Category: Agriculture

Organic farming goes for scale in prairies, pushes back on skepticism

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Organic farming goes for scale in prairies, pushes back on skepticism
Travis Heide was raised on a conventional farm and used to take it personally when his wife, who grew up on an organic farm on Vancouver Island, talked about going pesticide and fertilizer-free. Now, his the Saskatchewan-based farmer owns one of the biggest organic farms in Canada. “Every time she talked about organic, it was like she was attacking the way I was... Read More

‘More effective than a carbon tax:’ Saskatchewan digs in heels on climate change

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‘More effective than a carbon tax:’ Saskatchewan digs in heels on climate change
MOOSE JAW, Sask. — The Saskatchewan government is doubling down on its climate change strategy and continues to defy Ottawa’s demand it put a price on carbon emissions. Environment Minister Dustin Duncan says the province is expanding emission limits based on production for facilities such as potash mines and pulp mills. Those facilities generate 11 per cent of the province’s emissions.... Read More

Saskatchewan fiscal update: More revenue; more spending; smaller deficit

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Saskatchewan fiscal update: More revenue; more spending; smaller deficit
REGINA — The Saskatchewan government says higher oil and potash prices will mean more money for the province this year. But more spending on health care, social services and public-sector pensions will eat up a good portion of that windfall. The provincial Finance Ministry has released its first-quarter update showing a deficit of $306 million, nearly $60 million smaller than forecast in the April budget.... Read More

Union calls for Canada to buy back Canadian Wheat Board from Saudis over spat

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Union calls for Canada to buy back Canadian Wheat Board from Saudis over spat
OTTAWA — A union representing transportation workers in Churchill, Man., is calling on Ottawa to buy back the Canadian Wheat Board from a Saudi consortium in light of the diplomatic spat between the two countries. The Union of Canadian Transportation Employees which represents Churchill port workers says Saudi Arabia’s decision to stop buying Canadian wheat and barley shows it won’t put the interests... Read More

Canada’s cattle producers tightening their belts as drought diminishes pastures

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Canada’s cattle producers tightening their belts as drought diminishes pastures
Cattle producers on the Prairies are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst as an ongoing drought continues to diminish pastures. “If it’s not a make-or-break issue for (farmers) financially, for some it may be a make-or-break issue for them emotionally,” said Charlie Christie, chairman of the Alberta Beef Producers. “It’s a stressful thing.” Last year’s season ended... Read More

Most actively traded companies on the TSX

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Most actively traded companies on the TSX
Some of the most active companies traded Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (16,420.84, down 14.62 points) Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX:ACB). Healthcare. Up 34 cents, or 4.62 per cent, to $7.70 on 10.3 million shares. Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Aerospace, rail equipment. Down seven cents, or 1.44 per cent, to $4.78 on 9.1 million shares. Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED). Healthcare. Up $1.91, or six... Read More

Nutrien sells stake in Arab Potash for $502 million to China’s SDIC Mining

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Nutrien sells stake in Arab Potash for $502 million to China’s SDIC Mining
CALGARY — Nutrien Ltd. has agreed to sell its stake in Arab Potash Co. for $502 million to a Chinese state-owned company. The Canadian fertilizer producer was required to sell its stake in Arab Potash to win China’s and India’s approval for the merger of Agrium and PotashCorp into one company, now called Nutrien. Nutrien’s 23.3 million shares of Arab... Read More

Ottawa says Japan has resumed Canadian wheat imports after temporary suspension

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Ottawa says Japan has resumed Canadian wheat imports after temporary suspension
Ottawa says Japan has ended its temporary suspension of Canadian wheat imports. Japan had halted shipments after some unauthorized genetically modified wheat was found in southern Alberta. Ottawa says the decision marks an end to all international trade actions arising from the discovery on June 14. South Korea resumed shipments late last month. Modified wheat is not approved for commercial... Read More

Saskatchewan finishes 2017-18 with smaller deficit; still $303M in red

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Saskatchewan finishes 2017-18 with smaller deficit; still $303M in red
REGINA — Stronger that expected resource revenue helped the Saskatchewan government finish the last fiscal year with a deficit almost $400 million smaller than initially forecast. The province finished 2017-18 spending $303 million more than it took in. But that’s $393 million better than what was projected in last year’s budget. Finance Minister Donna Harpauer says a stronger performance in the oil and potash sectors helped. Other factors included an increase... Read More

Judge: Experts can testify that Roundup linked to cancer

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Judge: Experts can testify that Roundup linked to cancer
SAN FRANCISCO — Evidence that Roundup weed killer can cause cancer seems “weak,” but experts can still make that claim at trial, a U.S. judge ruled Tuesday. The decision by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco allows hundreds of lawsuits against Roundup’s manufacturer, Monsanto, to move forward. The lawsuits by cancer victims and their families say the agrochemical... Read More