Category: Ag Policy

Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada uses an airline analogy to try and paint the picture of what the western Canadian agriculture industry's logistics could look like. "If I'm on a plane bound for Europe, and I leave Winnipeg, routing through Toronto, and something happens while I'm in the air so that it means I... Read More

These are exciting times for farmers, as new cereal commissions, associations and industry groups crop up (sorry) offer farmers the chance to forge the path ahead for the wheat and barley industry's market development. Alberta was the first province to set up a development commission following the dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly powers... Read More

A shift in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's focus means that ranchers transporting cattle to auction, pasture or the abattoir may face increased scrutiny on the condition of the cattle they're moving. All existing regulations have remained the same, however, ranchers should expect to see CFIA inspectors actively checking on and ticketing animals under transport.... Read More

Consumers want food that’s as cheap as possible. True, they want safe food, too, and all those other features such as wholesome, nutritious and environmentally sound food. But mainly, they want food cheap. The huge increase in grocery items at big box stores and discount outlets bears that out. Exceptions exist, particularly with the growing... Read More

Change is a funny thing — difficult for some, painfully too slow for others. But if we look at a 10-year arc of, say, the grain markets, public policy, food trends and so on, that decade of change features individual events that string together to form a direction and momentum towards real change. 2013 featured... Read More

The Beef Straw Man trio published a recommendations report at the end of December, 2013, based on the outcome of meetings held over the last year. The report signals the end of the Beef Straw Man process and provides recommendations based on three strategic priorities: industry profitability, competitiveness, and synergy and alignment. Learn More: Beef... Read More

Kinder, gentler wind energy producers are emerging, the kind that share the benefits from wind installations with their neighbours and their community. They’re wading into a maelstrom of discontent, but it appears their approach is striking a chord in some parts of rural Canada. Last week the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), an advocacy group... Read More

Farmers are understandably frustrated by slow grain movements out of the Prairies this year, as a giant crop has western ports at a stand-still. The finger is often pointed at oil tankers hogging all the railway tonne-miles as a major part of slow grain movement off the Prairies, but as with any logistical problem, the... Read More

The ballots are in and counted, and the first seven-member board of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SWDC) has been named. The board members, with their hometowns, are: Rod Flaman, Edenwold - 4 year term Ken Rosaasen, Saskatoon - 4 year term Bill Gehl, Regina - 4 year term Glenn Tait, Meota - 4 year... Read More

This week started out very different from most weeks, as word came that the Minister of Agriculture would be making a "very large announcement" in the afternoon. I shuffled my schedule and packed my gear and braved the cold to be in the audience when ag minister Gerry Ritz announced Bill C-18, the Canadian Agricultural... Read More