Jul 29 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Details to come out soon. Ottawa—The Ontario government will make up to $2 million in financial aid available for farmers in Northwestern Ontario struggling with a prolonged drought that has gripped the area. Agriculture Minister Lisa Thompson and Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford, the MPP for Kenora-Rainy River, said July 27 the goal of […]
Jul 28 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Ottawa—After a strong performance in its 2020-2021 fiscal year, Farm Credit Canada stands ready to help producers struggling with this year’s vexing weather conditions, says Michael Hoffort, President and CEO. In the fiscal year that began March 1, 2020, FCC grew its portfolio by 7.6 per cent to $41.5 billion even though it adjusted payments […]
Jul 27 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Proposed 30 per cent cut in nitrogen fertilizer uses would harm producers. Ottawa—A Fertilizer Canada (FC) attempt to bring science into the debate over farm use of fertilizers has garnered support from agriculture groups. And it has encouraged the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association (WCWGA) to launch a public awareness campaign about the Environment […]
Jul 26 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — A comprehensive AgriRecovery response is also needed. Ottawa–The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) are encouraged by measures the federal and provincial governments are taking to support farmers through the extreme weather of this summer. The ministers have announced livestock tax deferral for prescribed drought areas, bilateral adjustments to […]
Jul 24 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Auditor General has criticized the department’s record on rail safety Ottawa—Transport Canada has launched a public consultation on ways to improve the safety culture of the country’s railways, says Transport Minister Omar Alghabra. The consultations will focus on strengthening safety management systems and looking to better measure the effectiveness of its oversight program to identify […]
Jul 23 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Prospects for the rest of the year look good. Ottawa—The strong start the St. Lawrence Seaway got off to this spring has continued but grain shipments are no longer dominating the results. To the end of June shipments through the waterway were up 8.37 per cent over 2020 results. While grain is still the biggest […]
Jul 22 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Ottawa—A food industry alliance is reaching out to the rest of the sector to participate in developing a Grocer Code of Conduct on how the large grocery store chains treat their suppliers, says Kathleen Sullivan, CEO of Food and Beverage Canada (FBC). The country’s agriculture ministers agreed at a mid-July meeting to request the food […]
Jul 21 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Finance promises consultations on Income Tax amendments. Ottawa-Legislation easing transfers of farms and small businesses to family members is the law of the land and the Finance Department will conduct consultations on related amendments to the Income Tax Act in the coming months. The Commons finance committee spent four hours July 20 questioning Parliamentary […]
Jul 20 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Final format of the Code not likely until late 2022. Ottawa—The federal and provincial agriculture ministers have handed resolution of the dispute involving product fees charged by the largest grocery store chains to a special committee established by the food sector. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says during a virtual ministers meeting in mid-June it […]
Jul 19 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — GGC plans close examination of grain transportation. Ottawa –Grain Growers of Canada is taking a close look at whether Canada’s railways are fully capable of delivering this year’s harvest to international customers and it is asking farmers for ideas and issues to consider. GGC has set up a Grain on Trains hotline along with […]
Jul 16 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — White Paper is expected to be released this fall. Ottawa—After being swamped by farmer criticisms of the draft version of its proposed Responsible Grain Code of Practice, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops (CRSC) has to set to work on a White Paper to deal with the issues raised by producers. The CRSC Steering […]
Jul 14 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — The delay will add to the stress facing many older farmers. Ottawa—Farm groups are voicing their displeasure with the Finance Department’s decision to delay and change Conservative MP Larry Maguire’s bill on intergenerational business transfers that has been approved by Parliament and received Royal Assent. Mary Robinson, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture […]
Jul 13 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — The beef sector sets an ambitious agenda. Ottawa—Canadian beef producers are in step with an international beef sustainability campaign that aims to reduce carbon emissions, improve land use and protect animal health and well-being, says Fawn Jackson, Director of Policy and International Affairs with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Jackson, who was the founding Executive […]
Jul 12 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — The event will look at how agriculture can help achieve a net zero carbon economy. Ottawa – While it’s just over three months away, the Agri-Food Innovation Council (AIC) thinks the battle against Covid-19 is going well enough that it can hold an open policy conference in Toronto. Serge Buy, AIC’s CEO, admits opening […]
Jul 9 2021 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Farm and small business groups supported the bill. Ottawa- The Finance Department wants to delay and dilute Conservative MP Larry Maguire’s bill to ease intergenerational transfers of farms and fishing and other small businesses until at least next year. In an announcement late June 30 after both the Commons and the Senate had adjourned […]