The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is taking a different approach than most other farm organizations with its management. Rather than hiring internal staff, the voluntary farmer-run advocacy group has contracted Osborne Interim Management to look after day-to-day operations, policy development, stakeholder engagement and communications. The Osborne team includes Dave Quist as Executive Director, Norm... Read More

China agreed to expand access for Canadian beef and pork during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's trip to Beijing this week. After agreeing in-principle to allow imports of Canadian frozen bone-in beef last year, China committed to establishing the documentation requirements and fully implementing the 2016 bone-in beef agreement. A pilot project has also been established... Read More

Farm groups were quick to show their support as Saskatchewan Environment Minister Dustin Duncan unveiled his government's "Made-in-Saskatchewan Climate Change Strategy" on Monday. The province says the plan is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change, without implementing a carbon tax. (Download the strategy text by clicking here.) “This plan is... Read More

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) is welcoming the Ontario government's proposal to increase its ethanol mandate in gasoline from 5 to 10 percent in 2020. The province's environment ministry published draft amendments last week to update the renewable fuel regulations under the province's Environmental Protection Act. “We are pleased to see the Ontario government committed... Read More

Farmers from Saskatchewan and Quebec were named Canada's Outstanding Young Farmers for 2017 during the national OYF program in Penticton, BC this past weekend. Derek and Tannis Axten and Véronique Bouchard and Francois Handfield received the national recognition on Friday night. The Axtens operate a no-till grain farm with a unique emphasis on soil health... Read More

The results have been announced for the highly-competitive SaskWheat director election. 10 farmers were vying for four board seats in the organization's first election where online voting was an option. 3,266 ballots were verified and counted, with farmers selecting up to four candidates. Less than 300 votes separated first from seventh — an indication of... Read More

Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government introduced new legislation on Thursday aimed at protecting wetlands, while simplifying minor drainage maintenance. The Sustainable Watersheds Act also lays the foundation for an ecological goods and services program that would see farmers receive incentives for implementing best management practices that are in the public good, such as grassland and wetland... Read More

Based on market demand and feedback from the malting industry, the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) publishes a list every fall of recommended varieties for producers to grow the following year. And every year, for the last 11, the list has been topped by AC Metcalfe and CDC Copeland. (CDC Copeland joined AC Metcalfe... Read More