The dam project in northeastern British Columbia is now estimated to cost $16 billion, but premier says it will go ahead
Construction costs on the Site C dam on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia continue to balloon, now reaching an estimated $16 billion. That is nearly double the original estimate of $8.77 billion when the project was approved in 2014. Despite the cost, Premier John Horgan announced recently that the project will proceed because […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Company expands vertical indoor farm plan
A $65 million investment from McCain Foods will help GoodLeaf Farms build two new facilities for producing greens
GoodLeaf Farms has announced plans to build two indoor vertical farms in Canada to grow greens for Canadian consumers. Expansion beyond its first commercial farm in Guelph, Ont., is possible through a $65 million investment by McCain Foods. GoodLeaf chief executive officer Barry Murchie, a former McCain executive, said the firm has a short list […] Read more
‘Feather’ farmers assured trade compensation coming
Funds are part of a 10-year program announced last fall to make up for market concessions made in trade agreements
Egg Farmers of Alberta received assurances March 2 that federal government compensation for market loss from trade agreements will come soon. Roger Pelissero, chair of Egg Farmers of Canada, said payment details on the $691 million for Canada’s chicken, egg, broiler, hatching egg and turkey farmers could be announced later this month or in early […] Read more
Case made for extending cattle set-aside program
New U of C report finds that termination of the program hasn’t allowed the feeding sector to fully address the cattle backlog caused by COVID
An extension of the federal-provincial cattle set-aside program would benefit the sector by providing more security against price pressure should processing plants experience further shutdowns, a study suggests. The program provided funds to cattle feeders so they could hold back cattle when packing plants slowed production or temporarily closed last year due to COVID-19 outbreaks […] Read more
Alta. hog producers get relief
Two pieces of good news reached Alberta’s hog industry last week, a welcome respite from pressures exerted by the temporary closure of the Olymel processing plant in Red Deer. Olymel restarted operations March 3 and 4 after a 14-day hiatus caused by a major COVID-19 outbreak among workers. A day later, the Alberta and federal […] Read more
Recipients of prairie packer funds identified
Federal Emergency Processing Fund was announced last spring to help protect meat plant employees from COVID—19
Twenty-four meat processing operations across the Prairies have so far used $7.8 million in federal funds to support their safety measures and investments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal Emergency Processing Fund was announced May 5, 2020, when the threats to meat processing became apparent during the pandemic, causing temporary closures and slowdowns. The […] Read more
Emergency processor funds distributed to 117 B.C. firms
Some 117 food processing companies in British Columbia have collectively received $17 million through the federal Emergency Processing fund established in May 2020. Carla Qualtrough, MP for Delta and minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, released details of the recipient companies and the amounts provided during a March 5 news conference. Recipients used […] Read more
Alberta farm group expresses budget regret
Producers welcome previously announced capital spending but say they are unhappy with losses to jobs and programming
The Feb. 26 Alberta budget brought no major surprises for the agriculture sector. The size of the provincial deficit, at $18.2 billion, and the provincial debt at $115.8 billion generated most of the buzz, along with an historic $1.25 billion contingency fund in the health sector to fight COVID-19. Agriculture capital spending comprised funds previously […] Read more
Sisters crack competitive B.C. cheese market
On the Farm: High labour costs are a challenge when competing with imported product that is gaining prominence
When sisters Jenna and Emma Davison were first presented with the idea of running their own business, they looked at each other in dismay. Jenna, 22 at the time, liked to consider things before making a move. Emma, then 20, was a risk-taker, ready to act first and ask questions later. Somehow, the combination worked […] Read more
Pets can provide COVID-19 comfort
Cats are kings in the Canadian pet world. There were 8.1 million cats as household pets in this country, a 2020 figure that does not include the many barn and feral cats that likely roam farms, ranches and acreages. In contrast, pet dogs numbered 7.7 million in 2020, slightly up from 2019 figures of 7.6 […] Read more
