It's a great day to talk grain markets, because, hey, the funds are in and the numbers are looking good! And so we kick off this RealAg LIVE! segment with market analyst Wendy White of Viterra. From where the good news on crop prices is coming from, to supportive moves in canola exports, and on... Read More
Category: Canadian Agricultural Policy
The Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) — the last of five seed organizations to vote on the amalgamated industry group Seeds Canada — has voted against joining in a vote of 337 in favour, 414 against. A two-thirds majority vote was necessary for the amalgamation to go forward. Seeds Canada is a proposed merger of... Read More
The Canadian Pork Council (CPC), on behalf of pork producers, is asking the federal government to consider "targeted enhancements" to AgriStability. In a departure from the ask put forward by most in the agriculture industry, the CPC has sent a letter to the federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) agriculture ministers asking them to consider leaving... Read More
In a leadership race finale that stretched well into the early hours of August 24th, Erin O'Toole emerged victorious. O'Toole, Member of Parliament for Ontario's Durham riding, succeeds Andrew Scheer as Conservative Party leader. He defeated party co-founder Peter MacKay on the third ballot. Leslyn Lewis, who received the most votes in the majority of... Read More
This week there was a small but significant cabinet shuffle that will prove very impactful on how Canada steers through the remaining COVID-19 economic challenges. Chrystia Freeland was sworn in as finance minister after the resignation of Bill Morneau. With such a big change at the most senior levels of the cabinet, it may create... Read More
I know I'm not alone when I say the recent decision by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) surprised me. I'm also likely not alone when I say the decision made me incredibly angry. And angry for a few reasons, I might add. Angry, because I assumed (wrongly) that my name... Read More
The Maple Leaf Foods hog plant at Brandon, Man., has temporarily suspended pork exports to China on a voluntary basis. China has recently instituted new rules where any plant reporting COVID-19 cases is required to suspend exports. The Brandon plant has seen over 50 cases of COVID-19 among employees in the last few weeks, accounting... Read More
The Mexican government is planning to phase out the use of glyphosate by the end of 2024. The country has already blocked imports of the active ingredient of the world's most commonly used herbicide, citing the precautionary principle and risk to the environment. With his agriculture and environment ministries in conflict over the issue, President... Read More
The eligibility declaration you'll sign at the elevator this crop year will look a lot like declarations you've signed before, but there are some very important differences you need to be aware of. Team Alberta, the communications collaboration between Alberta's major commodity groups, is working hard to make sure farmers fully understand the changes made... Read More
Domestically, Canada's agri-food system is facing a lot of challenges, but the pressures aren't from just within the country. Many newly-felt pressures are from external forces. A new report from Agri-Food Economy Systems based out of Guelph, Ont., outlines these new pressures on agri-food policy in Canada. The list of those pressures in the report... Read More