Maple Leaf Foods is buying a U.S.-based manufacturer of plant-based protein foods for US$140 million and related costs. Lightlife Foods, which is owned by Brynwood Partners VI L.P., makes 30 products, including plant-based tempeh, hot dogs, breakfast food and burgers. The deal, financed from cash on hand, is expected to close in March subject to […] Read more
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Maple Leaf buys vegetable-meat manufacturer
Good recordkeeping key to worry-free tax preparation
Every farm business should resolve to maintain and improve its recordkeeping disciplines. Virtually every transaction the farmer makes can have a significant tax consequence. In our business, we regularly see income and deductions that are overlooked. Misreporting income that was previously filed can land you in an unpleasant auditing process. Overlooking valid deductible expenses will […] Read more
Maple Leaf goes shopping
(Reuters) — Maple Leaf Foods is hunting for acquisitions in the United States after years spent upgrading old factories and shedding business lines, chief executive officer Michael McCain said. Fourth-quarter net earnings more than doubled to $76.2 million on sales of $828.2 million. After buying U.S.-based Lightlife Foods last week, McCain said it is investigating […] Read more
Trip to raise fumigation
OTTAWA — Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says he will raise India’s decision to not renew a pest-treatment exemption for Canadian pulses when he is in that country next week. The minister left Feb. 26 for a trade mission to Vietnam and India to promote Canadian products in those expanding markets. He returns March 10. […] Read more
Better growing conditions expected
RED DEER — El Nino is back, and if global weather forecasts are right, crops and grazing conditions should be in good shape this year. After a cold, wet fall that ruined the western Canadian harvest, this growing season will be warmer and drier, said climatologist Art Douglas, a professor emeritus at Creighton University in […] Read more
Tyson Foods accelerates shift from antibiotic use
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) — Tyson Foods Inc. plans to switch in June its retail line of company-branded chicken products to birds raised without antibiotics, a top executive said. The change will make Tyson, which is the largest chicken processor in the United States, into the world’s leading producer of chicken raised without antibiotics, said Sally […] Read more
Bonnett retains CFA top job
OTTAWA — Ron Bonnett was re-elected president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture last week. The cattle producer from Bruce Mines, Ont., has led the general farm organization since June 2010. “I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish,” he told delegates at the organization’s annual general meeting. “We have built credibility for the […] Read more
Alta. ag research group on pins and needles over funding future
The current agreement for Alberta government funding of the Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund expires March 31, 2018, and the non-profit, industry-owned organization is not sure if a new agreement will be implemented. Doug Walkey, executive director of ACIDF, said board members have met with provincial government officials about a new agreement, hoping to obtain […] Read more
Unharvested crops need early spring
Prairie farmers who were unable to harvest all of their crops last fall will be keeping their fingers crossed for an early spring. An estimated two to 2.5 million acres of unharvested crop across western Canada will need to be cleaned up before spring seeding. An early spring with consistently mild temperatures would be hugely […] Read more
Mild weather affects winter road weight allowances in Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan government is reminding truckers to watch for regional weight restrictions on some provincial highways. The provincial highways department says warmer winter weather will affect truck haul weights on some highways, beginning last week. Increased winter weights will be removed in southwestern Sask-atchewan beginning Feb. 24. “Truckers and shippers are advised to monitor their […] Read more
