It's been approximately two months since drought relief programs were announced for Prairie livestock producers struggling to find feed supplies to maintain their herds. RealAgriculture spoke with representatives from the three Prairie provinces to get an update on the number of applications they've received and the amounts that have been paid out. Alberta Alberta has... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has unveiled a 39-person cabinet for the next parliament. There are some new faces, but plenty of familiar ones as well, including Marie-Claude Bibeau, who returns as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Mary Robinson, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), says she's pleased with the news of Minister Bibeau's... Read More
Despite major concerns from farmers, the European Union's proposed Farm to Fork strategy received a show of support from members of the European Parliament last week. The policy, which the European Commission says is aimed at making the EU's food systems "fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly," would introduce significant restrictions to the amount of pesticides, fertilizers,... Read More
Drought by definition, we can likely agree on. But take it on a case by case scenario, and you quickly realize it can mean a million different things. Everyone has a different perspective of dry, and that perception can change depending what year of drought it is. On a grain and oilseed farm, there is... Read More
What's potentially on the desk for the next agriculture minister? What should be in the new Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's mandate letter? Host Kelvin Heppner is joined by Tyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, for this episode of RealAg Politics. McCann recently wrote his own mandate letter of what... Read More
The advent of a global pandemic certainly added volume to the narrative that local equals resilient when it comes to economies, especially food-related economic systems. But Jayson Lusk, food and agricultural economist at Purdue University, says that evidence suggests otherwise, and that a vibrant trade economy actually adds resiliency to local economies. To demonstrate his... Read More
Canada's economy is recovering during the prolonged impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, albeit slowly. Ted Mallett, director of economic forecasting with the Conference Board of Canada, points to several positive signs and circumstances to the recovery. For one, the economy has grown this year, about five per cent, however there is ground to make up,... Read More
Throughout this past summer, Senator Rob Black spent time away from the Senate touring farms and agricultural facilities across Canada. The reasoning? To learn more about agriculture's work, industry concerns, pandemic challenges, and opportunities for the future, as Senator Black has a focus on agriculture and agri-food, rural spaces, and youth in the Senate. "If... Read More
The Canadian government is counting on a 30 per cent reduction in emissions from nitrogen fertilizer by 2030 to reach its international climate change commitments, but unless there are changes to the way emissions are calculated, it appears farming practices that are proven to reduce emissions from fertilizer would not be counted toward meeting the... Read More
Fertilizer Canada has released details of a report, compiled by Meyers Norris Penny (MNP), that aims to outline the significant impact a regulated reduction in nitrogen fertilizer use would have on farmers' bottom lines. The Government of Canada has announced an "aspirational" goal of 30 per cent absolute emissions reduction target for on-farm fertilizer use... Read More