Early reports today that China would fully re-open its market to all Canadian canola are not correct, according to both the Canola Council of Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Today marks four years since Canada signed an MOU with China on the blackleg issue. Discussion this week between China and Canada have been centred... Read More
Category: Agriculture Policy
It's been an eventful start for the new president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA), as Bob Lowe, a rancher from southern Alberta, was elected to lead the national cattle producer group earlier this month. Lowe, who takes over from David Haywood-Farmer, joined us on RealAg Radio on Rural Radio 147 last week to discuss... Read More
With everything currently going on in the world, no one is short of questions — especially in the agricultural sector. Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Marie-Claude Bibeau joined RealAgriculture's Shaun Haney to answer some of the questions you as listeners and readers have asked over the course of the last few days. Check out... Read More
Canada's domestic food and agriculture supply chains have been put to the test and (the hoarding of toilet paper, flour, and meat notwithstanding) held up exceptionally well under the sudden panic-buying ahead of the COVID-19 self-isolation directive. Al Mussell, research lead with Agri-Food Economic Systems, says that these supply chains have proven to have a... Read More
Canada has a new ambassador to the United States. Kirsten Hillman, who has been serving as acting ambassador to the U.S. since August 2019, has been appointed to the key diplomatic post, announced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday. "Today, we are announcing Kirsten Hillman as our country’s next ambassador to the United States. When... Read More
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic ban began impacting trade flows out — and in — to China and other overseas markets, Canada's railways were struggling to catch up from a challenging shipping season. An 8-day strike, closed western lines due to slides, and then the blockades in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en people of B.C., meant... Read More
Agriculture is a highly competitive global industry that many times receives special attention from governments around the world to ensure farmers survive. This support, of course, takes many forms: subsidies and protectionism, or a commitment to research and export market development. For the past three years North American farmers have been dealing with scarce profits... Read More
The last three years in agriculture have been trying times from a profitability perspective, and through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) American producers have received financial assistance in the form of a direct payment for the past two years. Many policy followers suggested that with 2020 being an election year and the Phase One deal... Read More
Update, as of 11pm EDT Friday, March 20: The Canadian government confirmed late Friday that it will be exempting seasonal agricultural workers from the travel restrictions put in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. "The participation of temporary foreign workers on our farms and our food businesses is absolutely necessary," says Minister of... Read More
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau have rolled out a series of economic measures to assist Canadian workers and business owners in dealing with the realities of COVID-19. Agriculture was mentioned as the Prime Minister said, "for farmers and our primary food producers we will boost Farm Credit Canada." “For farmers and... Read More