The European Union has issued its long-awaited approval for three biotech traits in soybeans. Monsanto's Xtend and Vistive Gold traits, as well as Bayer's Balance GT soybeans, have been approved for import and food/feed use. Monsanto planned to introduce its dicamba and glyphosate-tolerant Xtend soybeans in Canada for the 2016 growing season, but seed was... Read More
Category: Agriculture Policy
The chips are down for milk producers in Europe, who are struggling to hang on as the continent deals with another milk glut. The European Union dropped its quota on milk production last year. When that happened, dairy producers upped their production. Now, Europe is swimming in the stuff. Farmers say they’re getting about 10... Read More
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay was in Calgary on Wednesday to announce up to $6.4 million over three years to promote Canadian beef. The funding will support Canada Beef's three-year market development and promotion plan, which targets regional hubs in Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America. “Canadian farmers and ranchers take pride in producing... Read More
It’s been more than a year since the Canadian government’s decision to implement UPOV ’91 standards for Plant Breeders’ Rights. When it was ratified, the seed industry touted the agreement as a significant driver of new investment in crop breeding and genetics for Canadian farmers. In this Wheat School episode, Real Agriculture resident agronomist Peter... Read More
Just ten days after Mexico announced it will drop its remaining import restrictions on Canadian beef, Taiwan has lifted its temporary ban on Canadian beef, effective July 8. The ban was issued following the February 2015 case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Alberta. "The Government of Canada welcomes the news of another restored market,"... Read More
With questions being asked about the future of the Canada-Europe trade agreement following the UK's vote to leave the European Union, the EU has laid out its plan to approve the deal. The European Commission on Tuesday formally proposed to the Council of the EU the signature and conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade... Read More
If agriculture wants to reduce the potential impact neonicotinoid seed treatments have on pollinators, it has to modify standard vacuum planters. That's the verdict from Ridgetown College, University of Guelph researcher Dr. Art Schaafsma. “Essentially, what we’ve created is a drift problem,” says Schaafsma, who spoke publicly about his research for the first time last... Read More
After a series of failed attempts by EU member states to reach a consensus to renew authorization for glyphosate, the European Union Commission plans to issue an 18 month extension for the popular herbicide. On Tuesday, just two days before EU authorization for glyphosate was set to expire, Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis committed to extending... Read More
As of October 1, 2016, Mexico will fully re-open its border to Canadian beef, ending one of the few trade restrictions that still remain from the initial discovery of a case of BSE in Canada in May 2003. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement in Ottawa on... Read More
Before applying a plant growth regulator containing chlormequat to wheat, make sure you've confirmed you have a buyer willing to purchase it, because most of the major grain companies say they won't. Potentially a valuable tool in reducing lodging, many growers are interested in applying Manipulator, a PGR introduced in Canada by Engage Agro in... Read More