By Karen Lewis In year two of its existence, the wheat and barley check-off continues to provide producers with a significant “bang for their buck” supporting the growth of the agricultural industry. The five-year federal check-off enables producers to continue supporting the work conducted by the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF), Canadian International Grains Institute… Read More
Category: Ag Policy
By Cheyenne Stapley This post first appeared on Stapley’s blog Little Prairie Baby. Visit the blog here. Editor’s note: According to the ESRD, there are currently 980 feral horses on the Southern East Slopes alone; it is suspected this number is actually low. Currently in Alberta there are capture permits out to cull some of… Read More
The words “Made in Canada branding campaign” had hardly dried on the page of federal finance minister Jim Flaherty’s Economic Action Plan last week before marketing experts started taking shots at it…even though they didn’t know what it was about. They couldn’t know, because the government itself didn’t — all the budget contained was one… Read More
It’s stated twice, in 2007 and 2012: the $58-million research partnership between the University of Guelph and what is now the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs has an annual economic impact of more than $1.1 billion on the province. That’s a $58-million annual investment, and a $1.1-billion return. Anyone… Read More
If you’ve been on Twitter this week and happen to follow Gary Stanford (@senatrstanford), you’ll note that this newly minted president of the Grain Growers of Canada was in our nation’s capital meeting with the ag minister et al. to tackle a number of subjects that matter to Canadian farmers. Click here for all RealAgriculture’s… Read More
With over 100 years of breeding new varieties at public institutions Drs. Keith Downey (Saskatoon AAFC Research Centre) and Bryan Harvey (University of Saskatchewan) are pleased to see the recently tabled Agricultural Growth Act (Bill C-18). It enshrines a farmer’s ability to save seed for his or her own use and protects against the capture… Read More
First, an apology. Eagle-eyed RealAgriculture readers will note that this column was absent last week. After three days at FarmTech ’14 there was more than enough to share, but no time to do it, so I’ll work some of last week into this, if you don’t mind. It’s no secret I like trains. Furthermore, I… Read More
The U.S. Senate passed the 956 page, $956.4 billion Farm Bill on Tuesday, following last week’s House approval, and is now awaiting President Barack Obama’s signature. The bill has been hugely controversial for many reasons, including Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), which remained in the 2014 Farm Bill despite reaction from eight major lobby groups… Read More
Taiwan and Canada have signed an arrangement to expand market access to include Canadian bone-in beef and other specified beef products from animals under 30 months of age (UTM), according to an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada press release. The arrangement will level the playing field for Canadian beef producers and generate export opportunities to the… Read More
In a story that you thought might never come to a close, the US Farm Bill has finally moved closer to becoming passed legislation. This week Shaun Haney caught up to Chris Clayton, Ag Policy Analyst, DTN to discuss the US Farm bill and what it means for US farmers, in terms of crop insurance… Read More
If there’s one topic farmers can’t get enough of this month, it’s rail movement. Eclipsing even crop prices, logistics and rail movement was the topic of discussion from breakfast to late-night beverages at FarmTech ’14 last week. RealAgriculture’s editor, Lyndsey Smith, sat down with Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada, to talk about the three… Read More
With an expected Stats Can report maintain the status quo in the cow herd numbers next month, the current state of tight cattle inventory isn’t going away any time soon. Low cattle stocks, a sinking loonie and cheaper feed all spell opportunity for Canada’s beef industry, but it’s not all green grass and juicy steaks…. Read More
If there’s one crop that’s been generating buzz this month, it’s oats, followed closely by flax. A plugged supply chain for our export markets has several farmers exploring other viable crop options for the 2014 growing seasons. Hot on the heels of this, the federal government recently announced funding for the oat market to re-build… Read More
Where is US ag policy headed? I guess that’s the question of the day….or more accurately, that’s the question that’s been asked since 2010. Where is US ag policy headed? We’ve had some bi-polar insights into that direction with initiatives like MCOOL, which, from what we’ve seen and heard, do not have majority industry support… Read More
A new livestock price insurance program will be available this spring to help cattle and hog producers in Western provinces manage price risks faced by the industry, says Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was joined by Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia’s agriculture representatives to unveil the new price insurance program today…. Read More