Ag minister justifies research closures

 

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald is justifying his announcement that seven federal agriculture research stations will be closed because they cost too much money to maintain.

He said in some cases 45 per cent of the station budget goes into maintaining facilities, leaving only 55 per cent for research.

“The operational cost of these facilities is something that our government of the past, the opposition government of the past, really let get out of hand,” he said during testimony at the House of Commons agriculture committee earlier this month.

“We have almost $700 million in deferred maintenance sitting on the books. Now you’re getting close to $1 billion.”

The food research center at Guelph that was opened in 1997 and employs 16 PhD researchers is scheduled for closure.

Its research mainly deals with food safety and food ingredients that improve health.

I wonder if MacDonald understands that centre's research is and how he justifies that closure.

PED in Huron County

 

Swine Health Ontario reported an outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus at a hog finishing barn in Huron County.

It was the 30^th outbreak of either PED or porcine deltacoronavirus on Ontario this month.

Cheese company aims to reduce emissions

Bel’s cheese plant at Sorel-Tracy, Que., aims to reduce carbon emissions by 35 per cent within five years.

Its plan includes 34 dairy farms which will receive plans for their farms.

If it meets its target, it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equal to that produced by 10,000 cars in a year.

Indonesia open to Canadian beef and pork

 Indonesia has opened its country to more Canadian beef and pork, the Canadian government announced recently.

Its news release came just as the United States and Indonesia signed a trade agreement.

For beef, the policy change allows imports of bone-in beef cuts; previously beef imports were restricted to boneless beef. The country will also be open to beef offals.

“A market of almost 300 million people is obviously an important one for Canadian producers. That’s why this step in diversifying Canada’s pork export markets is so crucial,” said Canadian Pork Council chairman René Roy.

The federal government said it continues to negotiate export certificates for live breeding cattle, live swine, genetic material and bovine embryos.

Sunterra files an appeal

Sunterra Farms of Alberta has filed an appeal against convictions for cheque kiting.

U.S. Justice Michael Lena wrote in his January decision that “I find that Sunterra Canada made false representations knowingly, intending that they be relied on, which (lender0 Compeer (Financia) did rely on, suffering the noted losses.”

Compeer petitioned Sunterra’s businesses into bankruptcy and sold them to Tyson Foods.

The Canadian operation is seeking protection from creditors under federal legislation.

President Ray Price and two other employees had been named in the suit, but Lema found only the Price liable, saying he directed and oversaw the fraud.

The appeal documents say that Lema found Price liable without finding evidence of personal gain.

They say that conclusion was based on common sense inference rather than the legal test for fraudulent misrepresentation.

As well, the documents suggest the cause of Compeer’s loss was the wrongful retraction of cheques between the lenders.

                                    

Infant formula on recall

 

Imported Kendamil infant formula is under recall.

Belgium triggered the recall when it identified cellulide toxin in the formula.

It is certified organic and made from either cow or goat milk.

PDCoV outbreak in Huron

 

Swine Health Ontario reports an outbreak of porcine deltacoronavus at a finisher barn in Huron County.