For the better part of the last two decades, commodity markets have become accustomed to demand growth from China supporting prices. Whether it was iron ore from Australia or soybeans from the U.S., sales to China grew year-over-year. However, it's becoming increasingly likely that those days are over. Headlines over the last few week to... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
SaskPulse members in attendance at the organization's annual general meeting in Saskatoon on Monday voted in favour of making the group's levy refundable. Established in 1984, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers is funded by a non-refundable check-off of one per cent of the gross value of all pulses marketed at the first point of sale — the... Read More
It’s been a good news week for Grain Farmers of Ontario chair Mark Brock. But he’s unsure how positive reports on the impacts neonicotinoid seed treatments have on pollinators will affect provincial grain farmers. Earlier this week, reports from Health Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) delivered a one-two punch supporting the embattled... Read More
J.P. Gervais, chief agricultural economist for Farm Credit Canada, in conversation with RealAgriculture's Debra Murphy at the 2015 Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association Conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (before mCOOL was repealed). 2015 saw some pretty incredible market pressures in the livestock sector, amidst overarching trade stories with the ongoing battle over country-of-origin labeling and the... Read More
South Korea has lifted its temporary ban on imports of beef and veal from Canada, effective December 30, 2015. The country, which was Canada's sixth-largest market for beef in 2014, suspended imports following the detection of BSE in an Alberta cow in February of 2015. “Resumption of access to South Korea is important for Canada’s... Read More
Over 100 adults and children are lost to agricultural fatalities on an average year in Canada. And though that number has started to drop in recent years, there is still much to be done to promote farm safety, particularly around machinery. Check Out All Our Kickin’ Tires Podcast Episodes In this episode of Kickin Tires,... Read More
The Hon. Gerry Ritz served as Canada’s agriculture minister for eight years — from the summer of 2007 to the fall of 2015. Not everybody agreed with his politics or his personality, but there’s no question Ritz had a big impact on the direction of Canadian agriculture. From ending the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly to... Read More
The highly anticipated amendments to The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act will come into effect January 4, 2016. “The people of Saskatchewan provided very clear direction during the consultation process,” Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart said in a release. “The legislation reflects the views of Saskatchewan residents, provides clarity around farmland ownership and gives the Farm Land... Read More
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack declared on Friday afternoon that “effective immediately” the U.S. Department of Agriculture would not be enforcing country of origin labeling rules for beef and pork. It’s been over seven years since American packers were forced to segregate Canadian animals and meat. How quickly can they go back to operating how... Read More
After 13-plus years of opposition — the last seven of those in legal and trade disputes, Canadian livestock producers and their organizations are celebrating the end of U.S. country of origin labeling legislation for beef and pork today. Both the U.S. House and Senate voted in favour of the omnibus appropriations bill that includes text... Read More