With 1.38 billion people and a growing economy, it's impossible to ignore the opportunity in exporting to China. But the opportunity is not without obstacles, with concerns about the communist country's process for regulatory approval, human rights, and lack of accountability in protecting intellectual property rights. The Hon. Stockwell Day was Canada's Minister of International... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government introduced new legislation on Thursday aimed at protecting wetlands, while simplifying minor drainage maintenance. The Sustainable Watersheds Act also lays the foundation for an ecological goods and services program that would see farmers receive incentives for implementing best management practices that are in the public good, such as grassland and wetland... Read More
For as long as we have a supply management system, there will be debates about whether or not we should keep it. The line between for and against is predictable: dairy, egg, chicken, and turkey farmers and those with collective-leaning politics want to keep it, non-supply-managed farmers and free-market thinkers want it gone. Or so... Read More
The European Commission has granted a new five-year licence for glyphosate, with Germany breaking a stalemate that would have seen the herbicide de-authorized in less than three weeks. After falling short of the qualified majority needed for glyphosate's renewal earlier this fall, an appeals committee approved a five-year licence on Monday, with 18 countries voting... Read More
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced six programs that will receive a total of $1 billion in federal funding under the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) at Agribition in Regina on Friday. The six programs to be offered under the new agricultural policy framework slated to begin on April 1, 2018 are named: AgriMarketing, AgriCompetitiveness,... Read More
For decades, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture has provided pointed advice to provincial politicians seeking to win power in the country's most populous province. Typically, the provincial farm organization could be counted on to lobby for infrastructure investment and renewed commitment to support stronger risk management and cutting red tape. Those issues are still priorities,... Read More
As round five of the NAFTA talks comes to a close in Mexico, it seems that the negotiating logjam is unchanged, at least on the surface. This round held did not include ministers, so it was more technical in nature, which created the opportunity for details. It sounds like Canada and Mexico have changed their... Read More
With taxation troubles, trade missteps and realigning political forces across Canada’s political landscape, it appears Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s love-in with Canadians is drawing to a close. That’s the view National Post columnist Andrew Coyne shared with 500 delegates attending the Grain World conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba last week. Trudeau has had a couple of... Read More
Editor's note: This letter was submitted by Jeff Nonay in response to a column written by Shaun Haney that was published on Nov. 13th. Nonay and his wife Coralee own and operate Lakeside Dairy, a diversified farming operation near Edmonton, Alberta bringing to market milk, beef, grain and seed potatoes. In your recent post “Hey... Read More
India’s decision to add a 50 percent import duty on peas is designed to help the country become self-sufficient in pulses, and the government appears to be steadfast in its commitment, says one of India's largest international pulse brokers. Anurag Tulshan, managing director of Esarco Exim Pvt Ltd, told delegates attending the Grain World conference... Read More