While pulse market challenges haven’t been grabbing headlines as much lately, there are longer standing issues with chickpea, pea, and lentil movement than say, canola’s recent run-in with China. Murad Al-Katib, CEO of AGT Foods, says that there are reasons to be optimistic on pulse markets heading in to 2020, even in the face of… Read More
This week, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture elected Keith Currie to a fourth term as leader of the general farm organization. Currie has a reputation for building relationships inside and outside the organization and helping change the culture of the farm lobby group. But there’s more work to do. In this interview with RealAgriculture’s Bernard… Read More
During the first week of November, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that Canadian pork and beef exports to China will resume — a good news story for many, including Canadian Pork Council chair, Rick Bergmann. “It’s the best news that we could ever get, because China is our third largest market,” says Bergmann. “They’re going… Read More
Canadian farmers have been caught in the crossfire of the strained U.S./China/Canada trade relations. Several crops, such as wheat and peas, have avoided being impacted negatively, while canola, pork, and beef exports have been targeted by the Chinese. Farmers have lashed out at the federal government for not forcing change, talking tougher, or being vocal… Read More
Although there’s no official statement released on the prime ministers website yet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tweeted out that Canadian pork and beef exports to China will resume. To note, the prime minister thanks newly appointed Ambassador to China, Dominic Barton. He’s had the position since September 4th, and was quoted saying, “The relationship… Read More
The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) met in Ottawa for three days last week to tackle industry challenges, including the advent of African swine fever (ASF) overseas. Gary Stordy, director of government and corporate affairs for the CPC, says the meeting was very productive and much needed, especially in light of ASF. “The industry is not… Read More
If April’s run-up in pork prices was any indication, continuous volatility in the global hog market could run up retail prices here in Canada in the coming months. Kevin Grier, of Kevin Grier Market Analysis and Consulting, says that African swine fever (ASF), the tenuous U.S./China trade truce, and soybean and hog export swings are… Read More
As the world sits in anticipation for the trade war to end between China and the U.S., many remain uncertain around a recently announced trade truce. When it comes to agriculture, a lot of eyes were focused on the agreement that China would purchase $50 billion worth of U.S. agricultural goods as part of the… Read More
After months of back and forth between the U.S. and China, the countries have announced the first of a possible three-phase deal that will lead to further negotiation on remaining items. Agriculture appears to be the main focus of the October 11th announcement which includes a major escalation in the buying of U.S. agricultural products…. Read More
Change is constant. It’s also uncomfortable and difficult. And, according to one policy analyst, significant agriculture trade flow and economic change is on the horizon — is Canada ready? “Part of the reason for putting together this policy note is to sort of to help people understand we need to appreciate the breadth and depth… Read More
While harvest delays and yield challenges might typically support a commodity’s price in the markets, Canadian canola has a bigger issue – its large carryout. “It just hangs over like a wet blanket, and it’s something we’ve known was coming, and yet it creates a whole market situation where things just really feel like a… Read More
Canada’s relationship with China is complicated — it involves extradition, unlawful retribution arrests, non-tariff barriers, fake CFIA documents, and a spying telecom company. In the months since the recall of former Canadian ambassador to China John McCallum, the agriculture industry has been waiting very impatiently for a new ambassador. Agriculture’s hope has been that a… Read More
What do Chinese government leaders think of Canada? Can our government correct a policy course that has put Canadian agricultural exports on the ropes and knocked canola and meat out of the globe’s most lucrative economy? Earlier this week, RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney put these questions to Charles Burton, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier… Read More
Ontario’s minister of agriculture is asking — again — that the federal government move on with resolving large-scale trade issues with China, and that the feds provide compensation for the meat sector in the meantime. Following up on a request made in early July and post-federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) meeting of agriculture ministers at Quebec City, Minister… Read More
The trade battle between the U.S. and China has taken a turn for the worse for farmers and ranchers in the U.S. in the past four days. On the heels of President Donald Trump announcing the U.S. would impose a 10 per cent tariff on the final US$300 billion of untouched imports from China on… Read More