A remnant of the pro-Canadian Wheat Board movement is still alive, and still punching above its weight, even though it's been three-and-a-half years since the federal government buried the CWB's single desk monopoly. The latest example of the vocal minority receiving mainstream attention: "Prairie Farmers Calling for the Return of the Canadian Wheat Board" read... Read More
Category: Canadian Agriculture Policy
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has provided an answer to those wondering how it would even begin to select working group members for the next phase of consultations on the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. As of today, the government will be accepting nominations for the positions. “Farming is more than a job,... Read More
We have more than covered the negative side and controversy of the Bill 6 legislation in Alberta. The biggest benefit of the bill is not the protection of workers, a safer farm workplace or compensation for injured or disabled workers. Much of this is either already happening or is not truly enabled by the bill.... Read More
The Western Grains Research Foundation has announced it will be investing $21.4 million in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's wheat and barley breeding programs over the next five years — the largest-ever industry investment in AAFC research. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Keith Degenhardt, vice-chair of WGRF, made the announcement in Saskatoon on Monday morning.... Read More
The proposed sale of Syngenta, new StatsCan stocks estimates, the signing of the TPP, the launch of Xtend soybeans — here's a trip through this week's Canadian ag news with Kelvin Heppner: Poll: Do you look forward to driverless tractors?
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced Thursday it will spend $1.75 million on research to enhance the energy of forage crops and study the impact dairy products like cheese have on human cardio-vascular health. The investment is part of the Canadian government’s Dairy Research Cluster, which was launched in 2013. As part of the Growing... Read More
The Alberta government is in the process of figuring out the details of its controversial farm labour legislation — Bill 6, which took effect on January 1st. "There are a lot of technical things that have yet to be worked out," explains Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier in this video, filmed at FarmTech in Edmonton earlier... Read More
Wheat and barley grower organizations from across Western Canada are trying to figure out how to move forward with farmer involvement in variety development. The transitional Western Canadian wheat and barley check-offs implemented by the federal government with the end of the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly in 2012 are set to expire in 2017. The... Read More
Last week I attended the Alberta Federation of Agriculture (AFA) annual meeting. Across Canada there are several general farm organizations that attempt to tackle the issues impacting farmers as a whole. Ontario has the OFA, Manitoba has KAP and Saskatchewan has APAS — all speaking for farmers, but with different representation and funding models. I... Read More
Canada's international trade minister says Canada intends to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement in New Zealand on February 4, while emphasizing "signing does not equal ratifying" the TPP. Chrystia Freeland posted an open letter on her department's website earlier today indicating "when the 11 other countries convene to sign the agreement next week, Canada will... Read More