Canada had 104 cases of rabies in 2020. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently released the annual figures, which it tracks because rabies is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act. That means all suspect cases must be reported to the agency, where they can be verified in a CFIA laboratory. The vast […] Read more
Stories by Lethbridge bureau
Driving force behind Claas ag equipment company dies
Helmut Claas, the pioneer behind Claas agricultural machinery, died Jan. 5 at the age of 94. Born in Harsewinkel, Germany, in 1926, he was exposed to farm machinery at an early age because his parents managed a small agricultural machinery firm with about 100 employees. “After studying agriculture in Paris, he took over the planning […] Read more
Smoked salmon recalled
Sliced smoked sockeye salmon is the subject of a recall due to potential listeria contamination. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Jan. 27 that the One Ocean brand of sliced smoked wild sockeye, distributed in Alberta and possibly nationally, is being recalled by Orca Specialty Foods Inc. The product is in the 300 gram size […] Read more
Alta. wind farm gathers submissions for review
A proposed wind farm west of Lomond, Alta., is the focus of an upcoming Alberta Utilities Commission review. The Buffalo Plains Wind Farm has applied to build 83 wind turbines in an area between Lomond and McGregor Lake in southern Alberta’s Vulcan County. The project would have a maximum generation capacity of 514.6 megawatts. According […] Read more
Undercooking prompts sausage recall
Harvest Meats, based in Yorkton, Sask., has issued a recall for its Harvest brand Polish sausages due to undercooking. The 675-gram package with a best-before date of March 15, 2021, is the batch affected. The sausage has been distributed in all western provinces as well as Ontario and Northwest Territories. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency […] Read more
Driving force behind Claas equipment company dies
Helmut Claas, the pioneer behind Claas agricultural machinery, died Jan. 5 at the age of 94. Born in Harsewinkel, Germany, in 1926, he was exposed to farm machinery at an early age because his parents managed a small agricultural machinery firm with about 100 employees. “After studying agriculture in Paris, he took over the planning […] Read more
Food distributor joins sustainability program
Gordon Food Service Canada Ltd. has added its name to those participating in the sustainable beef program through the Canadian Roundtable on Sustainable Beef. The Gordon Choice boxed beef program announced recently that it would source a minimum 30 percent of its beef from CRSB Certified Sustainable farms and ranches. The CRSB is a multi-stakeholder […] Read more
B.C. programs intended to benefit small and new farms
Operators of small or new farms in British Columbia are eligible for project funding from the B.C. Agriculture, Food and Fisheries department, the province announced Dec. 1. The Small Farm Business Acceleration Program has up to $800,000 earmarked for business plan coaching to small and new farmers, and will cost-share on commercial farm infrastructure and […] Read more
Small and new B.C. farms receive funding
Operators of small or new farms in British Columbia are eligible for project funding from the B.C. Agriculture, Food and Fisheries department, the province announced Dec. 1. The Small Farm Business Acceleration Program has up to $800,000 earmarked for business plan coaching to small and new farmers, and will cost-share on commercial farm infrastructure and […] Read more
COVID-related plant problems helped boost spring beef prices
Increased prices reflected decreased supply when slaughter plants slowed production or closed due to COVID-19 infections
Prices for fresh and frozen beef rose 13.7 percent in May, reflecting decreased supply when slaughter plants slowed or temporarily closed due to worker illness from COVID-19. Statistics Canada issued a report Nov. 17 showing the May price increase was followed in June by the largest month over month price gain in five years of […] Read more
