We’re seeing an early spring in many areas…what does it mean for winter wheat? The Chinese government looks to be putting up an obstacle to Canadian canola exports, and seed is going to be a major factor in determining how many pulse acres get planted on the prairies. As well, federal ag minister Lawrence MacAulay… Read More
The proposed sale of Syngenta, new StatsCan stocks estimates, the signing of the TPP, the launch of Xtend soybeans — here’s a trip through this week’s Canadian ag news with Kelvin Heppner: Poll: Do you look forward to driverless tractors? Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS
Canada’s international trade minister says Canada intends to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement in New Zealand on February 4, while emphasizing “signing does not equal ratifying” the TPP. Chrystia Freeland posted an open letter on her department’s website earlier today indicating “when the 11 other countries convene to sign the agreement next week, Canada will attend… Read More
J.P. Gervais, chief agricultural economist for Farm Credit Canada, in conversation with RealAgriculture’s Debra Murphy at the 2015 Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association Conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (before mCOOL was repealed). 2015 saw some pretty incredible market pressures in the livestock sector, amidst overarching trade stories with the ongoing battle over country-of-origin labeling and the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations. But… Read More
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued his marching orders for his new cabinet. As part of his commitment to “open and transparent” government, the ministerial mandate letters are being shared publicly for the first time. All 30 letters were posted on the Prime Minister’s Office website on Friday, including a letter to Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of… Read More
We know he’s a Liberal MP from Prince Edward Island who was was first elected in 1988. Among other roles, he’s been the Liberal Party Critic for Fisheries and Oceans, Secretary of State for Veterans Affairs, Minister of Labour and Solicitor General of Canada. Before entering federal politics, he was a dairy and potato farmer in PEI,… Read More
The Canadian dairy sector’s problem with too much skim milk supply could get worse if the Trans-Pacific Partnership becomes reality, according to analysis done by Al Mussell and his colleagues at Agri-Food Economic Systems. Milk, in simple terms, consists of butterfat and skim milk, with Canada’s dairy quota production system based on demand for butterfat. As… Read More
Canola oil stands to be one of the “big winners” if the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal is ratified. Negotiations on the 12-country deal concluded earlier this month, with Canadian grain and oilseed, beef and pork sectors welcoming the market access in it. Lawrence Yakielashek, general manager of FarmLink Marketing Solutions, explains in the interview above how there… Read More
Those who oppose agricultural subsidies have long held New Zealand out as the ultimate success story. According to their line of reasoning, if the Kiwis can farm without subsidies, so can we. In fact, before and during the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, New Zealand’s iconic status with its admirers was so elevated that to… Read More
Canada’s pork sector is welcoming the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, specifically the market access the trade deal would provide into Japan. “While we look forward to seeing additional details in texts that become available in coming days, based on what was announced, the CPC strongly supports Canada participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership,” said Canadian… Read More
The Trans-Pacific Partnership, federal election, Blue Jays playoff baseball and more — here’s this week’s ag news podcast: Poll: What Would Your Ballot Look Like if You Voted Strictly on Ag Policy? Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS
The response from much of Canada’s agriculture sector to the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations has been positive, as it appears to assures critical export market access for grains and oilseeds, beef and pork. Supply-managed sectors still have some concerns, but most of their worst fears about the deal did not come true. While… Read More
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