We've now seen two deadlines for changes to AgriStability; one near the end of last year, and a public deadline that was set for the end of January for provinces to either agree or acknowledge that they were considering the proposal. Both deadlines have come and gone, which begs the question: where are we at... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
From business risk management fatigue, to the carbon tax, to adapting to changing labour demands, there's plenty to cover regarding Canadian policy right now. It may be February, but horticulture farms and businesses are trying hard to navigate ever-changing COVID-19 travel rules in an effort to bring employees to Canada. Plus, not one but two... Read More
It has been a really tough ninety days if you are a die-hard believer in the need to develop a code of practice for grain production in Canada. Although other agricultural sectors have had national codes for years, the concept has really struggled to gain support with grain farmers on the Prairies in and outside... Read More
Since the introduction of the draft Responsible Grain code of practice in late 2020, there have been farmers expressing their concerns and displeasure with the concept, based on numerous factors. There's been plenty of discussion on social media platforms regarding the code's intent, funding, and value to farmers. Given the feedback from farmers over the... Read More
At least two of the three Prairie provinces that have been holding out on accepting the federal government's offer to make changes to the AgriStability business risk management program say they're still considering the proposal. In mid-January, federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau gave the provinces a deadline for the end of the month to indicate... Read More
The growth of biofuels, the focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the Clean Fuel Standard could cost farmers more, but could also provide farmers with an opportunity to cash in on off-sets and expand markets for some crops. But the entire industry, regulations, and predicting the winners and losers is complex. To help navigate... Read More
On Thursday, Ryan Jespersen featured an hour dedicated to agricultural issues. The panel consisted of Alberta based beef and dairy farmer Jeff Nonay, Brittany Hennig, a MSc Student at the University of Alberta & Research Administration at Alberta Canola, and me. With a primarily urban audience, addressing agricultural issues on a show like this is... Read More
The group that has proposed the voluntary code of practice for grain farms across Canada has decided to adjust its timeline and hold another round of consultations in the fall of 2021. Consultations on the Responsible Grain draft code formally began in November 2020. Farmers participating in online or telephone consultation sessions over the past... Read More
One year in to navigating a global pandemic, it's clear that the economic health of consumers is ailing, but it's difficult to measure by how much; and until COVID-19 passes, any economic recovery in Canada is strained. "It's interesting, when we think back to a year ago, just before the pandemic really began to bear... Read More
The federal government plans to introduce draft regulations for its national greenhouse gas offset system in the next few weeks. Originally announced in the 2019 federal budget, the intent is to establish a framework for generating carbon offset credits, which can then be sold to help others meet their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets. The... Read More