The Canadian economy has been healthy as of late, which has many farmers with higher debt levels somewhat concerned about interest rate increases in the near future. Farmers have enjoyed a low interest rate environment for quite some time, but the reality is - the Bank of Canada has some some decisions to make. Additionally... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Last week when Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall announced he is retiring from public politics, ag twitter exploded with an outpouring of kind words and mentions of sorrow that the unofficial leader of conservatives across from Western Canada will no longer be there to represent them. So what is it? Why did Premier Brad Wall have... Read More
As the clash between the U.S. and Canadian dairy industries escalates in the NAFTA talks, Dairy Farmers of Canada has found some allies in U.S. dairy outside of the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the National Milk Federation. In the National Post on Friday, Darin Von Ruden, who has a 50-cattle, multi-generational farm and heads... Read More
With the NAFTA renegotiations starting this week, officials with the U.S. National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) were in Calgary for the Canadian Beef Industry Conference, showing their support for the relationship between the two countries. Representatives from both the Canadian Cattlemen's Association and NCBA plan on heading to Washington for the anticipating beginning of the... Read More
Trade and market access are always major topics at cattle industry meetings, but with the renegotiation of NAFTA becoming reality, there was a little extra emphasis on the politics of trade this week at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Calgary. If there were any questions about how unified cattle producer groups from Canada, the... Read More
Canada has its sacred cow with milk. That's well known, but what about the U.S. point of view? Why's the American dairy industry so set on at least cracking the pillars of Canada's dairy supply management? The U.S. dairy market is over supplied, and boosting export demand is a solution. It's very similar to how... Read More
As NAFTA negotiations begin on Wednesday, there's no question dairy is one of the few agricultural issues where there's a serious conflict between Canadian and American objectives. On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland released Canada's list of demands, with protection of supply management for dairy and poultry on the list. Freeland made it clear... Read More
Canada’s heading into the NAFTA renegotiation next week, but a deal that hasn’t been discussed a lot lately is the Trans-Pacific Partnership — and why is that? The U.S. pulled out of TPP and left eleven remaining countries. Canada has participated in all of the meetings post-U.S. pulling out. The Canadian govenrment has provided a... Read More
It's been over 20 years since most of today's rules on government agriculture support aimed at reducing trade distorting programs were agreed to in the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Agriculture. Over time, countries have adapted and found ways to circumvent limits and continue providing support to domestic... Read More
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers is extending the temporary reduction of the levy it collects on pulses and soybeans grown in the province for another year, as it draws down its surplus accumulated with record pulse acres and strong prices in recent years. SPG reduced its non-refundable checkoff from 1 to 0.67% of gross sales on August... Read More