June 15, 2015

MAYOR REMAINS HOPEFUL NEW USE WILL BE FOUND FOR FORMER MCCAIN PLANT … EGG-CESSIVE? SUPERSTORE GRADING STANDARDS HURTING CAPE BRETON FARM … FOREST INDUSTRY INTERNS BEGIN THE GREEN DREAM … ATLANTIC DAIRY AND FORAGE INSTITUTE SHUTDOWN STUNS WORKERS …OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

MAYOR REMAINS HOPEFUL NEW USE WILL BE FOUND FOR FORMER MCCAIN PLANT
Source: Island Farmer
This time last year, the McCain plant was a major employer in the community of Borden-Carleton. Now, the only occupants are security guards, and the McCain logo that instantly identified the plant has been scraped off. McCain Foods closed the plant last October, citing a decline in sales and the fact the facility was small and in major need of an upgrade. The province has been working to attract a new business or businesses to the plant and Mayor Dean Sexton remains hopeful those efforts will soon pay off. In fact, it looked like an announcement was coming just prior to the spring election call. (read more)

EGG-CESSIVE? SUPERSTORE GRADING STANDARDS HURTING CAPE BRETON FARM
Source: The Chronicle Herald
The owners of Eyking Farms in Millville are preparing to lose one of their biggest egg buyers in Atlantic Superstore. Chris and Theodore Eyking say they can no longer afford to meet what they call the grocery chain’s excessive egg grading standards that cost the business about $70,000 in added costs and paperwork each year. “Every year it’s something different,” said Theodore. “You’re trying to hit a moving target. It seems like every year, they’re increasing the amount of things they want changed. Your station could be perfectly fine last year but it’s not as good this year. It’s almost like they’re looking for something different.” (read more)

FOREST INDUSTRY INTERNS BEGIN THE GREEN DREAM
Source: Pulp & Paper Canada
Fifteen students are receiving a scholarship and an iPad Mini from the Forest Products Association of Canada as part of the 2015 Green Dream Internship program. The students will blog about their adventures as interns in Canada’s forest products industry. The blogs will be posted on TheGreenestWorkforce.ca, an online resource tool highlighting the future direction of the forest products industry and job opportunities available across the country. (read more)

ATLANTIC DAIRY AND FORAGE INSTITUTE SHUTDOWN STUNS WORKERS
Source: CBC.ca
The only dairy research farm in the Maritimes abruptly shut down earlier this week and left almost a dozen farmhands without work. The Atlantic Dairy and Forage Institute (ADFI), a private 60 hectare working dairy firm in Fredericton Junction, shut down last week. Farm manager Robert McLaughlin worked there for years and said he and the staff were stunned by how quickly the shutdown happened. McLaughlin said two board members gathered the staff together and gave them their two weeks notice. “By probably 3:30 that day, they had sold the cows and Wednesday morning by quarter after 12, we had them all loaded on a truck headed for P.E.I.,” he said. (read more)

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST
    
CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE TO PIGLET CASTRATION: VET
http://www.producer.com/2015/06/consider-alternative-to-piglet-castration-vet/

THE TOP 10 RESPONSIBILITIES OF SUCCESSFUL HERD MANAGERS
http://www.thebullvine.com/news/the-top-10-responsibilities-of-successful-herd-managers/

RESEARCHERS UNCOVER STRUCTURE OF ENZYME THAT MAKES PLANT CELLULOSE
http://www.thecropsite.com/articles/1916/researchers-uncover-structure-of-enzyme-that-makes-plant-cellulose/

GM NOT TO BLAME FOR COW SICKNESS 
http://www.thebeefsite.com/news/48086/gm-not-to-blame-for-cow-sickness/