Joe Dales's Blog – November 2012 Archive (4)

Minister MacDonald concludes successful outreach to southern Alberta

This week, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, wrapped up a successful outreach to Calgary and communities across southern Alberta. To begin his outreach, Minister MacDonald announced an investment of nearly $900,000 for SmartGRO Bioengineering Inc. under the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program – Research and Innovation Stream. In partnership with Hydragreens vertical farm, this funding enables SmartGRO to test and scale new clean lighting technology that helps indoor agriculture producers grow more while using less electricity. In addition to the $750 million investment dedicated to controlled environment agriculture, through the National Food Security Strategy, innovations like these boost the sector by lowering costs and helping local producers grow more of our food year-round, closer to home. While in Bow Island, Minister MacDonald visited a multi-generational farm to discuss pulse and sugar beet operations. In Barnwell, he saw the prod

FCC invites expressions of interest in new Agri-food Project Finance initiative

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) today launched a 60-day Expression of Interest (EOI) process for its new $1 billion Agri-food Project Finance initiative. Organizations are invited to bring forward major agri-food processing and manufacturing projects across Canada in support of a stronger, more resilient and affordable food system for all Canadians. As part of the Government of Canada's National Food Security Strategy, the specialized financing is designed to advance construction-ready, infrastructure projects that expand food processing and manufacturing capacity across Canada. By expanding food processing here at home, Agri-food Project Finance aims to create more value-added Canadian agricultural products, strengthen domestic supply chains and improve long-term food security. "Our government is focused on strengthening Canada's food system so Canadians can count on a reliable supply of high-quality, affordable food," said Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Heath MacDonald. "This new

Canadian beef regains access to the Dominican Republic

JBS Food and Cargill in Alberta, and True North Foods in Manitoba, are approved to export to the Dominican Republic

Atlantic ag rundown

A collection of goings on in agriculture east of Ontario and Quebec

U.S. Corn Harvest Reaches 8%, Soybean Harvest 6% Complete

The U.S. corn harvest made modest progress this past week, while soybean harvest got underway. USDA’s weekly crop progress report on Monday showed 8% of the U.S. corn crop had been harvested as of Sunday, up from 5% a week earlier and ahead of the five-year average of 6%. Meanwhile, the national soybean harvest was 6% complete, twice the five-year average of 3% and slightly ahead of 5% at the same point last year. Illinois had harvested 8% of its corn crop as of Sunday, while Iowa and Indiana were each 2% complete. North Dakota was 1% harvested, while Michigan and Ohio had yet to register measurable progress. For soybeans, Illinois had harvested 4% of its soybean crop, while Iowa, Indiana, Ohio and North Dakota were each 3% complete. Michigan had yet to report measurable harvest progress. Corn development also moved quickly during the week. Nationally, 42% of the crop had reached maturity, up sharply from 25% a week earlier and ahead of the five-year average of 38%. Illinois