Software to help ship information about the carcass quality of British Columbia's slaughter cattle back down the production chain will get federal funding toward its development. Vancouver South MP Wai Young last week pledged over $276,000 in Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP) funding to help set up the B.C. Carcass Tracking and Quality Information System.[...]
Feds back B.C. beef carcass tracking system
Favourable weather promotes Alta. harvest: AARD
Favourable weather conditions have allowed farmers in Alberta to make significant harvest progress, according to a crop specialist with Albert’s Ag-Info Centre. Combining in southern regions of the province was […] Read more
CFIA to review strategy against horse anemia
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency plans to launch a "comprehensive review" of its nationwide control program against equine infectious anemia, as the disease remains on the radar across the country. Canada's control program for EIA has made "significant progress" in cutting the disease's prevalence, but EIA "continues to be detected," particularly in northern regions of[...]
Drozd: Economic slowdown, plunging stock markets could weigh on grain prices
Fears of a global economic slowdown have nervous investors heading for the sidelines. As a result, equity markets have been under pressure since peaking in early May 2011. The two-week reversal that occurred at the height of the 27-month-long rally in the S+P 500 gave savvy investors an indication this bull market was vulnerable to[...]
Rains in U.S. to provide minor benefit to mature crops
Rain in the U.S. over the weekend and more showers forecast for the central and eastern Midwest this week will not buoy corn or soybean production, an agriculture meteorologist said […] Read more
Potato processor to expand production in P.E.I.
A major processor of Prince Edward Island potatoes plans to boost its space in the foodservice market by adding a new production line to make value-added “instant” mashed potato wares. […] Read more
West Coast potash terminal plans head to review stage
A federal environmental assessment of plans for a new potash export terminal at Prince Rupert, B.C. is heading into an early stage for public comment. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency […] Read more
Earth turning for contentious N.B. chicken plant
New Brunswick poultry producer Groupe Westco and Quebec poultry and pork packer Olymel expect to have a site prepared by the end of October for the much-disputed chicken slaughter plant they aim to have up in about a year. The two companies, which in 2008 formed a joint venture dubbed "Sunnymel" for this project, began[...]
Olds College to launch vet tech program
Aiming to address what it calls an "industry shortage," Alberta's Olds College plans to launch a new certificate program to train veterinary technical assistants. The agriculture and agribusiness college's 15-week, five-course veterinary technical assistant program, beginning in January, is expected to provide students with "the training necessary to be employed in veterinary clinics, animal shelters,[...]
Small Canadian chickpea crop supporting prices
Canada’s small chickpea supplies can expect to receive solid prices this year, as supply tightness in other countries should lead to an increased demand for what little is available in […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
