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TORONTO — The head of Maple Leaf Foods Inc. said he's confident the company has "all the building blocks in place" for success as markets normalize.

The unprecedented volatility in fertilizer markets that’s contributed to Nutrien Ltd.'s lower earnings so far this year is stabilizing, said chief executive Ken Seitz. "Much of that is behind us," said Seitz in an interview Thursday.

MONTREAL — Saputo Inc. says it is closing its facility in Lancaster, Wis., and plans to move production to another location in the state. The Montreal-based company says about 100 employees will be affected by the decision.

SASKATOON — Nutrien Ltd. says it earned US$82 million in the third quarter, down from US$1.6 billion a year earlier. The Saskatoon-based company, which is the world's largest fertilizer producer, says sales were US$5.

OTTAWA — The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council says labour shortages cost the agriculture sector $3.5 billion in sales in 2022. Research by the Conference Board of Canada on behalf of the council found the sector has a vacancy rate of 7.

FREDERICTON — Extreme weather caused by climate change — droughts followed by heavy rains — wreaked havoc with the pumpkin harvest across Canada this year. Nova Scotia pumpkin farmer Danny Dill said the spring planting season was extremely dry.

CALGARY — It could be a long, lean winter in cattle country as drought-ravaged western Canadian ranchers struggle to secure feed to get their livestock through the cold months.

MONTREAL — The federal government has instructed workers and management in the St. Lawrence Seaway strike to sit down with a mediator this Friday and hash out their differences, as groups ranging from grain farmers to steelmakers feel the squeeze.

OTTAWA — The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute is recommending that governments across the country develop a national plan to sustainably manage and use water for the agri-food sector.

CALGARY — The governments of Alberta and Canada are to provide $165 million to support livestock producers affected by drought and extreme weather conditions.