The Canadian Pork Council's board of directors have chosen their new chair and vice-chair. Rene Roy, a pork producer from Quebec, has replaced Rick Bergmann of Manitoba, the longest-serving chair in CPC history, having led the board for the past eight years. Scott Peters of Manitoba was elected to replace Roy as first vice-chair. "I... Read More
Category: Ag Policy
The announcement in late November that Health Canada is moving forward with a label change for lamba-cy insecticide products, ie. Matador and Silencer, effective April 2023, immediately set off alarms across Western Canada regarding problems with flea beetle control in canola. Ontario agronomists and growers then began to ask if they too would have access... Read More
A year after beginning to explore the idea, votes at Monday's annual general meetings of both the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission and the Saskatchewan Winter Cereals Development Commission will see the two groups amalgamate into one. Brett Halstead, chair of Sask Wheat, spoke with RealAgriculture field editor Atley Hamlin right after the vote (listen to... Read More
John Deere has signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) that's aimed at ensuring farmers and ranchers maintain the right to repair their own green and yellow farm equipment. The MOU, signed at the 2023 AFBF Convention in Puerto Rico this past weekend, is intended to secure "fair and reasonable"... Read More
The total number of birds on Canadian farms lost due to H5N1 avian influenza nearly hit the 7 million mark in the 2022 calendar year, with over 40 per cent of those birds affected in the last two months in southern B.C. Heading into 2023, the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is... Read More
There are fewer farmers every year in Canada. That's just reality. The impacts of a shrinking demographic are complex and far-reaching, but also sometimes right in front of us — like now, during the Annual General Meeting season of producer groups. The same farmer attending four different meetings, for example, doesn't necessarily make the most... Read More
The Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission (SaskCanola) and the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SaskFlax) have announced a new management collaboration. Greg Sundquist, chair of SaskFlax, says the new arrangement offers "administrative and operational efficiencies within our industry ensures that growers’ levy dollars are put to the best use." Canola and flax levies will continue to be... Read More
It was one year ago this month that Canada disclosed the finding of an atypical case of BSE. While the finding didn't impact most markets, it did create trade frustrations with China that are still not rectified. Unlike classical BSE cases, atypical BSE appears spontaneously in older cattle, even in countries where no classical BSE... Read More
Looking ahead to a new year and a new production season with optimism is exciting, and there are plenty of good reasons for farmers to be in a positive mindset for ’23. Challenges can create opportunities, too, so even the less-good can end up manageable with the right plan. As we look to the year... Read More
The Canadian Transportation Agency has issued its ruling on how CN and CP Rail's profits from transporting Western Canadian grain compared with their regulated maximum grain revenue entitlements for the 2021-2022 crop year. CN's grain revenue last crop year was reported at $592,208,589 — $3,068,088 above its maximum entitlement, while CP's grain revenue was $515,508,638... Read More