It's that time of year when commodity organizations are holding district meetings and director elections. Farm group leaders and staff are always looking for new ways to get farmers out and to boost participation in the process of deciding how check-off dollars should be spent, including the process of deciding who should sit on their... Read More
Category: Poll
The federal political landscape in Canada looks very different following the election on Monday, with Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada winning a clear majority. After nine and a half years of Conservative government, Canadian farm groups and farmers will have to adjust to Liberal policies and approaches to agriculture (the Canadian Federation... Read More
Where to mark the ballot is a tough decision for many us, when we start considering party platforms, the appeal of individual candidates as representatives, and the trustworthiness of party leaders. There are all kinds of issues to think about, from immigration to health, the niqab to the CRA, taxes to trade. And, for those... Read More
Canadian wheat has a reputation in many parts of world of being the best wheat for milling. Customers will blend high protein Canadian wheat into their recipes to make up for lower quality grain. New wheat varieties released in Canada over the last few years have opened the door to growing higher yielding wheat. Some... Read More
There's something to be said about being able to see equipment in action at a farm show, but there's also value in not having to worry about rain or snow...or sweating through your best farm show outfit. More than 40 thousand farmers are expected in Woodstock, Ontario this week for Canada's Outdoor Farm Show, with... Read More
According to Statistics Canada, over half a million acres of productive (class 1-3) farmland was "settled" between 2000 and 2011. This "settled area" on dependable agricultural land grew by 19 percent in Canada, with the largest increase happening in southern Ontario and Quebec. The loss of farmland isn't a new phenomenon (the last time people... Read More
There are only so many hours in a week to get things done. During busy seasons, such as harvest, that means many farms operate seven days a week, trying to make the most of the limited resource we call time. Others still choose to take a break once every seven days, whether it's for faith-related... Read More
It wasn't all that long ago that if you wanted to really heat up a room full of western Canadian farmers, you'd simply have to mention the Canadian Wheat Board. Shortly thereafter, the battle lines would be drawn between those who fully supported the board's government-mandated monopoly and those who wanted it abolished. Then came... Read More
Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that talk of changes to (elimination of?) supply management in Canada has recently heated up. Of particular note, delegates, politicians and the like are gathering in Hawaii right now to further hammer out details regarding a giant, international trade deal — the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).... Read More
As expected with lower crop prices, new data from Farm Credit Canada shows the red-hot market for farmland cooled off in 2014. According to FCC's annual Farmland Values Report released April 13th, the average value of agricultural land in Canada rose by 14.3 percent in 2014 — down from an increase of 22.1 percent in... Read More