The petition says that Canadian consumers are driving strong demand for organic food, and asks the federal government to establish policies and programs to “encourage growth in the domestic supply of organic to meet the market opportunity,” and to “meaningfully recognize and incentivize sustainable resilient food systems, such as organic, across all departments that relate to Canadian food policy.”
Organic group send petition to federal government
Feds asked to establish policies and programs to help organic producers meet consumer demand, create sustainable food systems
U.S. cattle vets rename bovine bird-flu
CDC asks state health authorities to have plans in place to test, treat farm workers; says risk to humans still low
An organization representing American cattle veterinarians has opted to refer to bird flu in cattle as bovine influenza A virus, or BIAV, in hopes of distancing it from its avian counterpart.
Feds fund agriculture and food processing robotics projects
The federal government pledged up to $5 million in funding for agriculture and food-processing robotics on Friday in hopes of addressing ongoing workforce challenges.
Avian influenza detected in person exposed to dairy cattle
Alberta Milk issues new biosecurity, human safety guidelines
A human case of avian influenza has been confirmed in a person who had contact with dairy cows presumed to be infected with the virus, Texas and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.
Cargill renews top-up payment for CRSB-certified beef
Cargill and its customers have renewed a program that would ensure beef producers receive at least $400 for being certified under the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB).
Lack of national guidelines for ag carbon offsets flagged
Canada is falling behind in agriculture carbon market, report from RBC says
Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – A national framework is needed if carbon markets are to be profitable for farmers and companies, a new report says. RBC’s Climate Action 2024 report suggests that Canada lags the U.S., Brazil and China in its issuance of forestry and land use carbon credits, a category that would include agriculture, despite Canada’s […] Read more
Local food system would reap big economic benefits researcher says
B.C. researchers found that the Okanagan could produce two thirds of its own food while maintaining exports
Assuming an average Canadian diet, the Okanagan can currently produce 88 per cent of its dairy needs, Mullinix and colleagues wrote in a report on the study. It can produce 60 per cent of its poultry needs, 34 per cent of its fruit needs (due to fruits eaten that can’t be grown in the region, or are eaten out of season), and small amounts of other food groups like grains, red meat, eggs and oils.
Alberta barley breeding centre relaunched
"Western Crop Innovations will carry on the Field Crop Development Centre’s substantial legacy, ensuring its work is addressing the issues farmers are facing in the fields," said RJ Sigurdson, Alberta's minister of agriculture and irrigation in a news release Wednesday.
Agriculture workers not mentioned in TFW rule changes
Food processing sees foreign worker limit reduced by ten per cent; construction, healthcare exempted
The federal government announced Thursday that, effective May 1, some sectors would be allowed no more than 20 per cent of their workforces to be made up of temporary foreign workers (TWFs) brought in via the low wage stream—down from 30 per cent since 2022.
Kansas beef plant shuts down after fire
National Beef Packing Company, one of four major U.S. beef processors, said it suspended production at its Liberal, Kansas, plant for a second day on Friday, after a fire.
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
