Trump eyes potash deal with Belarus

United States President Donald Trump said he is negotiating a “massive’ deal to buy potash from Belarus.

That sent shares in Nutrien, the world’s largest potash producer based in Saskatchewan, tumbling down.

Canada has long been the United States’ main source of potash.

Belarus is a close ally of Russia and is much further from the U.S. farmers, especially in the main field crops area immediately south of Saskatchewan.

Canada has granted the province’s potash miners the right to work together on pricing exports.

It’s not yet clear whether BHP, which is in the process of opening the largest potash mine in Saskatchewan, is prepared to join the export cartel. Its head office is in Australia.

Trump said the deal he is negotiating will be at a lower price.

Nutrien sells about 80 per cent of its potash exports to the United States which last year bought $4.2 billion worth.

Canada Pork gets $3.8 million

 

The federal government is giving up to $3.8 million to Canada Pork to diversify its export markets, mainly to Asia.

About 70 per cent of Canada’s pork is exported.

Diversification is core to Canada Pork's mandate, and this investment helps us build and maintain international markets, reach new global customers and keep our industry strong at home," said Hans Kristensen, chair of Canada Pork.

Greenhouse gets $5 million from feds

Kinghaven Farm is getting $5 million from the federal government for a new greenhouse near King City, 

Kinghaven will produce leafy greens such as lettuce.

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said the money will come from the new National Food Security Strategy announced recently by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The money will be used for adopting and customizing automation and climate control technologies at the new greenhouse.

“Controlled environment agriculture is key to building a resilient, stable food system in Canada,” MacDonald said. 

“This investment in Kinghaven Farms’ innovative greenhouse technology will boost local production, reduce reliance on imports and ensure Canadians have reliable access to high-quality, locally grown greens year-round. This project strengthens food security and reinforces Canada as a leader in sustainable agricultural practices.”

A news release said this greenhouse will reduce imports, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from long-haul transportation and provide year-round Canadian-grown leafy greens. The new greenhouse will be able to grow two million kilograms a year.

The company markets under the Haven Greens brand.

                          

Syngenta adds biological research

 

Syngenta has added biologicals to the seeds testing it performs at its Honeywood Research center at Plattsville.

It is also changing the name from Canadian Seedcare Institute to Canadian Seedcare and Biologicals Institute.

The facility performs extensive testing on pesticides that are applied to seeds, including ones to ensure the seeds can flow freely through farm seeding equipment and that all seeds are adequately treated.

“By expanding the institute’s mandate to include biologicals, we are further investing in Canadian agricultural research to support our customers and contribute to a more productive, competitive and resilient sector,” said Syngenta Canada president Shaun Vey.

Syngenta is a global company.

Fire damages Greenfield storage

A lightning strike ignited a fire in storage tanks at the Greenfield Global ethanol-production plant in Chatham.

The company said it will not stop ethanol production and cleanup and containment operations are underway.

“A thorough investigation will be conducted to identify opportunities for continuous improvement once cleanup activities have been completed,” the company said..

There were no injuries.

Beekeepers seek emergency aid

 

 

Canada’s beekeepers are pleading for emergency aid because the new 50 per cent U,S. tariff has eliminated 60 per cent of their market.

They are also facing rising costs and many were on the financial brink before the tariff, according to Connie Phillips, executive director of the Canadian Beekeepers Federation.

She said the need is immediate so beekeepers can prepare colonies for the winter.

She said it is not only beekeepers who are at risk, but also blueberry and canola growers who need bees to pollinate their crops.

In a letter to Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Prairies Economic Development, the Beekeepers Federation appealed for an immediate interim payment to each bee colony to help keep them viable. It said it expected “sales to the United States to go to zero and stay there until the tariff comes off.”

 

Sheep Federation to run traceability

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has reached an agreement to allow its traceability program to be administered by the Canadian Sheep Federation.

The hand-over will take effect at the end of this year.

For sheep producers, this means the industry will have a more direct role in guiding the system it relies on, with CSF providing the national leadership, administration and support needed to deliver it, the sheep federation said.

Chairman Fred Baker said “this announcement caps 20 years of progress in traceability for the Canadian sheep industry. 

"Now the work of making traceability deliver for Canadian lamb producers can begin. This agreement reflects confidence in our industry’s ability to lead and support that system, and we take that

responsibility seriously”. 

As part of a 90-day transition period, the Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP) will begin operating under the name SheepTrace.

The federation will also establish a SheepTrace Advisory Committee to help guide the program. 

The committee will have representation from every province, including

producers and other industry stakeholders.