Canadian potato production will decline this year, possibly by six percent or more. A hot and dry summer, especially in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, cut into potato yields across the country. Last year, Canadian farmers produced 106.4 million hundredweight of potatoes. The 2020 crop could be around 100 million cwt. “The biggest decrease in Read more The post Potato yields drop in 2020 appeared first on The Western Producer.

Duane Vaags is looking for grass-fed cattle — everywhere and anywhere he can find them. Vaags started a new job this fall, working as the grass-fed beef program auditor for True North Foods, a federally licensed packing plant in Carman, Man. Recently, a major buyer approached True North’s owner, Calvin Vaags, with a request. “The Read more The post Man. company looking for grass-fed beef appeared first on The Western Producer.

After hitting the pause button on plans to help Alberta’s oil and gas companies by reducing taxes levied by rural municipalities, the provincial government said it has come up with a solution that will help both sides. “I feel with our decision today, we have balanced the needs of both municipalities and the oil and Read more The post Alberta temporarily freezes municipal taxes on energy sector appeared first on The Western Producer.

The governing United Conservative Party has passed a resolution supporting the option of a privately funded and managed health-care system for Alberta. The decision was made during voting Oct. 17 by UCP members on policies submitted during the party’s virtual annual general meeting. Critics of private health care have long maintained that such a move Read more The post UCP convention supports private health care appeared first on The Western Producer.

An outbreak of COVID-19 has been reported at the J & L Beef Ltd. meat processing facility in Surrey, B.C. The Fraser Health public health department said Oct. 18 that 13 employees at the plant tested positive. It became aware of a potential outbreak after one employee tested positive Oct. 8, and found evidence of Read more The post COVID reported at B.C. meat plant appeared first on The Western Producer.