The Canadian canola industry's goal of 26 million tonnes of sustainable production by 2025 got a $19 million boost today with a joint federal and industry funding announcement made during CropSphere 2015. Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was on hand at Saskatoon, Sask., to announce $9.5 million of funding aimed at further market development and... Read More
Category: Agriculture Policy
If Ottawa squandered $870,000 on some meaningless or questionable initiative, media and other critics would climb down politicians’ throats. But when it decides to do something good for farmers, for the nation and even for the world with that amount of money – such as Tuesday’s funding announcement for research into what are called “pulse”... Read More
Today, in Saskatatoon, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced that Pulse Canada will receive an investment of over $3.3 million for projects addressing sustainability, pulse demand and trade. "This Government remains committed to the economy, and our hard-working pulse growers play a vital role in creating jobs and keeping our economy strong.," said Ritz. "We are... Read More
Canadian rail companies' concerns that legislation passed by the federal government in 2014 would open the Western Canadian grain market to "poaching" by U.S. railways appear to be unfounded so far, much to the dismay of farmers and farm organizations hoping for increased competition for Canadian National and Canadian Pacific railways. With the passage of... Read More
In less than 20 years, there will be no farmers or ranchers under the age of 35 left in the state of Wyoming, according to a study published in the U.S. journal Rangelands last week. Researchers analyzed demographic trends among farm and ranch operators in the state from 1920 to 2007, and as you would... Read More
Every five years the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is reviewed, updated and re-published, an endeavour involving collaboration between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This year, those guidelines might recommend Americans change their diets for the sake of sustainability. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee held its... Read More
The amount of data we can collect on farms has grown exponentially over the last decade or two. Whether it’s through yield monitors, images captured by satellites or drones, smartphone apps or RFID sensors, our ability to track and record what’s happening has come a long way from the pocketbooks of earlier generations. And there’s... Read More
Barley and oat farmers in Ontario have voted in favour of being represented by Grain Farmers of Ontario. “We are pleased to announce that barley and oat production in Ontario is anticipated to be represented by Grain Farmers of Ontario by July 1, 2015,” says Barry Senft, CEO of Grain Farmers of Ontario. The Ontario... Read More
Livestock producers in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, who faced forage shortfalls due to extreme weather events this last year, will be allowed to defer tax on their cattle sales for 2014, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. There is a list of designated regions where tax deferrals have been authorized for 2014 — see... Read More
It's no wonder that Western Canada is watching what's unfolding in Ontario closely. That province's government's move to closely regulate neonicotinoid seed treatments, even after changes in corn and soybean planting showed significant reductions in bee health risk, has many in the agriculture industry wondering what this means for pesticide access moving forward. In this... Read More