While the COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything in modern-day history, commodity markets are — perhaps surprisingly — adjusting and adapting to the global market sell-off. In this interview (recorded Thursday, so keep that in mind on quoted numbers), RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney and Brian Voth with IntelliFarm break down what's going on in the... Read More
Category: Agriculture Policy
What a week. Frankly, the last week and even two weeks has been wild enough — let alone the last 24 hours — as the impact of COVID-19 makes its way into North American travel bans, the stock market, oil prices, the Canadian dollar and more. The volatility has been extreme. Anne Wasko, of the... Read More
Editor's note: Bill C-4 received Royal Assent Friday (see below). In the interest of expediency in the middle of the COVID-19 outbreak, Canada's House of Commons tabled a single motion to: adopt four bills, an opposition motion, cancel all committee meetings, and adjourn. The motion passed. Included in the list is Bill C-4, the bill... Read More
Reduced slaughter capacity, tanked prices, and capped risk management programs have beef farmers in Ontario going public asking the federal and provincial governments to do more to #HelpBeefFarmers. Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) says producers are at a "tipping point" and facing economic crisis. The group says market and trade disruptions have caused average weekly... Read More
Many of Canada's smaller farm equipment manufacturers are at risk of being left in the cold by the main U.S.-based manufacturers if the Canadian government doesn't change its intellectual property rules, say representatives from a Saskatchewan-based company that builds attachments for harvesting equipment. Honey Bee Manufacturing's general manager, Jamie Pegg, and Scott Smith, manager of... Read More
American president Donald Trump returned last month from a trip to India empty-handed in terms of any new trade deal. India and its prime minister, Narendra Modi, did roll out the red carpet for President Trump, which was topped off by a rally at a cricket stadium with over a hundred thousand people reportedly in... Read More
If the empty space on grocery store shelves that used to hold toilet paper and hand sanitizer are any indication, consumer panic has set in regarding the potential impact of coronavirus. While stocking up on essentials may be a predictable response, the effect this disease may have on domestic and international food supply chains is... Read More
Manitoba's government has revived its plan for a flat $25/tonne carbon tax, which will coincide with a one per cent drop in the provincial sales tax (PST) to take effect on July 1st. Premier Brian Pallister made the surprise announcement, referring to the carbon tax as a "Green Levy," on Thursday — a few days... Read More
If there's one thing farmers want less of, it's paperwork. However, in the current climate of "don't just say you're doing the right thing — prove it," verification programs and the corresponding administration are on the rise. Verification and best management practice programs are not new for Canadian farmers, from the Environmental Farm Plan, to... Read More
The oat market once again appears headed for a burdensome supply this fall, as strong prices through much of the winter have led growers to pencil more oats into their seeding plans for 2020. New crop prices have started dropping in recent weeks, but many growers on the eastern side of the Canadian Prairies signed... Read More