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
Tucked into the federal rail legislation implemented last year was a requirement that’s supposed to hold grain buyers accountable for delivery dates in contracts with farmers. As of August 1, 2014, licensed grain companies in Western Canada that don’t accept grain during the timeframe defined in a contract are required to pay some sort of penalty to the producer…. Read More
While much of the public conversation has been focused on UPOV ’91 and plant breeders rights, changes are also being made to the federal government’s Advance Payments Program now that Bill C-18 — the Agricultural Growth Act — has become law. The amendments to the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act are supposed to make cash advances… Read More
The Canadian Canola Growers Association is investing $5 million in agriculture policy research at the University of Saskatchewan. The grower organization has announced a one-time contribution to establish the CCGA Agriculture Policy Chair in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. “Agriculture policy development is a cornerstone of the work we do at CCGA; we believe… Read More
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has announced a Stay of Default for the 2013-14 Advance Payments Program (APP) affecting grain farmers in Western Canada. The Stay extends the current repayment deadline of September 30, 2014 to March 31, 2015 for cash advances issued by the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). “Many farmers have faced challenges selling… Read More
Bill C-30, the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act, received Royal Assent yesterday, May 29, 2014. The bill was introduced into the House of Commons on March 27 as a means to address level of service issues in Canada’s rail transportation system. The Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act includes amendments to the Canada Transportation… Read More
The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) announced today that it has filed a Level of Service Complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency, contending that Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway did not fulfill their common carrier obligations for the movement of Western Canadian grains and oilseeds this crop year. “The breakdown of the Western… Read More
Keeping the crop in the bin during market dips but still having the bills paid is one advantage of using a cash advance program. For canola and several other crops, the cash advance is administered by the Canadian Canola Growers Association. Farmers can access $100,000 interest free, and up to another $300,000 borrowed at CIBC’s… Read More