Provinces running out of vaccine | Health officials didn’t know until December that H1N1 was the circulating strain
Influenza is sweeping through the Prairies at what health officials say is actually normal rates. The difference this year is that H1N1 is the predominant strain, and that is causing concern. Alberta reported eight deaths associated with H1N1 as of last week, while Saskatchewan had seven and Manitoba one. This doesn’t mean H1N1 caused the […] Read moreNews
H1N1 presence intensifies this year’s flu season
Alta. talks trade with Indian state
Deal with Meghalaya | Memorandum of understanding to develop opportunities for ag
Alberta premier Alison Redford signed an agricultural memorandum of understanding during her trade mission to India. The MOU with the northeastern state of Meghalaya, which borders Bangladesh, will help develop opportunities for Alberta agriculture. Alberta agriculture minister Verlyn Olson said provincial government staff and industry have worked in the area for several years, and this […] Read moreFormer MP faces lobby restrictions
Former Alberta MP and federal cabinet minister Ted Menzies began his new job as president of CropLife Canada last week with one lobbying hand tied behind his back. When Parliament resumes Jan. 27, the key agricultural legislation facing MPs will be Bill C-18, an omnibus agricultural bill that will increase plant breeders’ rights protections. For […] Read more
Food processing sector takes big hit in Ontario
George Morris Centre calls for change | Saskatchewan passes Ontario as Canada’s largest agricultural province
Ontario’s food processing industry continues to shed plants and jobs, despite a call from the government for a doubling of the province’s agriculture and food production value. Ontario, traditionally Canada’s largest agricultural province, has lost that position during the past two years to Saskatchewan. Meanwhile, Ontario farmers are finding fewer local processing market for their […] Read moreU.S. competition puts pressure on food retailers
Low food prices and competition from discount American chains is putting Canada’s food retailers under pressure, says a University of Guelph food chain expert. “In food prices, we really are seeing almost no increases and in some cases, food price deflation,” said Sylvain Charlebois, associate dean and professor of food distribution and policy. “I think […] Read more
World in brief
Food safety New food scandal plagues China SHANGHAI, China (Reuters) — China has held seven people in southern Guangdong province for injecting dirty pond water into lamb meat to swell its weight and raise its price. It is the latest food scandal to hit the world’s second largest economy. The suspects slaughtered up to 100 […] Read more
Implement maker receives carbon certification
Carbon Trust | Certification from British company allows Seed Hawk to apply carbon footprint decals on its equipment
A Saskatchewan Research Council audit has determined that use of Seed Hawk machines merits Carbon Trust certification because of the company’s small carbon footprint. Carbon Trust is an independent company in the United Kingdom that assesses the carbon footprint by all types of activities. With the certification, Seed Hawk can apply a footprint decal logo […] Read moreFarmer considers draining low spots into one slough
A Saskatchewan grower is considering a unique use for tile drainage: moving water from low spots on his cropland and consolidating it in larger sloughs. Marcel Van Staveren, who grow canola, soybeans, wheat, durum, flax and pulses on 16,000 acres with his brothers, John and Vincent, near Weyburn, said they shifted to GPS and auto-steer […] Read more
AG Notes
Water projects funded New program funding of $2.4 million a year will help farmers and food processors upgrade their water infrastructure and prepare for events in which water storage will directly affect their businesses. The partnership is between the federal and Manitoba governments over the next five years. The Growing Adaptation Program will finance water […] Read more
Agrium plans to restructure business units
(Reuters) — Agrium plans to restructure its three divisions into two business units, wholesale and retail, as it moves to become more efficient. The Canadian fertilizer company said it decided to transfer Agrium Advanced Technologies’s (AAT) agriculture business to the wholesale division following a recently completed strategic review of the business unit. The remaining parts […] Read more
