The Russian government announced a ban on food imports from Canada, the United States, the European Union, Australia and Norway this week. The declaration follows increasing sanctions imposed on Russia by these countries. “In the wake of continued aggression by Russia, which includes the ongoing supply of logistical support and weapons systems to agents of… Read More
Category: Canadian Agriculture Policy
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Transport Minister Lisa Raitt announced details of Bill C-30, the “Fair Rail for Grain Farmers” Act today, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The measures, announced on this first day of the new crop year, include some which are hoped to improve the accountability for grain companies in contracts with an aim to… Read More
Earlier this week, the Canadian Grain Commission informed its licensees and producer groups that it had ended negotiations with Atradius Credit Insurance NV to develop a Master Insurance Policy Agreement. A letter sent to licensees, dated July 29, 2014, says, “The CGC has determined that the proposal for an insurance based producer payment protection model… Read More
The federal government can do something to help Ontario’s $900-million mushroom sector — that is, extend or change the temporary foreign worker program. Such a change might help other agri-food sectors too and give new skilled Canadians a productive place in our society. The agri-food sector’s struggle with labour is widely known. Canadians like to… Read More
Bees, pollinators and honey-makers alike, are enjoying some much deserved attention right now. There was a time not too long ago when many consumers had no inkling of the importance of pollinators in our food supply. Unfortunately, much of the added attention stems from recent bee deaths, the mysterious colony collapse disorder (CCD) and controversy… Read More
The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) compliance panel has issued a preliminary ruling on the complaint sent forward by Canada and Mexico on the United States’ Country of Origin Labelling rules. The ruling, sent to all three countries, remains confidential. “In the past, these confidential rulings have been leaked, so they’re usually pretty poorly kept secrets, but this… Read More
Ontario’s agriculture minister recently announced a move to increased rules and regulation regarding use of neonicotinoid seed treatments on corn and soybeans. As noted, there are no new set regulations on the product’s use at this time, however the government is set to begin a consultation process ahead of rolling out changes to the insecticide’s use…. Read More
There are those who would rather not put extra funding towards varietal research, but to Steve Tomtene, a Saskatchewan-based farmer, the return on research and development is entirely worth the investment. “Our farm started back in the late sixties,” Tomtene explains in an interview with Shaun Haney, “and I think when we look back over the course… Read More
The debate about Canada finally adopting UPOV 91 has transpired all winter. For some in the seed industry the inclusion of UPOV 91 being included in the Canadian Federal Government’s Agricultural Growth Act (Bill C-18) has been a long time coming. The NFU has been strongly trying to convince farmers and the general public that… Read More
In November 2013, CropLife Canada announced Ted Menzies, a long-time Alberta farmer and former Member of Parliament, was set to take the role of CEO and president of the organization on January 1, 2014. Menzies owned and operated a 5000-acre farm and was heavily involved in agricultural groups, including the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, Grain Growers of… Read More
You are probably reading a lot right now about the challenges with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Sheila Pratt with the Edmonton Journal has been focused on the issue as it applies to allegedly reducing labor costs and the mistreatment of workers. Keep in mind that that the temporary foreign worker program is accessed by… Read More
Four years of micro-analysis in Uganda and Ethiopia led up to April’s publication by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at London University: Fairtrade, Employment and Poverty Reduction in Ethiopia and Uganda (FTEPR) Final Report. The report, a detailed account of various plantations in both countries, suggests that perhaps “Fairtrade” coffee isn’t so fair after all. “Fairtrade may… Read More
Bill C-30, the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act, received Royal Assent yesterday, May 29, 2014. The bill was introduced into the House of Commons on March 27 as a means to address level of service issues in Canada’s rail transportation system. The Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act includes amendments to the Canada Transportation… Read More
The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) announced today that it has filed a Level of Service Complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency, contending that Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway did not fulfill their common carrier obligations for the movement of Western Canadian grains and oilseeds this crop year. “The breakdown of the Western… Read More
With incredible yields comes the incredible need for storage. Fortunately, plastics protect much of our agricultural commodities today, in North America — twine and net-wrap secure livestock forage and bags shelter grain and hay. But are we overvaluing these privileges? Are we willing to sacrifice the environment and our own health as balance to protecting the harvest?… Read More