The pattern of mergers and acquisitions continues in the pulse industry. Germany’s largest grain trader has bought a North Battleford, Sask., pulse icon. And Canada’s largest lentil processor has added another asset in North Dakota. Alfred C. Toepfer International has purchased Western Grain Trade Ltd. and Western Grain Cleaning &Processing Ltd. for an undisclosed amount. […] Read more
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German grain giant buys Sask. pulse processor
4-H Month celebrates B.C.’s future workforce
British Columbia celebrates 4-H Month this November by recognizing the contributions it makes to the province’s workforce. Although 4-H is known for teaching young people about agricultural activities, it also prepares them for futures as adult workers in any professional community, rural or urban. The program focuses on knowledge, leadership, citizenship and personal development. More […] Read more
Aussie looks north for farm workers
For university students, trying to strike a balance between the need to earn money and the desire to travel abroad can be difficult. A working vacation program could offer a way for students to do both. Andrew Coldbeck, owner of The Job Shop in Western Australia, is visiting the Canadian Prairies hoping to find students […] Read more
Flax honours war vets
Every year in November, millions of Canadians adorn themselves with a bright red poppy to honour the nation’s war veterans. Gordon Rowland, a former Saskatoon resident and University of Saskatchewan plant scientist, chose a different flower to recognize Canada’s war heroes. In a plant breeding career that spanned nearly 40 years, Rowland developed and named […] Read more
Rural food bank use likely higher than reported
Last March, when local food banks last reported national use figures to Food Banks Canada, they said more than 114,000 rural Canadians lined up for a meal that month. It represented just 13 percent of national food bank use but a national food banks official says that figure likely understates the real extent of rural […] Read more
Newsletter spreads message
The Canadian Grain Commission’s grain research laboratory has launched an online grain science and technology newsletter for producers. TheHarvest Sciencenewsletter is intended to communicate with producers and show them how the commission’s research and scientific work contributes to the quality and marketability of grain. The first issue’s theme is “quality grain means safe grain.” For […] Read more
New committee to review post-CWB grain handling
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz made a brief stop in Saskatoon this week to announce the formation of a new industry group that will identify and discuss issues related to grain logistics in Western Canada. The crop logistics working group will comprise grain industry stakeholders including producer groups, shippers, grain elevator companies and railways. The […] Read more
It’s not a sweep, but it’s close
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party steamrolled over the opposition Nov. 7 on their way to a second, larger, majority and captured a record 64 percent of the popular vote. Not since 1912, when the Liberals earned 57 percent, has a party earned that much approval from Saskatchewan voters. Unofficial results […] Read more
Beekeeper course returns
A popular beekeeping course is returning to the Grande Prairie Regional College’s Fairview campus after a 10-year absence. The commercial beekeeping certificate program will be the first beekeeping program in Canada and will relaunch in January. The program will train students to be apiary assistants, field supervisors with commercial beekeeping operations, technicians with government departments […] Read more
Two Alta. research groups merge
Two southern Alberta research groups have joined forces following unanimous agreement Oct. 26 by their boards of directors. The Southern Applied Research Association and the Southern Alberta Conservation Association will soon merge to become Farming Smarter. Ken Coles, the agronomist who has been managing both organizations, will manage the new group. All that remains to […] Read more
