Posted: February 23, 2010

The Government of Canada has announced up to $5.9 million in new investment to the Flax Council of Canada, to help create new flax varieties and develop an improved method for flax seed testing.

"New and improved flax varieties will give Canadian farmers increased flax yield and more opportunities to succeed in international markets," says Minister Gerry Ritz, in a release from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The funding comes from two government programs and will go towards two specific initiatives:

• $4.0 million, from the Developing Innovative Agri-Products (DIAP) program, to produce new herbicide tolerant Canadian flax.
• Up to $1.9 million, from the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP), to develop sampling and testing methods to identify the presence of genetically modified (GM) flaxseed in Canadian flax exports.

"The support to industry through CAAP funding will assist the industry in responding to the challenges it is experiencing in the EU marketplace, says Flax Council president and CEO Barry Hall.

View the full announcement here.

Posted: February 23, 2010

Rack Petroleum., Ltd., based in Biggar, Sask., has reached an agreement with DuPont Canada to supply Polaris brand glyphosate product for use with the company's new "Racketeer" glyphosate farm storage and handling system.

Launched earlier this year, the Racketeer is a bulk system that allows growers to store their glyphosate on farm in specially designed tanks, according to the Rack Petroleum news release. The company says the Racketeer has special pumps and valves meet stringent storage requirements and maintain security while supplying quick, efficient performance.

"Our goal is to make things simpler and more efficient for growers," says Dennis Bulani, president of Rack Petroleum.

Read the full Rack Petroleum release here.