Across Canada, we are seeing sky-high diesel prices, with some provinces inching closer to $2 per litre, where other provinces are closing in on $3 per litre, is there light at the end of the tunnel? According to experts, if there is, it’s not coming anytime soon. The market has seen a surge in demand… Read More
Category: Industry Issues
Ontario farmers continue to tread water as they look to the government to provide some sort of relief or assistance in regards to the fertilizer shortage that has ensued due to the sanctions put on Russian imports following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Brendan Byrne, chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), says time is… Read More
Even as we enter a third year of COVID-related disruptions, farm and agriculture part stores are still finding it difficult to keep certain items in stock due to supply chain issues that continue to plague the industry. Additionally, for some items, including many petroleum products, the price point has seen a steep increase, with no… Read More
In an effort to gain a better understanding of agriculture on the Prairies, Liberal Member of Parliament for King-Hants in Nova Scotia, Kody Blois, recently visited Saskatchewan to learn about innovation happening in the province, and to hear what challenges producers are facing. Blois serves as the chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture and… Read More
Over the past few years the phrase “unprecedented times” has been used often and for good reason. There has been a continual domino effect of global events that has put a unique strain on many things, especially global trade. The result is that change isn’t coming — it’s here. As a country, Canada needs to… Read More
The 2.5 day shutdown of CP Rail’s network last month was a sharp reminder why rail service, especially for agricultural commodities, should be deemed essential. Although the strike/lockout only lasted from a Sunday to a Tuesday, it caused weeks, even months, of disruption in already-stressed supply chains that rely on trains. The entire system was… Read More
As farmers contemplate a multitude of variables heading into this growing season, crop prices are favourable, indeed. Favourable does not mean stress-free by any means. With commodity prices hovering high for numerous crops, many farmers have yet to pull the trigger on locking in prices with the optimism and hope that those numbers will continue… Read More
Drought, offshore import shortages, and labour disruptions are among several factors CN Rail is juggling as the railway continues to work in overdrive to ensure products and commodities get to where they need to be. Many people likely think of trains running westbound bringing goods to the coast, however in recent times, where it seems… Read More
As producers start to prepare for the upcoming seeding season, equipment manufacturers are also preparing for what could be another successful year for their industry. Despite all of the challenges that came with the pandemic, including persistent supply chain shortages, the ag equipment industry has seen strong sales over the course of the last two… Read More
The Saskatchewan Stockgrowers Foundation hosted a webinar on the ins, outs, why, and hows of term conservation easements on March 3. RealAgriculture hosted a live webinar on the topic, with a panel discussion to answer the top questions ranchers and industry may have about the use of these easements and the permanency of them. We’d… Read More
With strong farm commodity demand and high crop prices, confident farmers attending the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) at Louisville, Kentucky in February look to be eager to replace equipment and upgrade technology. In this interview from the floor of the NFMS, Kurt Coffey, Case IH vice president for North America, tells RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin that the Association… Read More
With the Government of Canada planning to implement its vaccine mandate for cross-border truck drivers on Saturday, January 15, and a looming domestic mandate still at play, the agricultural industry is trying to adjust and cope with the impact. Under the more pressing mandate of January 15, unvaccinated Canadian drivers will be allowed back to… Read More
AgriStability, the whole farm, business risk management program has been in place for Canadian farmers for 16 years. In that time, it’s been maligned and criticized, and it continues to be subject to an ongoing tug-of-war between federal and provincial politicians. But with a new ag policy framework to be unveiled for 2023, changes to the… Read More
2021 has been a tough weather year. From prolonged drought and excessive heat, to the flooding witnessed in recent weeks in British Columbia — weather disasters have had a tremendous impact on Canadian farms and agriculture businesses. Erik Davies, from Barefoot Consulting, has spent his career working on disaster recovery and risk management issues. Last month… Read More
At any current conference, no matter what sector of the agriculture industry, the word sustainability is going to pop up. Last week at the GrowCanada conference, hosted by CropLife Canada, there was a whole section of the agenda devoted to sustainability. Mary Shelman, of Shelman Group and former director of Harvard Business School’s agribusiness program,… Read More