2015 HEIFER SALE ANNOUNCEMENT … GROWING HEMP IN ALBERTA … CANADA: HIGHER PRICES FRUITS & VEG … NOVA SCOTIA BIO-FOOD AGENCY SIGNS INNOVATIVE AGREEMENT WITH ICELANDIC TECHNICAL RESEARCH COMPANY … OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

2015 HEIFER SALE ANNOUNCEMENT
Source: MBTS
The Maritime Beef Testing Society is very pleased to announce that we will, once again, be holding a heifer consignment sale at our annual Breeding Stock Sale on April 4, 2015. Last year’s sale was a great success and we are hoping to build on that this year. We hope to expand the sale to include approximately 40 high quality heifers. (read more)

GROWING HEMP IN ALBERTA
Source: AARD
An Alberta Agriculture crop specialist says there are opportunities for growing hemp in the province, particularly organic hemp. “Many people may now be aware that the majority of the hemp grown in Alberta is for seed purposes,” said Harry Brook, crop specialist, Alberta Ag-Info Centre, Stettler. “The market is strong for hemp seed but the fibre market is stalled due to a lack of a processing plant. However, there is one planned for southern Alberta.” (read more)

CANADA: HIGHER PRICES FRUITS & VEG
Source: FreshPlaza
Canadians should brace themselves for at least several more months of rising prices for fresh fruits and vegetables as the falling Canadian dollar shrinks our buying power for U.S. imports. According to a recent report commissioned by Vancity, about 67 percent of B.C.’s vegetable imports come from the United States, including 74 percent of all lettuce and more than 90 percent of all broccoli. Food prices across most categories were up between six and 10 percent last year, a situation that will only be exacerbated by the dropping dollar, according to the author of Wake up Call, Brent Mansfield, director of the B.C. Food Systems Network. (read more)

NOVA SCOTIA BIO-FOOD AGENCY SIGNS INNOVATIVE AGREEMENT WITH ICELANDIC TECHNICAL RESEARCH COMPANY
Source: Perennia
Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. has signed an agreement with Matis Ltd. of Reykjavik to support the innovative and progressive growth of Nova Scotia’s agri-food and seafood sector. “We are very excited about this agreement and what it can do to connect industry with leading edge knowledge, technologies and access to new markets,” said Perennia CEO Jo Ann Fewer from Iceland, where the agreement was signed. “Matis and Perennia have complementary mandates to make food and food support more profitable through cutting edge research and development, new value added products and innovative ideas. The fact that we will have access to such unique and top notch expertise, and for Matis to be talking about Perennia and Nova Scotia to their domestic and international clients will only lead to great things for Nova Scotia.” (read more)