Recently, the federal government released "emergency" rules regarding recreational use of drones (UAVs), significantly restricting where and when drones could be used. Citing a 200% increase in commercial flight incidents with drones in just two years, the transport minister says the new rules begin immediately, with fines of up to $3,000 for violations. Commercial drone... Read More
Category: Agriculture Policy
The Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) has a long track record of providing leadership for the seed industry – from setting national standards for seed purity, to managing the seed certification process, and advocating for its seed-growing members. But the seed industry’s regulatory and certification programs are about to undergo some changes. Two years ago... Read More
Markets move up and down on news, anticipation and results. The currency market has some somewhat predictable drivers of the value of a given country's currency. This past week, the United States Federal Reserve raised interest rates 0.25% and the impact in the Canadian Dollar value against the US dollar was a head scratcher. Although... Read More
Pam de Rocquigny, is the newly minted general manager of both the Manitoba Corn Growers Association and the Manitoba Wheat & Barley Growers Association, the first time the groups have hired joint management for the groups. The former provincial cereal specialist spoke with Kelvin Heppner at the recent CropConnect conference to discuss the transition from... Read More
The 11 remaining countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership met on the sidelines of Asia Pacific trade talks in Chile yesterday to discuss the future of the TPP now that the U.S. has withdrawn. "The participating partners reiterated their firm commitment to collaborate in keeping markets open and to the free flow of goods, services and... Read More
These are busy times in the federal trade department, as Global Affairs Canada is acting on several key trade files. Trade Minister François-Philippe Champagne is in Chile this week to discuss the possibility of an Asia-Pacific trade deal now that the U.S. has withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP.) Just last week, the department opened... Read More
What happens when a supplier and a processor can't agree to a contract? In some cases, the parties walk away from the deal. In others, such as is usually the case between Ontario's processing-vegetable growers and processors, there's a set out and agreed upon mediation process. If that doesn't result in a deal, the parties... Read More
The Western Wheat Growers Association (WCWGA) delegates gathered in Saskatoon recently to discuss issues, policies, and provide guidance to each other. As luck would have it, Shaun Haney met with former WCWGA president Cherilyn Nagel at the recent Advancing Women in Agriculture conference. Nagel and Haney sat down to talk about the convention and some... Read More
Trade has become the talk on all news programs and in coffee shops across not just Canada, but all of North America. America's Trump administration has promised it will improve current deals and strike new bilateral agreements around the world, creating opportunities and challenges for Canada. With the impending NAFTA renegotiation being a hot topic,... Read More
The CEO of one of Canada's largest grain companies is "very optimistic" a timely resolution will be reached to maintain Canadian pulse crop shipments to India. A looming change to India's phytosanitary policy for pulse imports effective April 1 has left sales to Canada's largest pulse export market in limbo over the last few weeks.... Read More