On Monday, June 21, the federal government announced the easing of some travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadians returning to Canada. The Quarantine Act is still in effect however, requiring farm workers to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Canada. Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) says that the requirements of the act, including transportation, food, wages, and… Read More
It has been a trying year for the pork industry in Canada, but that’s not to say it’s been entirely negative. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the industry very hard at the outset, and has continued to be a challenge at the farm, processing, and trade levels. However, demand has been strong throughout the pandemic, and… Read More
Seven in 10 Canadians have never visited an operational commercial farm, but those who have had the opportunity form positive perceptions of modern agriculture. That’s one of the findings emerging from the third annual agriculture and food public opinion poll from Grassroots Public Affairs. At first glance, the 70 per cent result may seem surprising,… Read More
Effective April 13, Cargill’s protein facility at London, Ont., will wind down and temporarily idle processing due to COVID-19 impacts on the community. The poultry processing facility says as they work in partnership with the union, employees will receive a weekly guarantee of 36 hours of pay, as they reinforce the importance of adhering to… Read More
Regardless of where you are in North America, we can likely agree on one thing: COVID-19 has changed how we behave, and politics is no exception. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been numerous provincial elections across Canada; and as the federal budget release looms closer, it has many asking whether an election will be… Read More
The effects of COVID-19 on agriculture were surprising, and some sectors of the industry were affected more than others — grain and oilseed operations fared much better than say, intensive horticulture crops, in terms of labour. For this RealAg LIVE! host Kara Oosterhuis is joined by Debra Hauer of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council… Read More
The Ontario government is providing $10 million to allow more farmers and agri-food operators to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), enhance cleaning and disinfection measures, and redesign workstations to better protect workers. Under the new Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program (EAWPP), farms and agri-food businesses that hire three or more employees will be eligible for… Read More
The Liberal party’s national policy convention is this week, and as part of the organization’s annual meeting, resolutions can be brought forward from electoral districts across the country. Kody Blois, member of parliament for Kings-Hants, acts as chair of the Rural Liberal Caucus; and as someone from Atlantic Canada’s agricultural heartland, understands the region and sector’s… Read More
Rural and urban communities have felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic differently. From gaps in healthcare, to transport challenges and through to isolation, the pandemic has brought to light some significant differences between city and rural dwellers. Dr. Gabe Woollam, a family physician based at Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, and president of the Society… Read More
The Government of Ontario released its provincial budget Wednesday, with a big spend on internet and broadband expansion for the province, including rural areas. The announcement of $2.8 billion for expanded broadband will bring the total that Ontario has committed to broadband expansion over $4 billion, with a commitment to connect the entire province by… Read More
This week’s financial news seems to be all about inflation concerns, but our guest today doesn’t share the same concern level as everyone else. JP Gervais, chief economist at Farm Credit Canada, joins host Shaun Haney for today’s RealAg LIVE! RealAg LIVE! streams every weekday at 3 pm E on Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter! SUMMARY… Read More
COVID-19 has impacted each and every economic sector, and the protein processing industry is no exception. From plant shut downs, to slow downs, to outbreaks amid plant staff, and even deaths from the virus, the meat processing value chain has been hard hit by this pandemic. With vaccines now a reality, meat packers through the… Read More
There’s plenty of optimism for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout to assist in a global economic recovery, but what happens after mass vaccination? What’s at play to help the global economy recover? Jan Lambregts, head of RaboResearch, global economics and markets at Rabobank, recently joined Shaun Haney to talk all things global finance. Lambregts recently presented… Read More
Alberta pork processing plants have been impacted by COVID-19 outbreaks and control measures, and as a result plants have closed or reduced slaughter capacity. Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau announced today that the AgriRecovery Framework will kick-in for Alberta, with up to $3 million available to assist hog producers impacted by processing shut… Read More
The post-COVID situation for the food industry may be a concern for the average consumer. The impacts might be most felt by the grocery and restaurant sectors and one has to wonder what the business might look like when we emerge from the pandemic. “It depends which country you’re in,” says Dr. David Hughes, emeritus… Read More