The Ecuadorian flag flies. PHOTO: YAMIL SALINAS MARTÍNEZ/CREATIVE COMMONS

Canadian government sees agriculture win in free trade agreement with Ecuador

Access for key agriculture exports gained, but not at the cost of supply management

Canada's new free trade deal with Ecuador will provide preferential treatment for Canada's key agriculture exports, such as grains and oilseeds, cereals, meat, pulse crops, processed foods and "sugar-containing" products but won't allow additional access to Canada for for supply-managed products such as dairy, poultry and eggs.

Stein appointed to manage AFA

Stein appointed to manage AFA

Newly-hired executive director will lead formulation of strategic plan

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Federation of Agriculture has appointed Aaron Stein its new executive director. He’ll be leading the formulation of a five year strategic plan for the group.


“But we lost a lot of acres… which suggests to me that some organic guys have let some of their organics land go. And they are growing canola on the side,” says Laura Telford. Photo: Greg Berg

ICE Canada Weekly: Canola set to climb higher

Supplies getting tighter

Canola has been on something of a tear for about a month with increases in 16 of its last 20 sessions on the Intercontinental Exchange as of Feb. 12. Despite a great amount of political chaos surrounding all of the markets, the Canadian oilseed is poised to climb higher for the rest of February, said broker Tony Tryhuk of RBC Dominion Securities in Winnipeg, Man.

 Photo: Greg Berg

Speculators exit short positions in canola

Net short smallest since 2023

Speculative fund traders were busy covering bearish bets and putting on new long positions during the first few days of February, taking the net short position in canola to its smallest level since September 2023, according to the latest Commitments of Traders report from the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).





Two striped grasshopper with wing buds.

Alberta offers insect insights for farmers

Populations were mostly small for key pests but there were plenty of hot spots

Reading Time: 4 minutes A review of what Alberta’s insect survey maps reveal about pest pressure both last year and for the coming growing season.

Kendra Reimert, agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada, says keeping clubroot spore numbers low and existing clubroot local are key to managing the disease.

Big clubroot numbers urge new vigilance

If you had it last year you probably have it this year — but it’s not the end of the world

Reading Time: 5 minutes Higher clubroot numbers in 2024 make the case for increased vigilance by Alberta canola growers in the coming season.