The Canola Council of Canada has started its search for a new president, following the announcement of Patti Miller's upcoming departure. Canola Council president since 2012, Miller has been appointed chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission, starting February 13. She sat down with us at CropSphere in Saskatoon last week to reflect on her... Read More
Category: Canadian Agriculture Policy
Agriculture is big business, but a small industry, if you think about the number of people involved. Within each sector, that number shrinks significantly, and, at times, trying to communicate the needs of one sector can be tough when you're few in number. The seed industry has faced that challenge for quite some time, and,... Read More
We're kicking off the Beef Market Update with likely the most positive-sounding Anne Wasko we've heard since last spring (it's not her fault, dem cattle markets, you guys). Kelvin Heppner steps in for Shaun Haney in this latest look at beef and cattle prices across Canada and into the U.S., and Wasko can't help but... Read More
As Donald Trump takes office in the United States, questions abound regarding the impact of his promised economic, environmental, foreign, and trade policies. There's optimism in the agricultural regions of the U.S, as the president-elect has promised a major reduction of government agency regulation. The American people wanted something different in Washington and that is... Read More
The board of directors for the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission has decided against joining Cereals Canada, despite a motion from its members to take a seat at the table of the national industry organization. Representing the country's largest cereal crop-producing province, the Saskatchewan wheat group is notably absent from the list of members in Cereals... Read More
Chrystia Freeland is handing over the federal government's trade portfolio, with one major exception. As part of the cabinet shuffle announced on Tuesday, Freeland was named Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, but she's retaining the Canada-U.S. relations file, including trade relations. Quebec MP Francois-Philippe Champagne, formerly the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, becomes... Read More
China could potentially come looking for more soybeans and canola from Canada if Donald Trump's policies jeopardize U.S. sales to the world's largest soybean importing country. The president-elect has clearly shown a willingness to challenge China, whether by it's by phoning Taiwan's president, airing his grievances on Twitter, or promising to label China as a... Read More
The Canadian Grain Commission's large surplus from user fees over the last few years needs be drawn down and returned to farmers, says the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. The group has launched a petition, noting that since 2013, the CGC has accumulated at least $100 million from the roughly $1.80/tonne in fees charged to... Read More
Christmas is supposed to be over and done with but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided his western Canadian based critics with a big gift — bow and all — over the weekend. In a TV interview Trudeau was trying to communicate the flexibility that Saskatchewan will have under his carbon tax plan and he blew... Read More
There are tradeoffs that need be considered when it comes to decisions about food and food policies, whether it's prioritizing "good" fats, local food or requiring different animal care procedures. "We're in the early stages of the arguments being made for greater control of our food system," explains Dr. Jayson Lusk (@JaysonLusk). "The danger is... Read More