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
Nutrien Rewards Prairie Farm Champions Thursday, January 15, 2026 NutrienLtd. has announced the winners of the second Hometown Yield Challenge, a program created to encourage strong crop production while giving back to rural communities. The challenge was open to farmers in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan and focused on both yield performance and... Read this article online
Syngenta brings Elatus Era fungicide to lentil growers Thursday, January 15, 2026 Canadian lentil farmers have a new fungicide available to them this growing season through Syngenta’s Elatus Era. “This represents an evolution in our lentil disease protection from what we currently have on the market as Elatus,” Carolyn Wilson, technical lead for fungicides with... Read this article online
Canola industry says reopening Chinese market a priority Thursday, January 15, 2026 The Canola Council of Canada wants the prime minister’s trip to China to be a successful one. “We have been clear that this is a political issue that requires a political solution, to be resolved at the highest levels between our two governments. With this in mind, we are encouraged by... Read this article online
SPG Funds New Prairie Weed Research Program Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Saskatchewan Pulse Growers has announced major funding for a new research program to address herbicide resistant weeds that threaten crop production across the Prairies. The program is supported through Saskatchewan’s Strategic Research Initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture... Read this article online
Saskatchewan Pulse Research Gets Major Boost Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Saskatchewan Pulse Growers has announced major new funding to support pulse crop research across the province. Through co-funding with Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund, more than four million dollars will be invested in research that strengthens the pulse industry and supports... Read this article online