By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday August 15, 2023

Aug 15, 2023 | 1:15 PM

Some advocates say expanding the amount of irrigation used in Canada could help farmers weather droughts associated with climate change.

Irrigation has been used for more than 100 years in semi-arid parts of Alberta.

The province has a network of man-made canals and pipelines that transport water to farmers’ fields in its driest regions.

Now, the province and federal government are spending $932 million to modernize and expand some of that irrigation infrastructure.

Agriculture Canada predicts the changing climate will mean increased reliance on irrigation in years to come, even in parts of the country that haven’t traditionally needed it.

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But skeptics point out that the heavy use of irrigation can reduce the amount of water available for other purposes and can lead to soil problems such as increased salinity.

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Saputo Inc. has pushed back the target date to reach its earnings forecast amid flagging consumer demand for milk products across the globe.

In first-quarter financial results the dairy giant said it no longer expects to achieve its annual goal of $2.13 billion in earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortization by March 2025.

CEO Lino Saputo sought to assure industry watchers that the most difficult stages on the operational level are near completion.

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Rogers Sugar Inc. said it plans to spend $200 million to grow its production capacity at its plant in Montreal to help meet increased demand in Eastern Canada.

The company said the plan will increase production capacity at the plant by about 20 per cent or 100,000 tonnes a year.

The project includes an expansion of refining capacity with new sugar refining equipment and construction of a new bulk rail loading section in Montreal.

The company will also expand its logistics and storage capacity in the Greater Toronto Area.

Rogers Sugar says the increased production and logistics capacity is expected to be in service in about two years.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW