Several organizations that represent grain farmers from across Canada are raising concerns about the federal government’s push to add environmental incentives or criteria to business risk management (BRM) programs, such as crop insurance, AgriStability, or AgriInvest. As part of the negotiations for Canada’s next five-year agricultural policy framework, federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau is urging… Read More
If there’s one thing clear in Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan, it’s that very few things are completely clear. Take for example what agriculture is expected to deliver in emissions reductions. It’s either a reduction of one percent, as listed on page 90, or an increase of one per cent as listed on page 219. Or… Read More
Grain Growers of Canada has announced a “Road to 2050″ initiative aimed at helping the Canadian government work toward its commitment of net-zero emissions by 2050. “The ‘Road to 2050’ will propose a path forward that focuses on innovation, research and beneficial management practices. This will boost productivity while continuing to enhance soil quality, improving… Read More
Farm organizations from across the spectrum of Canadian agriculture welcomed the introduction of Bill C-234 in the House of Commons on Monday. The private member’s bill sponsored by Ben Lobb, the Conservative MP for Huron-Bruce, would amend the federal government’s carbon pricing legislation to provide an exemption from the carbon tax for natural gas and… Read More
The federal election writ was dropped on Sunday, August 15, and the question on people in agriculture’s minds is if the industry will have any role in the campaign. Grain Growers of Canada recently released a list of issues they think should be addressed by the candidates, and Erin Gowriluk, executive director at GGC, offers… Read More
With just over a month of an election campaign, agriculture groups are being creative and using multiple platforms to get their message out on what they’d like to see as part of election platforms of the major political parties. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and Grain Growers of Canada both promoted their wish lists… Read More
Sitting on multiple boards during a lifetime is an invaluable experience. Having dedicated board members involved in policy and agriculture commissions can spark real change for agriculture in Canada. Jeff Nielsen spent time as a director of the Alberta Barley Commission, and as the chair — through the position’s various names — of Grain Growers… Read More
The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) have elected a new executive board for the upcoming year. Andre Harpe will take a spot as the new chair, and William van Tassel and Brendan Phillips as vice-chairs. Harpe, who farms in Valhalla Centre, Alta., says he looks forward to continuing the organization’s rich history of representing grain… Read More
The in-person meetings aren’t happening on Parliament Hill, but that doesn’t mean lobbying efforts on behalf of farmers have stopped. For this episode of RealAg LIVE! host Shaun Haney is joined by Erin Gowriluk, executive director of the Grain Growers of Canada, to recap last week’s Grain Week, how lobbying has changed during COVID-19, what’s… Read More
Editor’s note: The federal government announced an extension of the application window through the Ministry of Finance on August 31. The deadline to apply to the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) is Monday, August 31. With just days to go before the application window closes, many in agriculture, including producer groups, are calling on the… Read More
For those just starting their careers in agriculture, it might seem strange to think that one of the most controversial topics in the past was about whether or not farmers could sell their own wheat and barley to an end user. Just eight years ago, the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) had its single desk removed…. Read More
Although there are still talks happening behind closed doors, progress of the business risk management program (BRM) review feels as though it’s slow-moving. At this year’s CropConnect conference held at Winnipeg, Man., the topic was acknowledged by federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, but there was no mention of action — which is what most are… Read More
A Conservative Member of Parliament from southern Ontario tabled legislation in the House of Commons on Tuesday that would remove the carbon tax from fuels used for drying grain and heating on farms. The private member’s bill, which would amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, was introduced by Philip Lawrence, MP for Northumberland—Peterborough South…. Read More
The Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) has withdrawn its membership from national policy organization Grain Growers of Canada. GFO had only recently joined the organization in 2018, at the same time as SaskFlax and Productuers du Grains du Quebec. Markus Haerle, chair of GFO, says his organization left, in part, due to the lack of… Read More
The Canadian government has introduced legislation to implement the new trade deal between Canada, the United States, and Mexico — the last of the three countries to do so. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled Bill C-4, formally known as An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the… Read More
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