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
Ag groups call for pause to AAFC cuts Friday, March 20, 2026 Close to two dozen Canadian ag groups wrote to Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald to ask for an immediate pause to the scheduled cuts at AAFC research facilities. The federal government is closing seven ag research sites and eliminating 665 positions to support the prime minister’s goal... Read this article online
Top Tillage Equipment for Large Acreage Farming - A 2026 Buyer’s Guide Thursday, March 19, 2026 Choosing the right tillage equipment is crucial for high acreage growers managing heavy residue, variable soil conditions, and the need for efficient seedbed preparation. Today’s leading tillage systems combine residue sizing, soil preservation, and operational efficiency—while pairing... Read this article online
Corteva introduces Lumiscend LUXE fungicide seed treatment Thursday, March 19, 2026 Corteva has launched a new fungicide seed treatment in time for the 2026 planting season. Lumiscend LUXE combines four active ingredients – difenoconazole, metalaxyl-M and S-isomer, ipconazole, and inpyrfluxam – to provide farmers with a robust seed treatment option spanning Groups 3, 4,... Read this article online
CGC issues multiple licenses on March 18 Thursday, March 19, 2026 Two Canadian and one American grain handler received licenses from the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) on March 18. One of the Canadian companies, Red River Seeds in Morris, Man., the leading buyer of rye grain in Western Canada, received two licenses. One of those licenses is a grain... Read this article online
ADM and Bunge Earn Spots on 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies List Thursday, March 19, 2026 Two major agricultural companies, ADM and Bunge, have been named to the 2026 World’s Most Ethical Companies list by Ethisphere, a global authority on defining and advancing ethical business practices. The recognition places both companies among nine honorees in the Food, Beverage and... Read this article online