By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Aug 14, 2024 | 10:08 AM

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has a new deputy minister.

Lawrence Hanson was chosen to replace Stefanie Beck as the top bureaucrat in the federal agriculture department effective June 3.

Hanson is currently associate deputy minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. He previously served as associate deputy minister in the department of Fisheries and Oceans, and as assistant deputy at Transport Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political studies from the University of Saskatchewan and a master’s degree in political science from the University of British Columbia.

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Honey producers in Saskatchewan say 2024 is not looking sweet.

Gary Keller of Keller’s Bee Happy Honey said bees had a hard time collecting nectar and pollen due to the cold and wet spring, and the hot summer meant a short blooming window for canola flowers.

Andrew Hamilton of Hamilton Apiaries said his business produces 200 pounds of honey per colony during a normal year, but this year he expects it to be down by at least half.

An agriculture specialist for the Saskatchewan government said bee diseases have also been cropping up more.

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Saputo Inc. reported a profit of $142 million in its latest quarter as its revenue rose nearly 10 per cent compared with a year ago.

The cheese and dairy company said the profit amounted to 33 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30 compared with a profit of $141 million.

Revenue totalled $4.61 billion for what was the first quarter of the company’s 2025 financial year, up from $4.21 billion in the same quarter last year.

The company said the results reflected a continued solid performance by its Canadian business, meaningful improvements in the U.S. and higher sales volumes across its operations.

Saputo chair and CEO Lino Saputo said the company remains optimistic heading into the balance of the year as it continues to make progress on its strategic plan.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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