Agriculture

MONTREAL — An obscure but hard-fought — and hard-lobbied — battle over railway competition has steamed back to the surface.

British Columbia ostrich farmers ordered to cull a herd of 400 due to an avian flu outbreak are holding onto hope that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will change its mind before their kill date in just over two weeks.

Peter Simonsen says buds on the peach trees at his farm in Naramata, B.C., are already starting to swell early. But that makes him nervous.

The Canadian government has approved Bunge Ltd.'s US$8.2-billion acquisition of Viterra Ltd. in a decision that includes terms and conditions meant to allay concerns about competition.

CHARLOTTETOWN — Prince Edward Island's oyster industry is calling for more research and government action as a parasite spreads in the province's waters, threatening the world-renowned export.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Maple Leaf Foods Inc. is raising its quarterly dividend by nine per cent as it works to complete a spin off its pork business. The company says it will pay a quarterly dividend of 24 cents per share, up from 22 cents.

VANCOUVER — A pet food company in Oregon sent out a voluntary recall after a house cat died from eating its products, which tested positive for bird flu, and the company says the same contaminated batch was sold in British Columbia.

CALGARY — Jason Bradley spent 20 years of his career as ranch manager at a 50,000-acre grazing operation in west-central Alberta, so he understands why people react with skepticism to the idea of raising a herd of cattle on a working solar farm.

It was a Netflix documentary Michael Nantais watched during the early months of the pandemic that cemented his love of sustainable farming.

SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Saskatchewan's highest court has given a thumbs-down to an appeal in a legal case involving the use of an emoji.