Not since the early 2000's have Canadian feedyards imported US feeder cattle in great numbers. Rumours are swirling that 2010 may be the year that this practice becomes popular again. There is no doubt that this will not sit well with Canadian ranchers due to the possible extra supply dragging down the current healthy calf... Read More
Category: Canadian Agricultural Policy
The National Farmers Union (NFU) has been throwing stones at Federal Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz this week about the EU / Canada Free Trade Agreement that should be finalized by the end of the year. In a recent Better Farming story, NFU President Terry Boehm is quoted as saying....... These measures are so draconian that... Read More
Canada has been working at increasing the access of Canadian beef into Europe for quite some time. If the EU / Canada free trade agreement is ratified later this year the benefits will be very positive for Canadian beef producers. Gaining access for hormone free beef into Europe will have large benefits for the industry... Read More
Farmers markets have exploded into the mainstream with the public's increased attention on the supply of food. Traditionally this has been where farmer's that are interested in direct marketing their production can gather with consumers to due business. Dr. John Kelly, VP of Erie Innovation and Commercialization discussed his study to improve the distribution of... Read More
We have lots of cows in Canadian Agriculture, but we also have some sacred cows a well. One of these is the ability to shelter income through the cash method of reporting farming income. For those who don€™t know how this works, it is a simplistic formula whereby as long as you have more expenses... Read More
As if 2010 hasn't brought enough challenges for Western Canadian farmers, now we have the potential of a railway strike in our midst. The conductors at CN rail are talking tough about several issues and a settlement does not seem near. Richard Phillips is the Executive Director of the Grain Growers of Canada and he... Read More
By Shaun Haney This week the Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ag Canada, farmers and industry have made a major commitment to plant breeding in Eastern Canada. There was a lot of excitement in the Grain Farmers of Ontario booth at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show this week. It didn't take long to quickly figure out what... Read More
There is never a shortage of issues in the cattle business. Since 2003 we have dealt a rising currency, export bans and struggles with boxed beef demand. On the bright side the supply equation looks to be bullish and demand for middle meat appears to be recovering. On the political side there has been some... Read More
One of the huge perks of this job is my ability to meet and interact with cool interesting people from across the country. I have had a chance to hear Jeffrey Simpson speak twice this summer. Jeffrey is the national affairs columnist at the Globe and Mail and also has received the Order of Canada... Read More
By Shaun Haney One of the things that I enjoy the most about my ability to travel across the country is the knowledge, opinions and perspectives that I get to gather from farmers from many different backgrounds. I hear many things from many people that are very intriguing, stimulating and incredibly thought provoking. I really... Read More