The new code of practice being developed for grain farms across Canada is aimed at proactively building public trust, potentially mitigating the need for increased paperwork and regulations down the road, according to the vice-chair of the Canada Grains Council. The voluntary code of practice — being created by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops… Read More
The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) will be bringing on Dave Carey as its new vice-president of government & industry relations. Carey will be responsible for managing relationships with government and industry stakeholders, as well as advocating on issues, programs, and policies that “enhance the success of Canadian canola farmers,” according to a press release…. Read More
Eight days later, the CN Rail strike is over. RealAg Radio host, Shaun Haney takes a little credit for the agreement reached between the two parties as he planned today’s show all-around diving in deeper to how the CN strike is impacting producers across Canada. Tuesday’s show still surrounds the strike, but more so on what… Read More
With just under two weeks left until the provincial election in Manitoba, the Progressive Conservative party has announced it would set the country’s highest biofuel requirements, if re-elected. Premier Brian Pallister says his government will increase the ethanol requirement in gasoline to 10 per cent and the biodiesel requirement from two to five per cent… Read More
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced a Stay of Default for the 2018-19 Advance Payment Program (APP) today, giving farmers an additional six months to repay the advance. “Our government is working closely with our farmers to meet their needs and is taking many concrete steps to help them deal with the current market… Read More
Canola farmers in Canada will now have access to $500,000 in interest-free loans under the Advanced Payments Program. The changes, effective immediately, are an increase from the original amount of $100,000. “The implementation of these regulations means that farmers facing cash flow challenges in Canada will now have access to up to $500,000 interest-free for… Read More
According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, regulations are now in place for the changes to the Advanced Payments Program (APP) announced at the beginning of May. The original changes were an increase to the APP cap from $400,000 to $1,000,0000 for all producers in an effort to help farmers in the face of… Read More
The first part of the winter was quite mild and rail transportation has been very good to this point. Now, the weather has cooled, and question is how will the numbers look as we move forward? The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) is one of the groups that monitors transportation issues on the part of… Read More
After launching exploratory discussions with China last fall, the Canadian government is taking another step toward negotiating a trade deal Canada’s second-largest trading partner. As part of the March 4th issue of the Canada Gazette, Global Affairs Canada announced it’s asking for feedback on how to proceed with a possible free trade agreement with China. “With… Read More
If new rail legislation the federal government promised to introduce this spring is to be passed before the end of the session in June, it will have to be tabled soon. “One would imagine with the legislative calendar, it’s going to be have to be in the next several weeks,” says Steve Pratte, rail policy guru… Read More
Canola grower organizations say Bayer’s proposed acquisition of Monsanto is “a cause of serious concern to Canada’s canola farmers” due to the consolidation that would occur in the canola seed, trait and crop protection markets. The Canadian Canola Growers Association, along with the Alberta Canola Producers Commission, SaskCanola, the Manitoba Canola Growers Association and Ontario… Read More
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization hosted an international symposium in Rome last month on The Role of Agricultural Biotechnologies in Sustainable Food Systems and Nutrition. The FAO’s goal for the event was to debate and exchange ideas on how biotech can benefit smallholder farmers — both in sustainability and nutrition — in the… Read More
The administration of cash advances has become a competitive business following legislative changes to the federal government’s cash advance program last year. With the passage of Bill C-18, each producer group that serves as an Advance Payments Program administrator (find a list here) can issue the short-term loans for all 45 crops and livestock types covered in… Read More
Back in the winter of 2013-14 when Western Canada’s grain industry was bogged down in a massive rail backlog, the upcoming review of the Canada Transportation Act was viewed as an opportunity to improve the way the rail system moves grain. The review process began in May of 2014 and the final report written by… Read More
The canola industry has been among the most vocal advocates of Canada being part of a possible Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. So what’s in it for canola growers? According to industry estimates, canola exports could grow by $780 million if tariffs on Canadian canola oil and meal were eliminated across the TPP region. For this… Read More