If there's one topic farmers can't get enough of this month, it's rail movement. Eclipsing even crop prices, logistics and rail movement was the topic of discussion from breakfast to late-night beverages at FarmTech '14 last week. RealAgriculture's editor, Lyndsey Smith, sat down with Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada, to talk about the three... Read More
Category: Canadian Agriculture Policy
With an expected Stats Can report maintain the status quo in the cow herd numbers next month, the current state of tight cattle inventory isn’t going away any time soon. Low cattle stocks, a sinking loonie and cheaper feed all spell opportunity for Canada’s beef industry, but it’s not all green grass and juicy steaks.... Read More
If there's one crop that's been generating buzz this month, it's oats, followed closely by flax. A plugged supply chain for our export markets has several farmers exploring other viable crop options for the 2014 growing seasons. Hot on the heels of this, the federal government recently announced funding for the oat market to re-build... Read More
Where is US ag policy headed? I guess that's the question of the day....or more accurately, that's the question that's been asked since 2010. Where is US ag policy headed? We've had some bi-polar insights into that direction with initiatives like MCOOL, which, from what we've seen and heard, do not have majority industry support... Read More
A shift in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's focus means that ranchers transporting cattle to auction, pasture or the abattoir may face increased scrutiny on the condition of the cattle they're moving. All existing regulations have remained the same, however, ranchers should expect to see CFIA inspectors actively checking on and ticketing animals under transport.... Read More
The ballots are in and counted, and the first seven-member board of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SWDC) has been named. The board members, with their hometowns, are: Rod Flaman, Edenwold - 4 year term Ken Rosaasen, Saskatoon - 4 year term Bill Gehl, Regina - 4 year term Glenn Tait, Meota - 4 year... Read More
This week started out very different from most weeks, as word came that the Minister of Agriculture would be making a "very large announcement" in the afternoon. I shuffled my schedule and packed my gear and braved the cold to be in the audience when ag minister Gerry Ritz announced Bill C-18, the Canadian Agricultural... Read More
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Gerry Ritz was on hand at the Canterra Seeds warehouse in Winnipeg, Man., to announce the tabling of Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act. The Act addresses a total of nine areas where Canada's regulations need "modernizing, amending and streamlining of processes". While there isn't a monetary figure attached to... Read More
All of us have bad days at work, good days at work and then there are awesome days at work. Today it is clear that Dave Hansen had a great day at work. Not only did Gerry Ritz hold his Agricultural Growth Act press conference at the Canterra Seeds office but the inclusion of UPOV91... Read More
Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was in Winnipeg, Man., today to announce the tabling of Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act. The act covers a host of agriculture-related regulations — a total of nine — with an eye to "amending, streamlining and modernizing" Canada's regulations as they relate to several areas of agriculture. From plant breeding... Read More