American President Donald Trump has authorized the department of agriculture to provide up to US$16 billion in assistance program payouts to American farmers. The announcement comes after President Trump directed Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to create a relief strategy to support its farmers for the long-run as the country continues a trade war with China…. Read More
In somewhat of a landslide victory, Narendra Modi has secured another five year term as the Prime Minister of India. As one of the milestones influencing the country’s strategy on pulse crop import tariffs, the federal election is big news for the international agriculture community. Now that it’s over, should Canadian pulse growers expect a… Read More
Premier Jason Kenney is going through with his plan to eliminate the carbon tax. On May 22, the Government of Alberta introduced Bill 1, An Act to Repeal the Carbon Tax, and if passed, the repeal will come into force at 12:01 a.m. on May 30, 2019. “Promise made, promise kept,” the premier said in… Read More
There was a time when the USMCA negotiation dominated agricultural trade headlines. But that was before the U.S./China trade war standoff. Still, the importance and momentum on ratifying the “new NAFTA” needs to continue. For Canadian agricultural exporters, NAFTA was deemed a success during its tenure, and the USMCA holds the majority of that export-dependent… Read More
As farmers in the U.S. wait on the edge of their seats to learn how much each commodity will get for round two of the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), a source told two Bloomberg reporters that the Trump administration is eyeing $2 per bushel for soybeans. NEWS: Trump admin is preparing to announce another round… Read More
Since closing its borders to beef from animals over thirty months (OTM) of age following the 2003 BSE finding in Canada, Japan has announced it will now import beef from animals of all ages. The ban, instituted in 2005, will be lifted for all importing countries, including Canada and the U.S. Japan is an important… Read More
Ontario sheep and cattle producers who work with many of the province’s independent meat processors could soon find themselves fully responsible for their livestock’s hides. In April, one of the few processing companies in the province that collects hides from small and medium-sized abattoirs, announced it was ceasing operations. It had been serving Ontario abattoirs… Read More
The executive director at Soy Canada says exporters are reporting that China is holding shipments of soybeans on arrival while the country conducts tests for “some normal plant pathogens.” “We haven’t heard of this happening before, so it seems to be new,” Ron Davidson says. The delay has not yet been confirmed to RealAgriculture by… Read More
After almost a year of tariffs on steel and aluminum, Canada and the United States have reached an agreement to eliminate associated tariffs on both sides of the border. The agreement, released Friday, May 17, states: The United States and Canada agree to eliminate, no later than two days from the issuance of this statement:… Read More
Investing in public trust without a company logo attached is just one of the ways our farm and food system can move the conversation forward, says Crystal Mackay, former president of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI). While the entire conversation over social license and public trust is relatively new to Canada’s food system,… Read More
$15 billion in aid. That’s the amount the U.S. government announced on Monday for its producers through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) as compensation for lost income stemming from the country’s trade war with China. This is not the first, but the second round of aid given, as a trade agreement eludes U.S. President Trump… Read More
Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-food minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau says she met with China’s Agriculture Minister Han Changfu while at the G20 agricultural ministers’ meeting held at Niigata, Japan, last week. When speaking to Minister Han, she expressed Canada is “increasingly troubled” by the lack of evidence provided to Canada regarding the pests of concern in relation… Read More
By Cam Dahl, president of Cereals Canada The world has become protectionist. There is, justifiably, much focus on issues with China. But it is not just China. Canadian agriculture commodities are blocked in India, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam and face issues in key markets such as Peru. Countries are turning inward, finding new ways… Read More
With all that’s going on with China and U.S. relations, you can be forgiven for perhaps not noticing there was a USDA report on Friday, May 10. To discuss what impact the report had, RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney is joined by Matthew Pot, of Grain Perspectives, and although the report is perhaps less of… Read More
Agriculture ministers from the countries who make up the G20 traveled to Niigata, Japan, this week, including Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. The purpose of the meeting for Canada’s ag minister is to build stronger relationships with trading partners, to help grow the nation’s economy, and to create good, well-paying jobs for Canadian… Read More