Winery enters new markets Thursday, May 12, 2011 by SUSAN MANNA Niagara-area winery received $700,000 from the provincial government that will help the company create new jobs, expand markets, source more local grapes and reduce processing waste.Murray Marshall, president and CEO of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd., says the company has been fifth largest buyer of grapes in Ontario and it will move to being the third largest buyer now. The company’s grape buying will increase to 3,000 tonnes this year from 1,800 tonnes. The bulk of the grapes Diamond Estates buys are from independent growers.Marshall says the funding announced May 6 is being used to add four different pieces of capital manufacturing equipment. Diamond Estates will be entering three new market segments, including sparkling wines, reduced and alcohol-free wine, and improving efficiency on its bottling line to fulfill an export market for ice wine. The company will create 38 new jobs and retain 142 existing jobs.Marshall says the funding announcement “is a great vote of support by the government for an industry that creates a lot of economic impact.”As part of improving efficiency at Diamond Estates, Marshall says they’ve brought in some components that will help with effluent processing. That will result in “less grey water going back into the environment.” About 30 per cent of project is already in place, he explains. It’s all being installed at Diamond Estates’ facility in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is the winery formerly known as 20 Bees. Diamond Estates received the money through Ontario’s matched funding Rural Economic Development program. BF Modify food label requirements say ag groups Beef producers keep close eye on TB in Michigan
Calf Auction Raises Funds for Youth Monday, June 30, 2025 Wyatt Westman-Frijters from Milverton won a heifer calf named Ingrid through a World Milk Day promotion by Maplevue Farms and a local Perth, Ontario radio station. Instead of keeping the calf, 22-year-old Westman-Frijters chose to give back to the community. The calf was sent to the... Read this article online
Cattle Stress Tool May Boost Fertility Friday, June 27, 2025 Kansas State University researchers have developed a cool tool that may help reduce cattle stress and improve artificial insemination (AI) results. The idea came from animal science experts Nicholas Wege Dias and Sandy Johnson, who observed that cattle accustomed to their environment... Read this article online
Ontario pasture lands get $5M boost Friday, June 27, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $5 million to strengthen shared community grazing pastures. This funding supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario’s agriculture sector and help cattle farmers improve pasture quality, ensuring long-term sustainability and... Read this article online
Health Canada sets rules for drone spraying Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Health Canada has approved the use of drones, also called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), for pesticide application under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). Drones are considered aircraft by Transport Canada, but Health Canada treats them differently due to their unique... Read this article online
Twelve Ontario Agri-Businesses Receive Funding Support Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Bioenterprise Canada has announced the successful recipients of the second call for proposals under the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) Commercialization Stream. Twelve organizations across Ontario will receive support to bring innovative agri-food solutions to the... Read this article online