I never assume anyone knows where my hometown of Mitchell’s Bay (population: 350) is, unless they like to fish or hunt or boat, or come from deep in southwestern Ontario. So I was quite surprised when, on a plane to western Canada earlier this week, the 30-something man beside me from B.C. nodded in acknowledgement... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Earlier this month, Canadian fruit and vegetable processors or wholesalers lost preferred access to the United States Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). "Without PACA access, Canadian companies trying to recover unpaid bills will have to post double the value of what they are trying to recover as bond to make a claim," says Ron Lemaire,... Read More
The World Trade Organization has ruled against the United States once again in the ongoing dispute over American country of origin meat labeling (COOL) rules. Implemented in 2008, the Canadian government says COOL is costing Canadian cattle and hog producers a billion dollars per year. Legal Fight Against COOL Remains Alive, With WTO Ruling Coming... Read More
You're in town, enticed by the aroma of your favourite coffee joint, but you've forgotten your favourite reusable mug. Do you get a java to-go anyway? It's the middle of winter and you've just finished unloading your last grain bag. What do you do with the plastic? Every year, during the third week of October,... Read More
Farmers of North America is asking the federal government to hold off on privatizing the Canadian Wheat Board to give the Saskatoon-based farmer business alliance more time to pitch its plan for turning CWB into a farmer-owned grain company. FNA has held over 100 farmer meetings across Western Canada over the last month asking farmers... Read More
A federally funded focus group exercise held across the country last December named farmers as victims of classic stereotypes, and revealed how misconceptions continue to dominate people’s perceptions of agriculture. Notably, the focus group participants said they saw farming as shrinking, stuck in time, environmentally unfriendly and unlikely to be a family business for much... Read More
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Ed Fast were in Ottawa today to announce an expansion to Canadian beef and livestock producer export opportunities. Negotiations in Qatar have resulted in its approval of all beef imports from Canada, a significant step in a market that could reach $2 million annually, according to industry... Read More
Agricultural legislators from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico met in Chicago last week for the Tri-National Accord — an annual meeting of provincial, state and national delegates to discuss agricultural trade issues. U.S. country of origin labeling (COOL), the impact of PED virus on North American hog production and challenges with grain logistics were three... Read More
While it can be difficult to picture it from the middle of a wheat field in rural Saskatchewan, changes to the global economy have a very real impact at the field level...eventually. It's those big-picture economic forces that J.P Gervais, chief economist with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) will outline at his upcoming presentation at the... Read More
I was glad to see stories surface this week from scientists at the University of Guelph and elsewhere warning consumers to beware of restaurant food deep fried in oil. They carried out a study showing oil with too many miles on it in the deep fryer gives off some nasty compounds, even if the food... Read More