The Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference kicked off today in Toronto, Ont., with an opening address by Ontario's minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, Jeff Leal. RealAgriculture's Shaun Haney is at the conference, and managed a quick interview with minister Leal following his address. Below Haney asks about farmer competitiveness in the face of... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
You can't turn on a U.S. news program and avoid witnessing the political polarization of America in front of your eyes. The current presidential election between Trump and Clinton has been like no other, and the debate last Monday was just one example. Although you wouldn't know it from the mainstream media coverage, both candidates... Read More
Manitoba's provincial farm group is miffed the province is being left out of the House of Commons Agriculture Committee's upcoming consultations for the next agricultural policy framework. With the current Growing Forward 2 framework set to expire in early 2018, MPs on the ag committee are planning to tour the country seeking input for the... Read More
Ontario’s focus on the environmental side of farming has just been underlined and intensified, even more. With the midpoint mandate of her provincial government having been reached, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne put pen to paper last week to help guide both new and established ministers on the next part of their journey. Her mission was... Read More
Last week, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) released its report of and 21 recommendations for changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program. While the program applies to any industry in Canada, it is largely used by the farming and agriculture processing... Read More
A private member's bill entitled the "Modernizing Animal Protections Act" will receive second reading on September 28, 2016. The bill is set for a vote in Canada's House of Commons late next week. While the off-the-hop goals of avoiding shark harvesting in Canadian waters and shutting down puppy mills seem in line with the title,... Read More
A corridor that stretches from the Canadian Prairies to South Dakota is poised to lead the world in plant-based protein production and innovation, with the most secure supply and lowest environmental footprint, say the organizers behind the "Protein Highway" concept. The initiative was inspired during a meeting hosted by Canadian Governor General David Johnston in... Read More
Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government has made some big changes in the boardroom of the province's agriculture insurance and lending agency. With the exception of one director, the NDP-appointed board for the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) has been replaced. Jim Wilson, a grain farmer and accountant from Darlingford, has been named the new chair of... Read More
China has loosened its restrictions on imports of Canadian beef, coinciding with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Ottawa this week. The premier announced Wednesday that China will begin accepting bone-in beef from Canadian cattle under 30 months of age — effective immediately — for the first time since BSE was found in Canada in... Read More
The Prime Minister says a deal has been reached with China to maintain Canadian canola exports into early 2020. "This is great news for our Canadian canola farmers. Our progress on this file goes to show how two countries willing to collaborate can solve difficult challenges together," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking Thursday morning... Read More