National Newswatch

Grain drying bill shows importance of agriculture

Sep 26 2023 — Alex Binkley — Bill recognizes unique situation of farmers. Ottawa—A bill to exempt farmers from paying the carbon tax for grain drying and barn heating shows that the importance of agriculture is understood on Parliament Hill, Newfoundland Senator David Wells says. Remarkable cross-party cooperation enabled Huron-Bruce Conservative MP Benn Lobb’s bill to make it through the Commons and […]

Transport committee calls for through review of Canadian ports

Sep 25 2023 — Alex Binkley — Ottawa-The government needs to conduct a thorough review of the capacity of Canadian ports and their long-term infrastructure requirements, says the Commons transport committee. In a 26-page report to the Commons, the committee made 12 recommendations for the government to act on to ensure the 17 Canada Port Authorities (CPA) can fulfill their critical role […]

FCC matching food donations up to $1 million

Sep 22 2023 — Alex Binkley — Rural and remote areas need plenty of help. Ottawa—Farm Credit Canada will match up to $1 million in new donations to food banks and food security agencies across Canada to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Drive Away Hunger program, President and CEO Justine Hendricks has announced. Last year, Drive Away Hunger raised a record […]

CAPI survey finds agriculture sustainability needs encouragement

Sep 13 2023 — Alex Binkley — Sustainable practices are already widely adopted. Ottawa-Farmers are ready to adopt new sustainability practices and technology and they want tax credits and increased extension training to assist them in moving forward, says the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI). These and many other findings come from a survey of 720 producers conducted by CAPI and RealAgriStudies […]

WOAH reports drop in antimicrobial use in animals

Sep 11 2023 — Alex Binkley — New digital program launched to track antibiotic use. Ottawa—The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) says global antimicrobial use in animals has declined by 13 per cent during the last three years showing progress in ongoing efforts to preserve the efficacy of modern medicines. In its latest annual report on the use of antimicrobials in […]

Government claims victory in dairy dispute with New Zealand

Sep 8 2023 — Alex Binkley — Dairy Farmers of Canada disappointed with CPTPP review of New Zealand’s claims.   Ottawa—While the government was seeing victory in an international ruling on Canadian dairy practices, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) was not cheering the decision by a dispute settlement panel established under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP). President David […]

More farms transitioning to renewable energy

Sep 6 2023 — Alex Binkley — Farmers should see solar energy as a marketable product. Ottawa–Renewable energy is gaining ground among Canadian farmers with solar-generated electricity leading the way, says Farm Credit Canada. Farmers need to treat electricity produced through various solar systems as a commodity that they can sell on good days and purchase on overcast ones, FCC said. According […]

Saving farmland remains key issue in Greenbelt controversy

Aug 21 2023 — Alex Binkley — Greenbelt land will not solve provincial housing woes. Ottawa—Preserving farmland is one of the key issues in the raging controversy over a provincial plan for allocating 7,400 acres of land in the Greenbelt for building homes, say Ontario farm groups. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, backed by Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), and the National […]

Canada’s export aspirations hobbled by its transportation network

Aug 15 2023 — Alex Binkley — Concerted government and private investment needed. Ottawa-Canada’s transportation system is gummed up by capacity constraints, labour stoppages, climate-related disruptions and long project approval times, says a report from RBC Economics. As a result, exporters are suffering and international investors eyeing new opportunities in the agrifood and many other sectors are being discouraged and Canada’s reputation […]

Ag Canada takes another step in preparing for ASF

Aug 10 2023 — Alex Binkley — More preventative measures will be funded. Ottawa—A federal investment in three Manitoba Pork Council programs to prepare its members for an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) are the first steps in federal aid for hog producers across the country with more to be announced in the coming months, says Agriculture Canada. The $944,340 funding […]

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