The governments of New Zealand and Canada are both claiming victory in a dispute settlement ruling on the way Canada administers dairy market access under the CPTPP trade deal. The dispute panel sided with New Zealand on two of the country's main complaints, agreeing that Canada's pooling system for allocating dairy tariff rate quotas (TRQs)... Read More
Category: Canadian Agriculture Policy
We know that agriculture plays an important role in both greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration; however Dr. Joy Agnew of Olds College of Agriculture and Technology says we are missing half the picture when it comes to measuring agriculture's overall carbon footprint. "There's the emissions side, which everyone seems to be talking about and... Read More
The ability to stay within maximum residue limits (MRLs) can make or break a grain deal. Export markets keep a keen eye on whether imported crops meet specific tolerance for disease, toxins and pesticide residues, and MRLs play a key role in facilitating trade and establishing the ground rules for global market accessibility. Earlier this... Read More
The national coalition of export-focused agriculture commodity organizations is welcoming the Canadian government's position on Mexico banning the use of biotech corn in tortillas or dough. Trade Minister Mary Ng and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay have announced Canada will participate as a third party in the dispute settlement proceedings initiated by the U.S. against Mexico.... Read More
Half a dozen national farm organizations and their members are raising concerns about unintended consequences from the federal government's Underused Housing Tax (UHT) that took effect last year. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Cattle Association, National Cattle Feeders Association, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, and Canadian Canola... Read More
Tara Mulhern Davidson has been ranching for over 15 years, and has had to manage through several severe droughts in the last five. The perpetual dryness is weighing on planning for the long-term, she says, but there's also the every day challenges of working with a living commodity. Davidson's Lonesome Dove Ranch is based at... Read More
When it comes to nitrous oxide emissions, there are many complex formulas that can be used to determine what is going on in the fields. Abby Sim, field technician at Olds College of Agriculture and Technology, says this is precisely why the Smart Farm at the college decided to look at estimating nitrous oxide emissions.... Read More
Details and timelines have yet to be determined, but the federal and provincial governments in Alberta and Saskatchewan have agreed to move ahead on offering AgriRecovery disaster relief programs for livestock producers affected by drought in 2023. Both Prairie provinces submitted requests for AgriRecovery assessments in July. Any program under AgriRecovery is cost-shared on a... Read More
The prime minister and his cabinet are in Charlottetown, PEI this week for their first retreat since the major cabinet shuffle in late July. At some point before Parliament resumes in September, possibly this week, the PM is expected to publish a new round of mandate letters for each member of cabinet, including Lawrence MacAulay,... Read More
Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay took the opportunity to drive a combine while visiting a Saskatchewan grain farm between Regina and Saskatoon this week. MacAulay and some of his staff dropped in at Stone Farms near Davidson, Sask., for about an hour and half on Tuesday. "I've been inviting the minister of the portfolio to come... Read More