Residents, small businesses and municipalities affected by flooding in southwestern Alberta in late May will soon be able to draw on $25 million in disaster assistance from the province. Funding for uninsurable losses was announced by the Alberta government June 22. Applications to access the fund can be made at various centres now being set […] Read more
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Alta. announces disaster aid for flood losses
Insect bugs humans, animals alike
Another plague has been unleashed on western Manitoba this year. An insect known as biting midge, black fly, sand fly or no-see-ums has been driving people and livestock in southwestern Manitoba to distraction since the middle of June. “They’re just a nightmare,” said Melissa Atchison, Manitoba Agriculture livestock specialist in Melita, Man. “I’ve been processing […] Read more
Viterra buys pulse processor to help export goal
Canada’s largest grain company has increased its stake in the North American pulse crop business. Viterra has bought Premier Pulses International Inc., a processor of peas, lentils and chickpeas in Minot, North Dakota. The acquisition was driven by strong demand for pulses in the Middle East and Asia. “By increasing our footprint in these crops, […] Read more
Viterra expands Gull Lake terminal
Viterra has expanded its Gull Lake terminal, significantly increasing its grain handling capacity. The facility’s rail siding has increased to 112 car spots from 56. Its storage capacity, located on the Canadian Pacific Railway line in southwestern Saskatchewan, has also increased by 37 percent.
CFIA bureaucrat retires early
Canadian Food Inspection Agency president Carole Swan is retiring four years into a five-year appointment. The 36-year veteran bureaucrat led the agency during the deadly 2008 listeria outbreak and the subsequent years of trying to restore faith in the food inspection system, including using government promises of new money to expand the inspection staff. The […] Read more
Qu’Appelle Valley farmers capitalize on nature
LUMSDEN, Sask. — Laureen and Wes LaBrash were both raised, at opposite ends of the province, on farms that focused on local, organic food production. Now they are raising their son, Justin, 11, on an organic farm in the Qu’Appelle Valley west of Lumsden, Sask., with a goal of growing food and providing an organic […] Read more
POS Bio-Sciences welcomes new board members
Two new directors were recently elected to the board of POS Bio-Sciences: Daphne Taras of the University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of Business and Art Froehlich of AdFarm. John Cross replaces Dennis Mulvihill as chair. As well, the company has launched a $5,000 post-secondary scholarship for young adult children of POS employees. The POS Paul […] Read more
Agriculture committee sees new faces, duties
There will be a bit of the old and a lot of the new when the House of Commons agriculture committee resumes work after Parliament returns in September. The committee gathered for its organization meeting June 14 amid promises to work co-operatively from all sides. The committee often bogged down in bitter partisan wrangling in […] Read more
Organic grain millers cater to niche market
RICETON, Sask. — Bob Balfour emerges from a mill on his farm at the old Bechard townsite near Riceton with a layer of flour dusting his white coat and hair net. Balfour operates R &J Milling, where he uses a secret method to process organic grain such as durum, wheat, spelt and rye into flour […] Read more
Topigs USA names business development manager
Brent Eyler has joined Topigs USA as business development manager. He will develop sales in the eastern United States with emphasis on Ohio and Indiana. He will also be responsible for technical support to customers in this region. Topigs produces and develops pig genetic programs and breeding systems for commercial hog production.
