South Dakota loves mini-cheeses Monday, April 2, 2012 South Dakota could soon be known as a dairy powerhouse thanks to a popular snacking cheese. In February, Bel Brands USA announced it would build a US$100 million cheese plant near Brookings, described on a state website as having an ideal climate location for milking cows. The plant will be operating by the end of 2013. Just the first phase will produce about 22 million pounds of cheese annually. The company's signature product is Mini Baby Bel snacking cheeses. It represents close to one third of Bel Brands' U.S. sales with consistent 25 per cent plus growth per year. State officials were recruiting farmers from outside the Dakotas at the World Ag Expo in California. Bel Brands, based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., is the American subsidiary of Fromageries Bel, based in Paris, France, with sales of nearly US$3.2 billion in 2010. BF Planting Season: Advice from the front lines on eliminating those costly and time-consuming bottlenecks Transportation system in jeopardy
Canada Packers Posts Strong Volume Growth and Profitability in First Year as Standalone Company Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Canada Packers Inc., recently split off from Maple Leaf Foods, reported its financial results earlier this month for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2025, highlighting increased hog volumes, steady sales growth and disciplined financial execution. In the fourth quarter of 2025,... Read this article online
Senators examine Canada’s food system firsthand during southwestern Ontario fact finding mission Monday, March 16, 2026 A delegation of Canadian senators conducted a full day fact finding mission on Friday, March 6, 2026, visiting several major food system organizations and research facilities across Southwestern Ontario. The tour supported the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry’s ongoing... Read this article online
Canada’s Real Seasons (According to Farmers Who Actually Live Here) Monday, March 16, 2026 According to a chart that’s been making the rounds on social media, courtesy of The Weather Network—the Canadian calendar has officially been updated. Apparently, we no longer live by the simple rhythm of winter, spring, summer, and fall. Instead, we now rotate through such crowd... Read this article online
Ontario Equine Industry Drives Rural Economy Monday, March 16, 2026 A new economic study has revealed the major contribution of Ontario’s equine agricultural sector to the province’s economy and rural communities. The Ontario Equine Agricultural Economic Impact Study Report provides the first comprehensive evaluation of the industry since 2010 and offers... Read this article online
Julia Montgomery Named OVC Dean Monday, March 16, 2026 The University of Guelph has announced the appointment of Dr. Julia Montgomery as the new dean of the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC).She will begin her five-year leadership term on June 15, 2026.The appointment marks an important step for one of Canada’s most respected veterinary... Read this article online