Wheat and barley grower organizations from across Western Canada are trying to figure out how to move forward with farmer involvement in variety development. The transitional Western Canadian wheat and barley check-offs implemented by the federal government with the end of the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly in 2012 are set to expire in 2017. The... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Last week I attended the Alberta Federation of Agriculture (AFA) annual meeting. Across Canada there are several general farm organizations that attempt to tackle the issues impacting farmers as a whole. Ontario has the OFA, Manitoba has KAP and Saskatchewan has APAS — all speaking for farmers, but with different representation and funding models. I... Read More
Canada's international trade minister says Canada intends to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement in New Zealand on February 4, while emphasizing "signing does not equal ratifying" the TPP. Chrystia Freeland posted an open letter on her department's website earlier today indicating "when the 11 other countries convene to sign the agreement next week, Canada will... Read More
A recent spurt of colder weather in Ontario is bad news for pests and good news for farmers, says OMAFRA Field Entomologist Tracey Baute. “It makes entomologists a little nervous, especially when we don't see winter arriving until mid January,” says Baute who’s concerned that the warm fall and late-arriving winter of 2016 will mean... Read More
After implementing restrictions on the use of corn and soybean seed treatments last summer, the Ontario government is now seeking public feedback on a "Pollinator Health Action Plan." The plan is seen as the third component in the province's pollinator health strategy, with the other two pillars being restrictions on neonicotinoid seed treatments and the... Read More
We're talking about everything from the state of the US and Canadian economies to SaskCanola's effort to share how many farmers view modern ag technology through the "License to Farm" film. After spending most of the week at Ag Days in Brandon, Kelvin Heppner host of this week's news podcast and is joined by a... Read More
Health Canada has issued notice it intends to stop granting new conditional registrations for pesticides as of June 1st, 2016. "The Government of Canada is committed to making regulatory decisions that are open and transparent, which is why we have decided to discontinue the use of conditional registrations," said Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, earlier... Read More
Manitoba farmers will see their crop insurance coverage increase by an average of seven percent while average premiums per acre will decrease by four percent in 2016. Manitoba Ag Minister Ron Kostyshyn made his annual crop insurance program announcements at Manitoba Ag Days on Tuesday, the last day before the pre-election blackout on Manitoba government... Read More
Alberta's Crop Sector Working Group (CSWG) is encouraging farmers, ranchers and their employees to participate in an online survey surrounding Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. “The survey is designed to acquire productive, on-farm feedback relating to Bill 6,” said Kent Erickson, chairman of the Alberta Wheat Commission, in a... Read More
The majority of Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission members at the group's annual meeting in Saskatoon on Wednesday voted in favour of a resolution to join Cereals Canada. The commission is notably absent from the list of producer organizations that are already members of the national group that aims to "ensure a profitable and vibrant future... Read More