By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Monday December 21, 2020

Dec 21, 2020 | 10:16 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – A meat-processing plant in Guelph, Ont. is temporarily closing following a COVID-19 outbreak.

At least 82 people at the Cargill plant have tested positive. Roughly 130 workers, both positive cases and close contacts, are self-isolating.

The plant’s idling process began on Thursday but to prevent food waste, Cargill said it will process the nearly 1.55 million-meals-worth of meat currently in the facility before completely shutting down.

Cargill said it is encouraging other employees at the 1,000-worker facility to get tested.

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The federal government announced an additional $100 million in funding under the Emergency Food Security Fund.

The new funding will provide $18.5 million to Food Banks Canada, $18.5 million to Breakfast Club of Canada, $8.9 million to Second Harvest, $8.9 million to Community Food Centres Canada, $8.85 million to the Salvation Army, and $1.34 million to La Tablée des Chefs. A further $5 million will be allocated from reserve funds.

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said an increasing number of Canadians have been facing challenges in putting food on their tables due to COVID-19. As a result, food banks and food security organizations have experienced increased pressures such as higher demands and fewer resources.

Funding from the program has supported more than 3,200 local food organizations across Canada.

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G3 Canada has opened three new grain elevators in Alberta.

Wetaskiwin and Stettler County facilities are in full operation while Irricana will begin receiving grain shortly.

This will mean a total six G3 elevators will operate in Alberta with Carmangay and Morinville opening earlier this year and Vermilion under construction and due to open in 2021. In Saskatchewan, the Swift Current facility is under construction and will also open next year.

The new elevators feature the same high-efficiency infrastructure where trucks can unload grain in less than five minutes. Trains up to 150 cars can load in continuous motion on the loop track in a matter of hours. The elevators ship grain to G3 Terminal Vancouver.

Plans for grand opening events at the new facilities were set aside for the time being due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF