It's a topic that fires up debate, almost as hotly contested as issues around pesticides or antibiotics. Should farmland ownership be restricted to prevent foreign ownership or open to all investors? As of today, the consultation process on farmland ownership in Saskatchewan has started, allowing all interested parties to voice their opinions on farmland ownership... Read More
Category: Western Canada
When Canada's agriculture and trade ministers --- as everybody expected following the World Trade Organization's latest ruling against U.S. country of origin labeling --- promised to retaliate unless the labeling rules are repealed, virtually all Canadian livestock producer groups and provincial governments who benefit from cross-border cattle and hog trade applauded the federal government's swift... Read More
On behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, Members of Parliament Michael Chong and Harold Albrecht today announced an investment of $183, 929 to help ensure the safe transportation of livestock and poultry. "Our Government is proud to support industry-led initiatives that help to ensure the welfare of farm animals in Canada," said Chong. "The transportation... Read More
Update on May 20th: The U.S. House Agriculture Committee, as expected, approved Chair Michael Conoway’s bill to repeal COOL on Wednesday morning by a vote of 38-6. It’s expected the entire House will vote on it in early June. The final ruling from the World Trade Organization against U.S. mandatory country of origin labeling and... Read More
John Deere's new R4023 is set to hit the stage, replacing the 4630 in the 4 Series lineup. The machine weighs in at a little over 18, 000 lbs, with a 600 gallon (2300L) tank and a 60 or 80' boom. And though it may be smaller than most of its counterparts, it's no weakling,... Read More
The World Health Organization (WHO) is asking for consideration from individuals and groups who might be involved in naming human infectious diseases in the future, a change no doubt warmly welcomed by the agriculture industry, which has largely avoided the use of terms like "mad cow disease," and "swine flu." “In recent years, several new... Read More
The Western Livestock Price Insurance Program’s (WLPIP) calf coverage deadline is May 28, 2015. WLPIP is a risk management program, allowing producers to pay a premium for forward price coverage. Should market price fall below their coverage level for their time frame, the producer will receive a payment. It all sounds pretty straightforward, but deciding... Read More
A combination of rain, snow, freezing temperatures and strong winds rolled through the eastern side of the Canadian prairies over the Victoria Day long weekend, leaving farmers wondering about the fate of their crops and when they'll be able to resume seeding (or begin re-seeding). 70 to 80 percent of this year's crop is seeded... Read More
The World Trade Organization has once again sided with Canada and Mexico, as the WTO Appellate Body published a fourth and final ruling on U.S. country of origin labeling rules today. The appeal panel decision affirmed earlier rulings saying COOL illegally discriminates against foreign livestock (read the report and findings here). “The United States has... Read More
This week, I had the distinct pleasure of joining a small group of range enthusiasts for a ranch tour in central Alberta. I wasn't sure what to expect, besides a scorching sun and gale-force winds. But the afternoon ended up being so much more than an excuse to step away from my laptop. It was... Read More