Does China trade deal line up with ‘Canadian values’? Feds want to know
It’s not just Conservative MP Kellie Leitch who wants to talk about Canadian values; Canada’s foreign ministry is looking for public submissions on just that topic as part of an online consultation on the prospect of a free trade deal with China. The consultations launched with little fanfare March 4, with a webpage and online […]
Transparency in today’s grain market just not possible
Many farmers are complaining about grain prices being offered this winter, especially for wheat. It is hard to find a port price for wheat, but data from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada states the average price this year is north of $8.60 per bushel at Vancouver and even higher on the world market. Yet farmers are only […]
Canadian agricultural policy: why supply management?
OTTAWA—In Canada and in other countries, the markets for agricultural products are characterized by considerable instability due to factors such as unpredictable weather, technological advances, and changing demands. This poses an immense challenge to agricultural producers who often face fluctuations in prices that subsequently result in uncertain incomes. Supply management systems were established in Canada […]
Changes south of the border offer both challenges and opportunities for sustainable agriculture in Canada
A number of obstacles presently stand in the way of efforts to make Canada’s agricultural system more sustainable. A heavy reliance on chemical inputs, industrial processing, and long distances between farm and plate have contributed to high rates of greenhouse gas emissions, degradation of water and soil quality, and threats to biodiversity. These ecological challenges […]
The time is now to position Canada as a global leader in Agri-Food
February 16 is Canada’s Agriculture Day; a day to celebrate the food we love and where it comes from, focusing not only on farmers and producers but also on Canada’s food processing sector, our retailers large and small and, of course, consumers. Although Canada’s Agriculture Day is a new addition to the calendar, it is […]
Growing the agriculture sector means growing the conversation about food
Food drives many of our conversations at home, on social media, and just about everywhere else. When we gather together, food is often the most anticipated guest of honour. And yet, despite how often most of us are thinking or speaking about food, those discussions don’t always spill over into our country’s vital political and […]
How farmers can fight climate change and hunger
Can improved agricultural practices help fight both climate change and hunger? Yes, according to one the world’s most esteemed climate scientists. In fact, when meting out money for mitigating climate change, Canada should prioritize supporting small family farming. James Hansen, who is the retired head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, has warned […]
Trump presidency puts Canada’s food producers on alert
The new U.S. administration’s stated desire to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is leaving those in the agricultural sector wondering what this will mean for food producers in Canada, and many are looking to other continents to fill any potential trade void. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland (University-Rosedale, Ont.) signalled last week […]
Liberals’ expanding priorities: a challenge for agriculture
The House of Commons Agriculture Committee has been hearing from Canadian agriculture on the next Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) agreement. Primary producers, food processors, transportation, exporters, specialty sectors—each has a set of priorities for taxpayers’ money assigned to agriculture. The massive and healthy diversity that makes up Canadian agriculture creates a multiplicity of claims and […]
Provinces would benefit from national tool to evaluate policy outcomes by tracking farmland usage
Manitoba has a large landmass, with a diverse production base and agricultural sector that generates six billion in cash receipts. That information is critical when we discuss how Manitoba addresses the acquisition of farmland. Manitoba regulates the acquisition of farmland through two acts. The first one, the Farm Lands Ownership Act, has been in effect since […]
