Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has updated its forecast for this year’s crop, reflecting the impact of drought in Western Canada in its August numbers. AAFC’s July report garnered more attention than normal, with a 19.9 million metric tonne (MT) canola production estimate coming in much higher than any other canola projections. In the outlook… Read More
The federal government has its eye on reducing nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer, but it’s not clear how it intends to reach its target, and whether the target is achievable without having a detrimental impact on crop yields. Last December, while announcing the federal carbon tax would be increasing to $170/tonne of CO2 equivalent, the… Read More
A $200 million, three-year fund has been launched by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada under the federal government’s Agricultural Climate Solutions program. As of August 12, the On-Farm Climate Action Fund is now open for delivery partner proposals. The partner(s) will then provide direct grants to farmers to adopt beneficial management practices that store carbon and reduce… Read More
Protein Industries Canada (PIC) has announced another investment, this time into a project to develop a national strategy to improve diversity and inclusion of Indigenous groups in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. Led by Indigenous Works, the project is part of the organization’s Luminary Initiative, a six-year program created to advance Indigenous-led research and… Read More
Some insect pests overwinter in or near fields, while others blow in later in the season. For those that overwinter, early scouting is especially important. Following a relatively mild winter, some insect pests are making the most of dry conditions on many parts of the Prairies and are beginning to emerge and feed. For this… Read More
The Canadian farming, food, and agriculture export sector generates millions of jobs and billions of dollars in value for the Canadian economy. For such an important industry, some are criticizing the Liberal government for not including enough for the sector in the 2021 budget. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), says there… Read More
After what feels like a never-ending game of extra innings baseball, the standoff between the Prairie provinces and the federal government over changes to AgriStability needs to end. All stakeholders are exhausted from the timeline-stretching, blown deadlines, fake outrage, and pure avoidance to find a solution to a rather simple issue. At different times it… Read More
Much of the oxygen surrounding agriculture in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has been used on dairy, but expect wheat to gain increased attention in the coming weeks if some U.S. farm groups get their way. Newly reappointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has mentioned USMCA enforcement and wheat several times in recent speeches, and… Read More
Five projects focused on improving agriculture plastic waste management and bioplastics research will see a share of $4.5 million in funding via the federal government. Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the funding today alongside Cleanfarms, a national non-profit industry stewardship organization. Cleanfarms will receive up to $1.1 million through the Canadian Agricultural Strategic… Read More
Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau launched a $185 million climate-focused program today, called the Agriculture Climate Solutions program. Aimed at building “climate resiliency” within the agriculture sector, the ACS program is intended to be led by farmers and farm groups tasked with developing and deploying climate solutions tailored for each region,… Read More
The federal minister of agriculture says it’s been over 100 days since proposed funding and changes to AgriStability were announced, but she has not received a clear indication from any of the three Prairie Provinces on whether or not they will sign on. In a press conference Wednesday morning, Agriculture and Agri-Food minister Marie-Claude Bibeau… Read More
Almost a year in the making, and nearly two years from the time an application could have been submitted, Canada’s status as a negligible-risk country for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is one step closer. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced this week that the Scientific Commission of the World Organization for Animal… Read More
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has officially announced the membership of the Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council. The council is a central component of the Food Policy for Canada program, that was announced in 2019. The announcement, which was part of the virtual Food Systems Summit Dialogue, convened by the Arrell Food Institute… Read More
The federal agriculture minister tried to address some of the questions coming from farms and other businesses that employ temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in a news conference on February 12. Employers of TFWs have been seeking clarifications regarding the federal government’s international travel restrictions and COVID-19 isolation protocols, as workers arrive for the upcoming growing… Read More
As we drift into a new year, an opportunity presents itself to refocus and take a fresh look at the issues at hand. Some people make New Year’s resolutions, some think about changes, and others take advantage of the fresh calendar to implement real change to benefit stakeholders and their own position. This restart with… Read More