The merger of two feed businesses will create the second largest feed provider in Canada. Masterfeeds Inc. and Ridley Inc. announced today that they will merge their commercial livestock and poultry feed and nutrition businesses in Canada. The new company, with its headquarters in London, Ont., will be called Masterfeeds LP and operate 22 feed […] Read more
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Masterfeeds, Ridley announce merger
Delivery difficulties dog CWB
With an Oct. 31 sign-up deadline rapidly approaching, the CWB is encouraging farmers to commit wheat, durum, barley and canola to the wheat board’s 2012-13 harvest pool. But grain growers in some parts of Western Canada say they are still having difficulty delivering wheat board grain, an issue that was not entirely unexpected, according to […] Read more
XL plants may soon be under new management
XL Foods Inc. announced Oct. 17 that international packing giant JBS may assume management of XL’s Canadian beef plant operations in Brooks and Calgary. The XL plant in Brooks, owned by Nilsson Brothers, has been closed since Sept. 27 after the discovering of E. coli contamination in some of its products forced Canada’s largest meat […] Read more
Commons debates Ritz’s fate
The House of Commons will spend the better part of Oct. 18 debating whether Gerry Ritz should step down as federal agriculture minister. In the end, the Conservative majority will say no but the day-long debate will give critics a chance to air their grievances about a minister they say has bungled the XL Foods […] Read more
Olymel makes stalking horse bid for Big Sky
Olymel LP is the stalking horse bidder for the assets of hog company Big Sky Farms, according to court documents filed by the receiver, Ernst and Young. The processor will bid $65.25 million for the Canadian assets of the Saskatchewan-based hog operation, plus or minus adjustments depending on factors such as hog inventory and accounts […] Read more
Canada plans food promotion event in Paris
In advance of SIAL, the world’s largest food innovation marketplace occurring in Paris Oct 21-25, the federal government is holding a food promotion event called Savour Canada, which is being held at the Canadian ambassador’s official residence in Paris. International media, consumers and importers will be able to sample some Canadian food products prepared by […] Read more
Iogen plans to build ethanol plant in Brazil
A company that hoped to build a cellulosic ethanol plant in Western Canada is shifting its focus to Brazil. Iogen Energy is pursuing a joint venture with Brazilian ethanol giant Raizen Group to build a facility that will convert sugar cane bagasse into ethanol. Bagasse is the plant material left over after the sugar is […] Read more
Sask. forecasts significant agricultural growth in eight-year plan
Saskatchewan’s growth plan for the next eight years calls for crop production to increase by 10 million tonnes and agricultural exports to rise to $15 billion. Premier Brad Wall released the plan in Saskatoon to a Chamber of Commerce audience, noting agriculture’s contribution to the provincial economy. He said the province would invest more in […] Read more
Indian co-op to invest in Quebec fertilizer plant
By 2017, a new Quebec-based co-operative nitrogen fertilizer plant could be producing urea for customers across Canada and perhaps abroad. In Quebec City last week during an international co-op summit, Québec’s largest co-operative joined forces with one of the world’s largest fertilizer co-ops in announcing plans to build a $1.2 billion nitrogen fertilizer plant on […] Read more
Ottawa promises XL review, but not public inquiry
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz has promised the events at XL Foods in Brooks, Alta., that led to the largest meat recall in Canadian history will be examined and the report made public. “As part of our government’s response to the (Sheila) Weatherill report (on the 2008 listeria food poisoning crisis), an expert advisory committee […] Read more
