The technology that allows for varying seed and fertilizer has evolved well past on/off sectional control, despite less-than-widespread adoption of the tool. Any new agronomic tech has to solve a problem, save time, or make more yield in order to earn its way onto farms. That said, if regulations require a certain outcome, such as... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
Nate Horner will remain Alberta's agriculture minister following the unveiling of new Premier Danielle Smith's cabinet. Horner, the UCP MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, was first appointed minister of agriculture and forestry by former Premier Jason Kenney in November 2021. Under Smith, Horner's title no longer includes forestry and rural economic development, but irrigation has been tacked... Read More
Environment and Climate Change Canada launched the national methane emissions reduction proposal in September, titled "Faster and Further: Canada's Methane Strategy." In it, the federal government outlines the expected reduction of methane emissions from agriculture based on 2020 levels. The total reduction — one per cent — is a pretty small portion, but it's the... Read More
Supply chains of consumer goods may be global, but they all start as local, and the pre-pandemic, just-in-time model of logistics has faced serious challenges in the last two and a half years. Challenges to Canada's supply chains, however, pre-date current global backlogs, but the pandemic did prompt the federal government to create a National... Read More
The House of Commons' agriculture committee is reviewing Bill C-234, the private member's bill that would exempt fuel used for barn heating and grain drying from the federal government's carbon tax. The bill received strong support at second reading in the House of Commons back in May, with the Conservatives, NDP, Bloc, Greens, and one... Read More
For over five years, the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) has been calling for action on a tax and labour scheme that has emerged in the trucking industry. Known as Drive Inc., the CTA says this practice opens the door to the possibility of widespread tax evasion and allows companies to sidestep the Canadian Labour Code,... Read More
Canadian farmers are very concerned about the impact managing fertilizer emissions through regulation may have on farm profitability. Over 900 farmers from the Insights Panel responded to the RealAgristudies Fertilizer Emissions Survey and offered their concerns, insight, and action on the topic of emissions reductions. 68 per cent of respondents noted they were "very concerned"... Read More
New Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled his shadow cabinet on Wednesday. As expected, John Barlow (Foothills, Alberta, pictured above) has been tapped to continue in his role as shadow minister for agriculture, agri-food and food security. Barlow is well-versed with the role and agriculture-related issues, having served as the party's ag critic... Read More
The "how" of countries around the world working to address climate action through legislation is taking various shapes — from aspirational goals and carbon pricing here in Canada, to fertilizer scrutiny and restrictions in the Netherlands, to taxing cow and sheep burps in New Zealand. New Zealand's government has aggressive climate action goals, including going... Read More
The federal government has made some regulatory changes to give grain farmers more time to dispute an elevator's grain grading and dockage assessment. At the same time, the latest attempt for a broader update to the Canada Grain Act is facing an uncertain future. Grain producers can now ask for a sample of their grain... Read More