The threat of retaliation from Canada and Mexico is forcing American lawmakers and farm groups to weigh whether it's worth maintaining the mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) rules for meat. The American Farm Bureau Federation, which describes itself as the largest general farm organization in the U.S., announced Wednesday it has decided to back... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Yesterday, Ontario's legislature passed Bill 40 — Agriculture Insurance Act, 2015 — which will allow for more types of agricultural products to be covered by the province's production insurance program. Production insurance is part of the business risk management programs (RMP) designed to help farmers manage losses due to events beyond their control, such as... Read More
The Canadian Pork Council has published a study outlining not only what Canadian hog producers stand to gain from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but more significantly, what the Canadian hog sector would lose if Canada isn’t part of the multi-lateral trade deal. While the TPP negotiations currently include 12 countries, for Canadian hog producers, the deal... Read More
The Senate's Standing Committee on Agriculture released its much-anticipated report on bee health today. Entitled The Importance of Bee Health to Sustainable Food Production in Canada, the document highlights the complexity of bee health, and the many factors influencing it, while providing a list of recommendations the committee believes are necessary for improving bee health.... Read More
It's not often that I can't find the answers I need. After all, growing crops and sharing information about growing crops is the part of this job I love the most (hello, total agronomy geek up in here!). I'm always willing to dig deep to get the answers farmers need. So it's difficult for me... Read More
Canadian wheat sales into the U.S. have grown since the end of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly in 2012, but there are still obstacles for American wheat growers interested in marketing their crop north of the border. Under the Canada Grains Act, as it stands right now, U.S. wheat delivered to Canadian elevators automatically receives... Read More
Proclaiming dairy, or any sector for that matter, “today’s greatest business opportunity,” is bold indeed. But that was the way dairy was positioned at a huge animal feed symposium that concluded last week at Alltech's world headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky. Using milk as an example, participants at various sessions at the symposium heard how dairy... Read More
New appointments to the province's Ontario Pesticide Advisory Committee (OPAC) have got at least one farm group calling foul — yet again — on Ontario's government. The committee's purpose is to "annually reviews the content and operation of the Pesticides Act and its regulations and recommends changes or amendments" to the minister of environment and... Read More
Canada's fight against U.S. country of origin labeling rules for meat highlights an inconsistency in the Canadian position on the treatment of foreign agricultural products, say two organizations representing American wheat growers and industry. U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers sent a letter to Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International... Read More
It's a topic that fires up debate, almost as hotly contested as issues around pesticides or antibiotics. Should farmland ownership be restricted to prevent foreign ownership or open to all investors? As of today, the consultation process on farmland ownership in Saskatchewan has started, allowing all interested parties to voice their opinions on farmland ownership... Read More