Ottawa's decision to not expand carbon tax exemptions as called for by farmers and farm groups needs to be revisited, according to the Special Representative for the Prairies in the federal cabinet. Winnipeg South Centre MP Jim Carr has served as Prime Minister Trudeau's Prairie representative since 2019, and was promoted back into Cabinet in... Read More
Category: Canadian Agriculture Policy
In the last federal election, Saskatchewan and Alberta sent zero Liberals to Ottawa, leaving the Prairie Provinces under-represented in cabinet. The government's answer to the issue was to name Manitoba MP Jim Carr as Special Representative for the Prairies. So, what does that actually mean? Jim Carr explains that it's his role to not only... Read More
Not only is Tom Vilsack set to return as U.S. secretary of agriculture, he's also open to bringing back U.S. country-of-origin labelling (COOL) for beef and pork; but only if it doesn't lead to retaliation from trading partners, such as Canada, under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Vilsack, who was ag secretary when the Obama... Read More
From business risk management fatigue, to the carbon tax, to adapting to changing labour demands, there's plenty to cover regarding Canadian policy right now. It may be February, but horticulture farms and businesses are trying hard to navigate ever-changing COVID-19 travel rules in an effort to bring employees to Canada. Plus, not one but two... Read More
It has been a really tough ninety days if you are a die-hard believer in the need to develop a code of practice for grain production in Canada. Although other agricultural sectors have had national codes for years, the concept has really struggled to gain support with grain farmers on the Prairies in and outside... Read More
Since the introduction of the draft Responsible Grain code of practice in late 2020, there have been farmers expressing their concerns and displeasure with the concept, based on numerous factors. There's been plenty of discussion on social media platforms regarding the code's intent, funding, and value to farmers. Given the feedback from farmers over the... Read More
The growth of biofuels, the focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the Clean Fuel Standard could cost farmers more, but could also provide farmers with an opportunity to cash in on off-sets and expand markets for some crops. But the entire industry, regulations, and predicting the winners and losers is complex. To help navigate... Read More
On Thursday, Ryan Jespersen featured an hour dedicated to agricultural issues. The panel consisted of Alberta based beef and dairy farmer Jeff Nonay, Brittany Hennig, a MSc Student at the University of Alberta & Research Administration at Alberta Canola, and me. With a primarily urban audience, addressing agricultural issues on a show like this is... Read More
The group that has proposed the voluntary code of practice for grain farms across Canada has decided to adjust its timeline and hold another round of consultations in the fall of 2021. Consultations on the Responsible Grain draft code formally began in November 2020. Farmers participating in online or telephone consultation sessions over the past... Read More
One year in to navigating a global pandemic, it's clear that the economic health of consumers is ailing, but it's difficult to measure by how much; and until COVID-19 passes, any economic recovery in Canada is strained. "It's interesting, when we think back to a year ago, just before the pandemic really began to bear... Read More