In terms of export markets, China has been the holy grail for agricultural commodity producers. Whether it's pork, beef, canola or wheat, the demand that China's growing middle class offers presents massive opportunities for Canadian farmers. Likewise in the U.S., farmers south of the border have relied heavily on export growth into China as domestic... Read More
Category: Canadian Agriculture Policy
On Wednesday's RealAg Radio, Kelsey Johnson, with iPolitics, joined show host Shaun Haney to recap what she saw and heard at both the house ag committee and trade committee meetings held Tuesday, April 2. At the ag committee meeting, Johnson says attendees heard from Viterra, Richardson International, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), whereas... Read More
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister confirmed Wednesday that his province will be taking legal action against the federal government and its imposition of the carbon tax. “Last year, our government received legal advice the federal government has the constitutional power to impose a carbon tax, but only on provinces that do not implement plans of their... Read More
The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association has announced Manitoba farmer Gunter Jochum will serve as its new president. Jochum was unanimously elected at a March board meeting and replaces Saskatchewan farmer Levi Wood. “I’m honoured to have the trust of the Wheat Growers board of directors to represent this dedicated group of people. Wheat Grower... Read More
Nearly every piece of equipment or machinery we use is powered by electronics and proprietary software. While electronics allows for many things — precision and variable rate applications, mapping and data collection, and even remote trouble shooting — it also creates a barrier to being able to fix something when something goes awry. Eric Wareham,... Read More
The week after coming off her first trip to Saskatchewan, federal Agriculture and Agri-food Minister Marie Claude Bibeau says she has sent a letter to China requesting to send a delegation. The news comes at a Monday afternoon update provided by the minister, who says the issue between Canadian canola exports and China remains a... Read More
In her first trip to Saskatchewan, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau spent the day in Saskatoon discussing the issue of China blocking Canadian canola shipments with producers and industry stakeholders. Trade Diversification Minister, Jim Carr was also present during the two part meeting held late last week. Bibeau says they're "ready to go" when... Read More
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Winnipeg, Man,. on Tuesday and took questions from reporters about what's happening with Canada's trade relations with China. Questions centred on canola, as earlier that morning it was announced China banned Viterra from exporting canola seed due to "hazardous pests." Trudeau said, "We're continuing to work very hard to try... Read More
As Canada continues to develop a new seed royalty structure, researchers have been comparing models in other countries to better understand the financial implications to farmers, the effectiveness and ease-of-use of the options, and the eventual impact of changes on plant breeding programs. Richard Gray, professor and Canadian Grain Policy Chair at the University of... Read More
On Tuesday morning while in Winnipeg, Prime Minister Trudeau stated that "we are looking at the possibility of sending a high level delegation to China." The Prime Minister is facing stiff criticism from western Canadian farmers for the lack of apparent action and response on the canola matter. This critique will only heighten with the... Read More