A resolution from the dispute panel regarding dairy tariff rate quota (TRQ) allocations has been reached, and the news is a bit, well, divisive. The panel's decision includes the statement that because Canada's reserving of access of 85 to 100 per cent of 14 separate TRQs for Canadian processors is "inconsistent with Article 3.A.2.11 (b),"... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Both Canada and the U.S. are claiming victory in a panel ruling that upheld Canada's supply management system for dairy, but found Canada's handling of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for processors in violation of Article 3 of the United States Canada Mexico Agreement (USMCA). The dispute is the first test of the USMCA agreement for... Read More
Along with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Merrick Garland, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted a roundtable to address consolidation in the meat industry and the impacts on the cattle sector. President Biden opened the roundtable, held January 3, 2022, by mentioning the 50-14 proposed legislation by Tester/Grassley; how... Read More
You're out in a piece of new machinery and something in the computer system breaks down. Are you equipped to fix it? Do you have the right to repair it? Geoff Backman, manager of business development and markets at the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, says farmers' frustrations continue to grow as they don't have... Read More
Kody Blois, Liberal Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants, N.S., was recently named chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food in the House of Commons. Blois joined RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney to break down the context of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, and what kind of work they do. "We're parliamentarians... Read More
AgriStability, the whole farm, business risk management program has been in place for Canadian farmers for 16 years. In that time, it's been maligned and criticized, and it continues to be subject to an ongoing tug-of-war between federal and provincial politicians. But with a new ag policy framework to be unveiled for 2023, changes to... Read More
Former federal Agriculture Minister Bob Speller has passed away at the age of 66. Speller (above left) was named Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food by Prime Minister Paul Martin in December 2003, during the Canadian cattle industry's BSE crisis. He passed away on Dec. 16 at a care facility near Waterford, Ontario, following an illness.... Read More
Farmers Edge has announced the creation of DigiAg Risk Management Inc., a subsidiary of Farmers Edge. This new unit will provide farmers across Canada with parametric insurance products, risk transfer solutions, and group benefits, the company says. DigiAg is the sole managing general agency (MGA) with access to proprietary, field-centric datasets coming directly from broadacre... Read More
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued mandate letters to his ministers, outlining the Liberal government's priorities for the session of Parliament that started last month. The letters were made public on Thursday (Dec. 16), 51 days after the cabinet was sworn in, and the second last day of sitting in the House of Commons before... Read More
2021 has been a tough weather year. From prolonged drought and excessive heat, to the flooding witnessed in recent weeks in British Columbia — weather disasters have had a tremendous impact on Canadian farms and agriculture businesses. Erik Davies, from Barefoot Consulting, has spent his career working on disaster recovery and risk management issues. Last... Read More