U.S. ASSIGNS COUNTERVAILING DUTY TO CANADIAN SUPERCALENDERED PAPER . . . NFU LEADER CONCERNED ABOUT CONTAMINATION FROM DRIFTING SEEDS . . . ILLEGAL MOOSE MEAT CASE NETS STIFFEST PENALTIES IN NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORY . . . PLANT VARIANTS POINT TO IMPROVED BIOFUEL PRODUCTION   . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

U.S. ASSIGNS COUNTERVAILING DUTY TO CANADIAN SUPERCALENDERED PAPER
Source: Pulp & Paper Canada
Canadian supercalendered paper sold in the U.S. is now subject to duties up to 20 percent, following a preliminary determination by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The investigation concluded that Canadian producers and exporters have received countervailable subsidies. The affected producers are Port Hawkesbury Paper, which faces an interim duty of 20.3 percent, Resolute Forest Products, which faces a duty of 2.04 percent, and Irving forest Products and Catalyst Paper, which fall into the “all other producers” category and will have a duty of 11.19 percent applied. (read more)

NFU LEADER CONCERNED ABOUT CONTAMINATION FROM DRIFTING SEEDS
Source: Island Farmer
The discovery of over 1,200 marihuana plants found in a farmer’s field in Traveller's Rest late last month illustrates just how serious the problem of drifting can be, especially for organic producers, says the women's district director of the National Farmers Union. On July 24, members of the Prince District Joint Forces Operations Drug Unit were in the field after receiving a tip from the public that there were marihuana plants located there. The search resulted in the seizure of 1,250 immature marihuana plants, which is one of the largest plant seizures ever in the province. The plants were interspersed with the actual crop and consisted of both male and female marihuana plants. The location of the field was not released. (read more)

ILLEGAL MOOSE MEAT CASE NETS STIFFEST PENALTIES IN NEW BRUNSWICK HISTORY
Source: CBC.ca
The sale of illegal moose meat at Fredericton-area butcher shop has resulted in the stiffest penalties ever handed out for violations under the New Brunswick Fish and Wildlife Act. A father and son who ran the shop on Richibucto Road, and five people who purchased the illegal meat, have been sentenced to a combined total of 84 days in jail and nearly $22,000 in fines. (read more)

PLANT VARIANTS POINT TO IMPROVED BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
Source: The Crop Site
Researchers funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have discovered variant straw plants whose cell walls are more easily broken down to make biofuels, but which are not significantly smaller or weaker than regular plants. The discovery could help ease pressure on global food security as biofuels from non-food crops become easier and cheaper to make. (read more)