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
Triple collaboration provides rice breeding innovation Friday, June 6, 2025 Loveland Products, Inc. (LPI) and Dyna-Gro Seed, Nutrien Ag Solutions’ proprietary products businesses, have announced the success of their ongoing collaboration with the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter through the —a targeted initiative accelerating innovation in rice breeding... Read this article online
Ontario Promotes Local Food to Boost Economy and Jobs Thursday, June 5, 2025 Ontario is celebrating Local Food Week from June 2–8, 2025, honoring the people behind the province’s strong and self-sufficient food supply. From farmers and food processors to retailers and restauranteurs, these individuals contribute to the economy and food security. The agriculture... Read this article online
New report highlights Cdn. farmer sentiment on tariffs Thursday, June 5, 2025 Canadian farmers are worried about trade and tariffs. That’s part of what a new report from Stratus Ag Research shows. The research firm polled 1,000 Canadian farmers beginning in January about how concerned they are about 21 challenges including rising costs of production, commodity... Read this article online
Warburtons invests in Gate project Thursday, June 5, 2025 A British company is investing in a Canadian ag project. Warburtons, the largest bakery brand in England which includes bread, bagels, and pitas, is contributing $650,000 to the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) project in Winnipeg, Man. “This contribution represents a... Read this article online
Scientists at Guelph Target Avian Threat Thursday, June 5, 2025 The University of Guelph (U of G) is activeey engaged against the spread of avian flu. Experts from a variety of departments, including virology, engineering, veterinary medicine, and computer science, are working together to stop this growing threat. “This is not just a crisis for the... Read this article online