The recent court case of Anita Krajnc, informally called the “Pig Trial,” has come to a close, and the farming community leaves the courtroom with disappointment. Sort of. Rather than a one-sided legal rout for animal rights activism, the verdict delivered in this criminal mischief case actually supports Ontario farmers in a number of ways.... Read More
Category: Western Canada
As the Trump administration formally starts the process of re-opening the North American Free Trade Agreement, agriculture industry groups continue to remind the governments involved about the benefits of the existing deal. It's a message that will be repeated often during the 90-day countdown to when renegotiations could begin, after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer... Read More
A private member's bill that would have required a GM label to sell "any food that is genetically modified" was defeated in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Quebec NDP MP Pierre-Luc Dusseault introduced the draft legislation (read the Bill C-291 here), with NDP agriculture critic Ruth Ellen Brosseau speaking in favour of it. As... Read More
18 months after former Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced he was stepping down, the race to become the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC), and the Official Opposition, is into its final days. Rona Ambrose gave her final major speech as interim leader this week, and CPC members from across the country... Read More
Farm and crop industry groups are welcoming the legislation introduced by Transport Minister Marc Garneau on Tuesday. Bill C-49 would, among other things, give shippers the ability to charge reciprocal penalties to railways for poor performance, clarify of the definition of "adequate and suitable" service, and increase requirements for railway reporting and contingency planning —... Read More
Cork-screw corn, good-looking western spring crops, heat unit discrepancies — it's been a wild week of major seeding progress in Western Canada, while much of Ontario's planting progress has been hamstrung with extremely cold and wet weather. Some Ontario farmers, including Wheat Pete's Word host Peter Johnson, are on to plan C for field prep... Read More
The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) wants you to "Be The Wheat Champion" in its new contest. AWC launched the contest so farmers can have some fun in trying to become the "most productive wheat grower" in Alberta. Entry to the contest is free, and Brian Kennedy, grower relations with AWC, says that the inspiration for... Read More
Several of Canada's largest farm organizations are united in calling for a comprehensive review of the government's business risk management (BRM) programs for farmers. In government lingo, the BRM acronym refers to AgriStability, AgriInvest, AgriRecovery and AgriInsurance (which includes crop insurance) — all programs that are intended to help farmers manage against volatile weather and... Read More
Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau introduced draft legislation on Tuesday that includes long-awaited changes to the rules governing grain transportation by rail. Bill C-49 will, among other things, give shippers the right to seek reciprocal financial penalties in service agreements with railways, define "adequate and suitable" rail service, and implement new data reporting requirements for... Read More