The way farmers pay for new variety development is set to change. The federal government is currently hosting consultation meetings across Canada, gathering information and feedback from the seed industry, farmers, farm groups, and industry, on which of two royalty options the industry prefers. Executive director of the Canadian Seed Trade Association, Dave Carey, says… Read More
Nearly 50 scientists and regulators with Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) hopped on a pair of buses a few weeks ago and spent a day in the field 45 minutes from Ottawa learning about how the crop protection products they regulate are used by farmers. The first-ever PMRA field day, held on a farm… Read More
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney starts the show on a high note by reading a pretty impactful tweet from John Kowalchuk about hardworking farmers. From there, we head into the news, where you’ll hear about: How the feds registered a surplus of $3.2 billion The U.S. released its GDP figures, and they’re up 2.2 per… Read More
Following significant restrictions by the Ontario government in 2015, seed corn companies in the province began to offer non-neonicotinoid seed treatment insecticide options. Now, a significant portion of corn seed sales carry non-neonicotinoid options. It’s bizarre then, that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change recently published data showing only a 22% reduction in the amount… Read More
I truly believe that in your career you get the chance to meet a handful of people that you aspire to be more like. We all have that list of people in our head that inspire us, motivate us and push us to be better because they do the same. When I first started RealAgriculture… Read More
The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) has appointed Dave Carey as its new executive director. Previously CSTA’s director of government affairs and policy, Carey joined the national seed trade organization in 2012. “Dave Carey is widely recognized for his ability to build strong relationships with all government parties, stakeholders and industry partners, and brings a… Read More
Agriculture is big business, but a small industry, if you think about the number of people involved. Within each sector, that number shrinks significantly, and, at times, trying to communicate the needs of one sector can be tough when you’re few in number. The seed industry has faced that challenge for quite some time, and,… Read More
The Canadian Seed Trade Association has launched a new database help easily identify PBR protection on crop varieties registered for sale in Canada. The Crop Varieties Registered in Canada and Plant Breeders’ Rights Status database was created by the CSTA with the assistance of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Variety Registration Office and the Plant… Read More
Scott Horner of HyTech Production Ltd., based at Lethbridge, Alberta, has been named president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association following the CSTA’s annual meeting held last week at Windsor, Ont. A board member since 2008, Horner also represents CSTA on the board of directors of the Seed Association of the Americas. He has also… Read More
There are still lingering questions as to how farmers access, pay for and use seed varieties under UPOV ’91, which Canada adopted with the passing of Bill C-18 back in March of this year. For those that claim that under the act farmers lose their right to save seed, Patty Townsend, executive director of the… Read More
Crosby Devitt will join the Canadian Seed Trade Association as its new executive director, effective July 27, 2015. Devitt is currently vice president, strategic development for the Grain Farmers of Ontario, where he leads and manages the communications, research and market development departments of the organization. The CSTA says that Devitt was also instrumental in… Read More
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has announced the government’s commitment to “streamline and modernize” the way crop varieties are registered in Canada. These proposed changes will now enter into a consultation period ahead of the actual regulatory changes being drafted. Most major field crops grown in Canada are subject to Variety Registration, such as wheat, canola,… Read More
Canada’s rules and regulations regarding plant breeder’s rights adhere to a convention that’s over 35 years old, even though there is a more modern, widely accepted convention that’s a mere 23 years old — UPOV ’91. Bill C-18, currently in the parliamentary process, will bring Canada in line with UPOV ’91, a move that has… Read More
Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz was in Winnipeg, Man., today to announce the tabling of Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act. The act covers a host of agriculture-related regulations — a total of nine — with an eye to “amending, streamlining and modernizing” Canada’s regulations as they relate to several areas of agriculture. From plant breeding… Read More
The Canadian Seed Trade Association has a lot on its plate. Newly elected President Steve Denys will be the first to tell you that. The association is working toward directing government policies that will help Canadian producers thrive at home and compete abroad in a fast paced, constantly changing arena. We spoke to Steve at… Read More