Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau is exploring how to make Canada’s food more autonomous. In a Sept. 24 interview, Bibeau pointed to her minority Liberal government’s pledge in the Throne Speech to further support the food value chain. That could mean a review of food infrastructure across the country, according to Bibeau. “I don’t want to […] Read more

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Canada’s Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau admits the country is not benefiting from the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union. Expected to reach $1.5 billion in new agri-food exports, the deal has fallen short of those targets since being implemented in 2017. In a Sept. 21 letter to Prime Minister Justin […] Read more

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The Agri-Trade Equipment Expo has cancelled its 2020 show, which was to be held Nov. 11-13 in Red Deer. Citing travel restrictions by corporations that would impede exhibitor participation and attendance, show organizers said in a statement earlier today that cancelling was a difficult decision. Despite COVID-19, they had announced earlier this month that the […] Read more

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The benefits of Canada’s free trade deal with the European Union can be summed up like this: we’re selling Europe more oil and minerals, they’re selling us more BMWs, pharmaceutical drugs and high-tech machinery. In an optimistic document released in June, the federal government touted the economic benefits of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade […] Read more

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Cereals, oilseeds and pulse crops are expected to continue to move quickly through the grain-handling system, keeping pace with the unusually rapid shipments we saw this summer. Analysts say lingering concerns that a second wave of COVID-19 could disrupt supply chains later this year have prompted international grain buyers to secure supplies earlier than usual. […] Read more

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Canada’s hog producers are calling on the federal government to invest $50 million over three years to combat African swine fever. In an open letter released Sept. 11, the chair of the Canadian Pork Council Rick Bergmann spells out the impact an outbreak of the disease would have on the industry. The call comes on […] Read more

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A bull and a maybe-bear both agree that now is a good time to be making sales of the main crops. After a strong recent rally, today’s prices are worth picking up for at least some of this year’s crop, Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show heard. “Odds are in my favour that if I sell at […] Read more

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Rodeo — it’s sport, it’s entertainment, it’s western culture, agriculture, heritage and recreation. That span of categories is likely the reason rodeo stock contractors don’t qualify for existing funds and programs designed to ease businesses through the economic throes of COVID-19. Many are facing severe financial hardship. Pandemic restrictions coincided with what would have been […] Read more

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Hemp growers in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe are tired of the stringent and complex regulations around industrial hemp. Collectively, they are calling for a consistent and global system for the production and sale of hemp. In simple terms, they want governments to treat it like an agricultural crop. “The global consensus is clear. […] Read more

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Canadian farmers say Ottawa’s clean fuel standard should not burden those who grow the feedstock for biofuels. Grain Farmers of Ontario last week said they had deep concerns about current proposals from Environment Canada because they contain land-use restrictions. For example, a discussion document proposes buffer zones around riparian areas. On Twitter, farmers across Canada […] Read more

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