Saskatchewan has become the first province to become an official partner of the Agriculture More Than Ever campaign. The awareness initiative started by Farm Credit Canada earlier this year fits with the sentiments expressed by provincial agriculture minister Lyle Stewart when he was named to the portfolio in May. Stewart said then that agriculture hadn’t […] Read more
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Sask. joins FCC’s ag promotion program
CFIA adds more products to XL recall list
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has added more products to its extensive recall list of beef produced at XL Foods. The revised list includes soup bones, further processed deli meats, roasts, sausages, beef heart and steaks that might be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7. The trace-out from XL to secondary and tertiary distributors, manufacturers and […] Read more
XL Foods staff not to blame: CFIA official
Staff at XL Foods did nothing wrong in their efforts to control E. coli contamination, says a Canadian Food Inspection Agency official. Inspectors checked carcasses to make sure they were clean and ensured decontamination steps were followed and working properly. These include five or six procedures like steam pasteurization and organic acid washes of carcasses, […] Read more
Honey yields down on Prairies this year
A hot and dry summer limited prairie honey yields this year. Official statistics haven’t been released, but beekeepers in Western Canada are reporting yields that are either average or below average. “I think honey production in the province will be down, as a whole, probably 20 percent,” said Corey Bacon of Kinistino, Sask., president of […] Read more
Ritz promises thorough review before XL Foods reopens
CALGARY — XL Foods will not reopen until the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed in writing that no further food safety issues persist, said federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz at a news conference in Calgary today. “The plant will not reopen until we have been assured that the health and safety of Canadians is […] Read more
XL closure not expected to affect price spread: Canfax
The XL Foods shutdown in Brooks, Alta., hasn’t caused major spreads to develop between prairie slaughter prices and U.S. cash prices and futures. If the XL problem can be resolved quickly, calf prices shouldn’t be affected much and other sectors of the cattle business should rebound, says Canfax. “So far, calves have been holding in […] Read more
Legumex Walker raises money for expansion
One of Canada’s largest pulse processing firms intends to get bigger. A syndication of underwriters has agreed to purchase 1,742,000 common shares in Legumex Walker Inc. at a purchase price of $7.75 per share. The deal will result in gross proceeds for the company of $13.5 million, which will be used to fund potential new […] Read more
CFIA expands E. coli recall list
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released an expanded list of potentially E. coli contaminated beef products from XL Foods as of Oct. 1. The recall list includes steaks, sausages, ribs and ground meat that could have been packaged up to Sept. 30. The recall extends across Canada and includes about 1,500 items and affects […] Read more
New short line opens in southeastern Sask.
Saskatchewan’s newest short-line railway company is officially open for business. Long Creek Railroad runs from Estevan to Tribune in southeastern Saskatchewan and covers 66 kilometres. The line, previously known as CP Bromhead, was owned by Canadian Pacific Railway but was slated for discontinuation. The Saskatchewan government provided Long Creek Railroad with an $800,000 interest free […] Read more
Alta. to offer free flu shots
Alberta Health Services will offer free influenza immunization clinics starting Oct. 15. In an Oct. 2 news release, the department said the flu shots will be available to all Albertans six months of age and older. The vaccine will be available through public immunization clinics and some pharmacists and doctors. A nasal spray vaccine will […] Read more
