China agreed to expand access for Canadian beef and pork during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's trip to Beijing this week. After agreeing in-principle to allow imports of Canadian frozen bone-in beef last year, China committed to establishing the documentation requirements and fully implementing the 2016 bone-in beef agreement. A pilot project has also been established... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
In the first half of 2017, I repeatedly supported the Trudeau government on their trade strategy. They seemed to be focused on diversifying Canadian trade away from the U.S., altering the negotiation strategy based on the opponent, and establishing strong starts in Asia where the future global GDP growth will transpire. I have changed my... Read More
Farm groups were quick to show their support as Saskatchewan Environment Minister Dustin Duncan unveiled his government's "Made-in-Saskatchewan Climate Change Strategy" on Monday. The province says the plan is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change, without implementing a carbon tax. (Download the strategy text by clicking here.) “This plan is... Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) is welcoming the Ontario government's proposal to increase its ethanol mandate in gasoline from 5 to 10 percent in 2020. The province's environment ministry published draft amendments last week to update the renewable fuel regulations under the province's Environmental Protection Act. “We are pleased to see the Ontario government committed... Read More
The Chinese government could move forward on allowing imports of three canola traits that have been awaiting Chinese approval for five years during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit this week, according to a report from Global News. However, some canola seed industry stakeholders are skeptical that full approvals will be announced in the next few... Read More
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
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