It can be easy to think about Canadian grain, canola, soybeans, or meat as just commodities — a product bought and sold, traded, and shipped. And that’s true, of course, but those commodities are also eventual meals for Canadian customers, even if those customers live in places such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia, or the Philippines…. Read More
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) says grain farmers in the province will send eight percent of their total net income to the federal government in the form of a carbon tax this year. “Federal Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau has asked the agriculture industry for evidence of what the carbon tax is costing… Read More
A tentative deal between the Teamsters union and the over 3,000 rail workers it represents and CN Rail will mean that normal rail operations are set to resume as early as today. A news release sent mid-morning on Tuesday says: “I’m pleased to announce we’ve reached a tentative agreement with CN,” says Francois Laporte, president… Read More
With two potential new models for collecting seed royalties on the horizon, farm groups across the Prairies are wanting to hear from producers as to what their preference would be. Currently, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have put their consultation process on hold with farmers. This comes after… Read More
Saskatchewan’s Court of Appeal ruled Friday afternoon, the federal carbon tax imposed on the province is constitutionally sound and falls within the legislative authority of Parliament. The court ruled 3-2 in favour of the federal government. The ruling was dissented by Justices Ralph Ottenbreit and Neal Caldwell, with the argument that Part 1 of the… Read More
Farm groups such as the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) have lobbied the government this past month to get cardlock fuel included in the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (GGPPA) exemption and it looks like they’re close to the finish line. In the release of the federal budget, the government announced it’s looking into… Read More
Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe made a major funding announcement concerning flood mitigation at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) annual convention being held this year at Saskatoon. Moe says that there are 96 Conservation and Development Authorities and 13 water association boards, which operate under the Saskatchewan Conservation and Development Association (SCDA), and provide… Read More
A loophole discovered by the president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) could be a headache to farmers come April 1. Todd Lewis was recently in Ottawa at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s annual general meeting where he learned that not all farm fuel will be exempted for producers. “It is our understanding that farm… Read More
The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) has returning faces along with some new ones to its board of directors following its annual general meeting. Along with changes to leadership, the farm group also passed a number of resolutions. At its annual general meeting, current president, Todd Lewis, was elected again to the position for… Read More
From the emails sent to RealAgriculture, so far farm groups have not been very supportive of the new federal carbon tax policy. The plan, released on Tuesday, indicates farmers will be exempt from the fuel tax which goes into effect April of next year. It calculates to about four cents more at the pump, and… Read More
The Canadian government has announced a new livestock tax deferral program which covers some, but not all, major cattle areas within the country. Although both the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) and the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association (SCA) agree it’s a good start, neither believe it will cover everyone who needs the program. “Livestock producers… Read More
The 90-day consultation period regarding access to strychnine for rodent control in Canadian fields is drawing to a close. Back in July, Health Canada proposed the de-registration of the chemical, often used to curb rodent population in farmers fields as the department found the chemical was also causing harm to species-at-risk, such as the swift fox and the burrowing… Read More
The time is now for the federal government to take action and help livestock producers affected by dry conditions with a tax deferral program, according to Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS). Lewis notes feed shortages are top of mind for most producers and there’s plenty of uncertainty right now if… Read More
The scoop: Transport Minister Marc Garneau has decided to accept the Senate’s main grain-related amendments to Bill C-49 — the government’s long-awaited transportation legislation. Farm groups are applauding the minister’s decision, while urging MPs and Senators to agree on the amendments and to pass the bill before the summer break. The story: Farm groups are… Read More
The issue: The Saskatchewan government filed a reference question in the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal on Wednesday asking the court whether the federal carbon pricing legislation violates the Constitution. Farm groups, who have supported the Saskatchewan government’s opposition to the carbon tax, are welcoming the court challenge. Why does it matter? Saskatchewan is currently the… Read More