Category: Ag Policy

The new code of practice being developed for grain farms across Canada is aimed at proactively building public trust, potentially mitigating the need for increased paperwork and regulations down the road, according to the vice-chair of the Canada Grains Council. The voluntary code of practice — being created by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops... Read More

The chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is stepping down from the post. Patti Miller will be leaving the federal department that regulates Canada’s grain industry in June, according to the federal agriculture minister's office. “As Commissioner Patti Miller is retiring, I would like to thank her for her service to Canada," says... Read More

The Port of Vancouver enables the trade of approximately $200 billion in goods, and sustains $11.9 billion in GDP across Canada. It's forecasted to grow at about 3.5 per cent annually, and there is much to do to prepare for that level of growth. "We're very busy — have been very busy, looking 10-20 years... Read More

Fast forward 20 years to the year 2040. What will the world look like from a geopolitical perspective? The U.S. and China will still be locked in a "strategic competition" of some form says Jacob Shapiro, director of analysis for Geopolitical Futures, a Texas-based company that provides analysis on geopolitical trends. "I don't see a... Read More

There were celebratory handshakes and hugs among staff and farmers on the steering committee after the results of the Manitoba farm group amalgamation vote were announced last week at CropConnect. Among the crowd, standing nearby with a relieved grin on his face, was a farmer from southern Manitoba who led a public campaign to unite... Read More

National hog and poultry groups are welcoming proposed legislation aimed at mitigating animal health risks from trespassers on farms. Conservative shadow minister for agriculture and Foothills MP John Barlow introduced Bill C-205 on Tuesday. The private member's bill would make it an offence under the Health of Animals Act to enter, without lawful authority or... Read More

A Conservative Member of Parliament from southern Ontario tabled legislation in the House of Commons on Tuesday that would remove the carbon tax from fuels used for drying grain and heating on farms. The private member's bill, which would amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, was introduced by Philip Lawrence, MP for Northumberland—Peterborough South.... Read More

Canada's current bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) status, as defined by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), is "controlled risk." Canada was eligible to apply to downgrade its risk status last summer; however, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it's on track to submit for "negligible risk" status by July of this year. "The U.S.... Read More

Five Manitoba farm groups have voted in favour of amalgamating into one entity known as the Manitoba Crop Alliance. Farmer members of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC), Winter Cereals Manitoba, Inc. (WCMI), and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) passed a... Read More

The Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) recently surprised many in the industry with its immediate withdrawal from the Grain Growers of Canada. While the exit itself bears dissecting, the underlying — and growing — discontent with the federal agriculture department requires just as much discussion. Markus Haerle is the chair of GFO and a grain... Read More