Jun 7 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Pandemic disrupted exports to European and Pacific trading partners. Ottawa-Figuring out a strategy for Canadian agrifood exports is no simple task, a Farm Credit Canada analysis of trade patterns in recent years shows. While diversifying away from the U.S., our biggest customer, is a good risk management move, it’s been a steady customer for Canadian […]
Jun 6 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Agriculture schools need to keep up with modern demands. OTTAWA– Canada’s rate of post-secondary education enrolment in agricultural, forestry, fishing, and veterinary education is among the highest internationally but the demand for graduates continues to exceed the supply, says a study by RBC Economics. Since bottoming out in 2003, admissions to agricultural schools have grown […]
Jun 5 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Rural-focused meeting was a first of its kind. Ottawa-A website intended to help rural and small town Canadians find federal government services of particular use to them has been relaunched after a redesign to make it more helpful, Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, has announced. The website-www.canada.ca/rural-is meant to guide rural Canadians to […]
May 31 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Ottawa—Making agriculture sustainability work in Canada will require the federal and provincial governments to follow the example set in their current five year agriculture partnership (SCAP), says a report from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI). As agriculture is one of three areas that Ottawa and the provinces have a shared responsibility for, the federal […]
May 30 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Risk assessment for beehives should be conducted this year or next. Ottawa—Persistent 30 per cent levels of winter beehive losses threaten crop pollination in Canada, says Paul van Westendorp, B.C.’s Provincial Apiculturist. Prior to 1987, the average winter mortality rate for beehives was roughly 10 per cent, he told the Commons agriculture committee. During the […]
May 29 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Many barriers not based in science. Ottawa-Agriculture trade is increasingly disrupted by non-tariff trade barriers that undermine the purpose of the free trade deals Canada has signed in recent years, says Dave Carey, Vice-President of the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). The barriers add market access costs and establish barriers for Canadian farmers to […]
May 23 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Lots of issues have to be addressed. Ottawa—The release of an Agriculture Canada report on consultations on a national agriculture labour strategy combined with an update on an industry-led workforce framework initiative shows the vexatious issue is being thoroughly scrutinized. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said the feedback and ideas presented to her department will inform […]
May 22 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Bill passes second reading unanimously. Ottawa-All party support in the Commons for a bill to provide fresh fruit and vegetable growers with financial protection when buyers of their products go bankrupt has been welcomed by producers. The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC), the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) and the Fruit and Vegetable […]
May 19 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Ottawa-The bill to exempt farmers from the carbon tax on propane and natural gas used in grain dryers and barn heating got a positive opening debate in the Senate. There will be further debate before it goes to a committee for further study raising questions about whether it will be passed into law before Parliament […]
May 18 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Bill passes second reading unanimously. Ottawa—A bill to provide fresh fruit and vegetable growers with financial protection when buyers of their products go bankrupt has received approval in principle from MPs and will be studied by the Commons agriculture committee. The produce industry has been seeking this kind of help since the U.S. in 2014 […]
May 16 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — CFIA guidance on the process is the final step needed. Ottawa—Final Canadian Food Inspection Agency guidance is all that is required to enable Canadian farmers to begin planting gene-edited (GE) soybean varieties just as they can sow organic, regular and genetically modified ones, says Brian Innes, Executive Director of Soy Canada. Development of GE varieties […]
May 15 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Ottawa gives money to big companies but will not refund fertilizer tariffs to farmers. Ottawa-The Volkswagen electric battery plant being built with billions of dollars of government assistance near St. Thomas will take 1,500 acres of prime farmland out of production, says Senator Robert Black, chair of the Senate agriculture committee and the driving […]
May 14 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Jean Chrétien’s partner in life and politics, his wife Aline, was born on this date in 1936 in Shawinigan. She married the future Prime Minister in 1957 and they enjoyed a marriage of 63 years. A woman of grace, class and substance, she was Prime Minister Chrétien’s most important advisor. Canadians of all political stripes […]
May 12 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — More work needed to finish fully developing it. Ottawa—Walking the talk on producing food sustainably in Canada has taken a big step forward with the release of the National Index on Agri-Food Performance for further development in advance of new global disclosure standards coming next year. Work on the Index began in 2020 under […]
May 10 2023 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Approval came in time for August celebration. Ottawa—Ontario Senator Rob Black’s Food Day in Canada Act has secured Parliamentary approval, which will enable it to be celebrated this August on the 20th anniversary of its launch by the late Anita Stewart. Black said he was pleased the debates on the bill in the Senate and […]