Uncollectible loans and unsustainable agriculture Sunday, April 3, 2011 The Nova Scotia government wrote off $16.2 million in bad loans from 2008. The loans included more than $1 million in uncollectible student loans, and smaller amounts for pharmacare premiums and unpaid fees. But by far the majority of the uncollectible loans had been made by the Nova Scotia agriculture department. "This unusually high amount is due to defaulted hog loan accounts under the Farm Loan Board," said a ministry of finance press release."For many years, hog farming in Nova Scotia was heavily subsidized by government," the release went on. "When government support was discontinued in 2007-08, many hog farmers were unable to sustain their business due to low pork prices and rising production costs."The Canadian Pork Council's public relations manager, Gary Stordy, says the Nova Scotia industry has collapsed. There are six pig farms left, compared to more than 80 four years ago.Many provinces offer loans to producers of various commodities, Stordy says. Another pork example is Big Sky Farms Inc. in Saskatchewan. The province now has a stake in the embattled company. BP Inconsistent reports on red meat The 'bacon bubble' that didn't burst
Potato Crusher Helps Farmers Fight Weeds Monday, August 31, 2026 Researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) found a new use for a machine originally designed for potato production. The potato vine crusher, first created to destroy insect pests in potato vines, is now proving effective in reducing weed seeds during harvest. The idea was... Read this article online
Canadian Meat Council Warns of Food Safety Risks Monday, August 31, 2026 The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) has expressed concerns about proposed changes to Canada's food safety regulations that would allow certain provincially inspected meat products to be sold across provincial borders. While the organization supports efforts to reduce barriers to... Read this article online
Boosting Soybean Protein Through Better Nutrition Monday, August 31, 2026 Soybeans areone of the most important crops in the world.Soybeansprovide a major source of plant-based protein for both human consumption and animal feed. As global demand for food continues to grow, researchers are working to find ways to improve the nutritional value of soybean crops... Read this article online
Record El Nino Intensifies as U.S. Heat Wave and Drought Risks Grow Monday, August 31, 2026 As harvest season approaches across much of North America, producers are facing a rapidly evolving weather pattern highlighted by the strongest El Niño event on record. According to from meteorologist Eric Snodgrass, the east-based El Niño continues to strengthen, with Niño Region 3... Read this article online
Wheat Futures Surge as Black Sea Risks Fuel Grain Market Rally Monday, August 31, 2026 Grain markets finished the week of August 28, 2026, on a strong note as wheat futures led a broad rally across agricultural commodities. Traders monitored escalating risks around Black Sea exports, potential changes to U.S. crop estimates, weather concerns across the Midwest, and increased... Read this article online