If a report is quietly published on a government website on the Friday before the New Year's weekend and no one is told about it, is anyone supposed to read it or respond to it? Because that's what happened with the federal government's "What We Heard" report after holding consultations a year ago on its... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Compared to 2014, a kilogram of beef in Canada is now produced with 15 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions. According to the National Beef Sustainability Assessment (NBSA) and Strategy report, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) says this latest assessment reflects three years of scientific analysis to make the determination, comapring 2014 to... Read More
SaskCanola and SaskFlax are planning to officially amalgamate to form one organization as of August 1 of this year. After working together and seeking feedback on a potential merger over the past year, formal votes on combining the two oilseed crop commissions were held at their annual general meetings in Saskatoon this week, with delegates... Read More
After serving for four years as chair of Sask Wheat, Brett Halstead is stepping back from the role, following the Sask Wheat annual general meeting held January 9 in Saskatoon. Fillmore-area farmer Jake Leguee has been named chair and Jocelyn Velestuk, of Broadview, as vice-chair. To reflect on his time as chair, Halstead joined Shaun... Read More
The Saskatchewan government says it will stop charging the federal carbon tax on home heating as of January 1, 2024. Customers of SaskEnergy and SaskPower will still see a federal carbon tax charge on their January utility bills for natural gas or electricity used for heating that they used in the month of December; however,... Read More
Canada's two railways — CN and CPKC — must pay a combined $7.1 million to the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) for exceeding their maximum grain revenue entitlements for the 2022-23 crop year, according to a ruling issued Dec. 22 by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA). CN's grain revenue of $1,079.5 million was $3.46 million... Read More
It's not quite hitting the Canadian grain shipping corridors yet, but global issues with two canals and one border could have large impacts on world grain and product supplies. Let's start in the Suez Canal. While not the highest ranking for grain movement, any disruption to a major shipping route has trickle-down effects on others.... Read More
The federal government has extended Doug Chorney's appointment as the chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission. Chorney's three-year term was to expire in December, but the Governor-in-Council has extended it to April 30, 2024. Chorney, who farms at East Selkirk, Man., has agreed to continue in the role until then. The government sought applications... Read More
Governments across the world are crafting policy to influence industry practices with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Canadian government is doing the same through programs such as the On-Farm Climate Action Fund and others. But how effective have these programs been and how do farmers see them influencing what practices they engage... Read More
Country of origin labelling of beef in the U.S. seems to be an issue that never goes away entirely, even with settled trade disputes. The most recent move towards some form of COOL is gaining momentum in the U.S., though agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack has said any labelling must be trade compliant. Dennis Laycraft, executive... Read More