The federal government has promised $4.3 billion to compensate the supply-managed dairy and poultry sectors for concessions made in the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal announced this week, but for chicken farmers, a coinciding decision by Ottawa to close import loopholes for chicken is seen as more important than the compensation. Mike Dungate, executive director of Chicken Farmers of Canada,… Read More

Considering opening up supply management was described by some countries as Canada’s price of admission into the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the result of the TPP negotiations announced on Monday was a “best case scenario,” according to the head of Dairy Farmers of Canada. After spending the last week in Atlanta for the final round of TPP talks,… Read More

“Canada reaches TPP trade deal, will pay out $4.3 billion to farmers” “Harper hails TPP, promises $4.3 billion to protect farmers” “Harper promises $4.3B for dairy farmers” Dairy and poultry farmers across Canada may have been disappointed to see the federal government open the border to more imports in the Trans-Pacific Partnership announcement on Monday,… Read More

After more than five years of negotiations, trade ministers and negotiators in Atlanta announced the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal on Monday morning. Negotiations continued into the night on Sunday, delaying a joint news conference that was originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon. According to New Zealand’s trade minister, negotiations on dairy trade only ended… Read More

There seems to be some confusion regarding the intentions of the Conservative government at the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, particularly in regards to supply management. The entire dairy industry, the federal NDP, federal Liberals, and anyone that would never send a Christmas card to Stephen Harper feel that supply management is bound to be busted… Read More

In 2014 when RealAgriculture visited the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, there were smiles all around from US dairy farmers. But one year later, US$25 per hundredweight milk prices are but a memory. One of the possible remedies to low prices could be greater access to the Canadian market. If there’s truth to reports… Read More

Since the day that the federal election was announced, I have wondered what the future will hold for Gerry Ritz. Now don’t get me wrong Mr. Ritz is going to easily win his riding as there are reports he hasn’t even had to open up a campaign office for his riding. With his seat secure, how could… Read More

Now that we’re several weeks into the federal election campaign, it’s clear the words “agriculture” and “farming” have been left out of the main messages repeated by most candidates. It’s disappointing, but given the precedent set in politics over the last few decades, it’s not at all surprising. Rather than preaching to the choir at the coffee shop… Read More

It’s a humid Chicago evening, and I’m here vacationing with my family, drooling over a deep-dish pizza at Pizano’s noisy outdoor patio near Millennium Park, down the street from what’s commonly called the bean. Rain swept through the area earlier, and now that sticky Great Lakes weather is all over us. Indeed, it’s summer at its best. I love… Read More

Significant changes are coming to Ontario’s rules regarding small-scale chicken production. Until now, any individual could raise up to 300 birds per year under the Chicken Farmers of Ontario small flock program, a program with the intention of allowing families to raise a few chickens for themselves without requiring the purchase of production quota. Expanding… Read More

Quebec farmers rallied outside the constituency office of federal Minister of State Maxime Bernier in Sainte-Marie on Friday. They demanded the federal government maintain the status quo for supply management in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The rally was organized by Quebec farm group Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA). Speaking on the phone after the event, the president of… Read More

Canadian farmers who own dairy or poultry quota may not have to live with the stress that comes from marketing a product on a volatile open market, but their stress comes in another form: the worry that the federal government will pull the rug (or one of the three pillars) out from under the regulatory… Read More

The diversity of North American agriculture is again on display in this week’s news podcast. From the farmer’s role in fighting antibiotic resistance to how Canadian dairy farmers could be affected by a potential Trans-Pacific Partnership to the trends at AgTech Week down in San Francisco, here’s a summary of what happened “This Week on Real… Read More

 

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