg Wells (operations manager, Agco Parts, North America), Lee Fuchs (Nick’s Service, Emerald Park, Sask.); Gerald Swystun (Full Line Ag, Swift Current, Sask.); Jeffrey Fluney (Dennills Agricenter, Dewberry, Alta.); Sean Ferguson (Full Line Ag); Warren Orth (Agriterra Equipment, Lacombe, Alta.); Rod Anderson (Wynyard Equipment, Wynyard, Sask.); Darren Parker (director of sales and marketing, Agco Parts, North America); and Chris Maas (Agriterra Equipment, Weyburn, Sask.). (Agco/BusinessWire photo)

Agco to ramp up Regina parts distribution

Prairie farmers using Agco equipment brands such as Massey Ferguson and Challenger can expect more types of parts to be in stock more often at the company’s Regina warehouse. The U.S. farm equipment firm’s Agco Parts arm on Friday announced a major expansion of its parts distribution centre in Regina, to be completed by early […] Read more