There are 54 grading factors for wheat included in the grain grading guide provided by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), but many may be surprised to learn that falling number isn’t one of them. It may not be a grading factor, but falling number is used as a world standard in the grain and flour… Read More
Category: Industry Issues
This post first appeared on Dr. Frank Mitloehner’s blog and is re-posted with permission. Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, hold the methane? A new communication campaign from Burger King is promising beef that comes from cows that are 33 percent less gassy on average, allowing the international fast-food chain’s consumers to have it their way without… Read More
We knew the numbers would be bad, but a recent trade report puts in to perspective just how bad COVID-19 has hit food service, grocery stores, and food supply chains. Kevin Grier of Kevin Grier Market Analysis and Consulting in Guelph, Ont., led the study, and says that food service sales throughout the beginning of… Read More
Recent restrictions placed on the temporary foreign worker (TFW) program in Canada have revealed the fragility of the Canadian food supply chain according to a new report from Robert Falconer, policy analyst with the University of Calgary’s Simpson Centre School of Public Policy. Falconer recently joined Shaun Haney on RealAg Radio to discuss the report,… Read More
The Canadian seed industry is moving closer to the end of its Seed Synergy project where five seed organizations in Canada will come together to form one entity, Seeds Canada. Shaun Haney spoke with Jonathan Nyborg, president of the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA), to talk about the benefits of the potential amalgamation and where… Read More
While Canadian farmers maintain access to over-the-top use of dicamba herbicides in herbicide-tolerant crops, American farmers are dealing with significant uncertainty regarding access to the product not just this season, but for next year and years to come. The 9th Circuit Court in the U.S. vacated dicamba’s over-the-top registration June 3rd, 2020, ruling that the… Read More
The very word “sustainability” can be a bit of a lightning rod within agriculture. What is it? What does it really mean? What value does it have? Carlo Dade, with the Canada West Foundation, says that there is real value in the term and the practices to achieve sustainable production, but that Canadian agriculture is… Read More
By Michael von Massow The Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) recently launched an advertising campaign to lobby for federal support for grains and oilseeds producers. There has been considerable discussion in social media and other fora regarding financial support for the Canadian agricultural sector. Many groups were disappointed with the size of the federal government… Read More
While there is plenty of attention on the growing beef processing crisis in Western Canada, beef producers in Eastern Canada are also struggling with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) has published a video request of the federal government, which includes several voices from the beef industry’s eastern producers… Read More
U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled his three-step plan to re-open the economy, entitled “Opening up America Again.” Along with the announcement, the president has started encouraging political allies to “liberate” certain states that have shelter-in-place (social distancing) measures currently in effect. There’s no question, the economic impact of social distancing is very evident in… Read More
After first choosing to reduce the daily slaughter capacity at its High River beef processing facility, Cargill has now suspended cattle kills completely, though temporarily. According to several sources familiar with the plant, Cargill will stop all slaughter shifts for the week of April 13, 2020, but will continue to process beef cuts. The plant… Read More
Meat coolers are going to look a lot different as we navigate COVID-19, but according to the Canadian Meat Council, each step of the livestock processing chain is collaborating, communicating, and committed to keeping food moving to grocery stores. Chris White, president and CEO of the Canadian Meat Council, says the livestock processing sector is… Read More
As of April 13, the Government of Canada is allocating $50 million to help farmers, fish harvesters, and all food production and processing employers with support for temporary foreign workers. Even before COVID-19 was an issue, the agriculture and food sectors already faced significant labour shortages. The advent of COVID-19 has delayed many temporary foreign… Read More
For those of us that work from home regularly, good broadband connectivity is essential. But in rural areas of Canada, effective broadband — capable of handling video calls, online classes, and more — is largely unavailable or exceeding expensive. During this global pandemic, thousands of farm and rural residents are sharing the reality of trying… Read More
Canada’s agriculture industry is grappling with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. From all sides, the economic and human toll is far-reaching and still in a rapid state of flux. What the last few weeks have taught us, however, is that there are critical pinch points in our food supply chains that need to be… Read More