Reading Time: 3 minutes Amazingly, the Canadian government said there would be no trade agreement unless the Koreans allowed unfettered access to their market for Canadian beef. Over the years I have written many times about the pitiful approach Canada has taken in international agricultural trade negotiations such as the World Trade Organization(WTO). That perspective seems to be shared […] Read more
New Direction Promises New Hope For Ag Trade
New U.S. Regulations Upset Ethanol Applecart
Reading Time: 2 minutes On May 5, 2009, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced proposed regulations regarding implementation of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). Despite the legislation’s namesake, there isn’t much security for the growth of traditional corn ethanol. EISA was landmark legislation for the biofuels industry because it set a national goal of […] Read more
Farm Groups Should Know The Risks Of Easy Credit
Reading Time: 2 minutes A letter to the editor of Ontario Farmer newspaper by Stephen Thompson of Clinton, Ontario. I am amazed and at the same time completely horrified by the number of farm groups congratulating federal ag minister Gerry Ritz for promising to make it easier for Canadian farmers to get access to credit. It would appear that […] Read more
Is Agriculture Ready For A World Of High Energy Prices?
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you follow the Canadian stock market, you will probably be familiar with the name of Jeff Rubin, former chief economist for CIBC World Markets. Like all economists, he hasn’t always been right, but he’s been right several times on some bold predictions. In 2000 he predicted oil prices would hit $50 a barrel within […] Read more
Beware — Americans Are Getting Pragmatic
Reading Time: 3 minutes Stephane Dion may not be a barrel of laughs, but the much-abused former Liberal leader may soon get the last one. That will be when the U.S. imposes a carbon tax – which in some form, is probably what it’s going to do – and Canada, no matter which party is in power, is forced […] Read more
Disease Reporting — Are We Cutting Our Own Throats?
Reading Time: 3 minutes As it turns out there is no consistent provincial, state, national or international policy on reporting the incidence of influenza in livestock of any kind. The recent outbreak of so-called swine flu – further referred to as H1N1 flu – causes one to wonder why we may be digging our own grave. Why is it […] Read more
Checkoff Dollars Critical To The Success Of Alberta’s Sheep Industry
Reading Time: 3 minutes “The whole industry benefits from Alberta Lamb Producers so if everyone isn’t willing to pay, it’s not fair to those who are.” Each time Gerrit Van Hierden tags one of the lambs on his farm near Fort Macleod, he contributes another $1.50 to the Alberta Lamb Producers (ALP) to help make Alberta’s growing sheep industry […] Read more
Small Farmers Have Too Much Say In CWB Vote
Reading Time: 3 minutes Henry Vos is a farmer-elected director of the Canadian Wheat Board. He farms near Fairview. The CWB voters list does not accurately reflect the farm community. It gives far too much clout to those who do not depend on farming as their main source of income. In the 2007-08 crop year, the CWB issued 84,403 […] Read more
Minister Uses Checkoff To Punish Opposition
Reading Time: 4 minutes This arbitrary decision by the minister will have national and even international consequences on the cattle industry. Alberta Agriculture Minister George Groeneveld has sent a clear message to livestock producers in this province – “It’s my way or the highway.” In an unprecedented move, and without a producer plebiscite, he has introduced legislation to turn […] Read more
Someone Sneezes, And Hog Farmers Catch The Flu
Reading Time: 2 minutes Can you speak? Swine flu? I cannot think of a worse thing for this thing to be called. They say that since it has nothing to do with pigs, it has no actual effect on the hog industry. I really hate being at the mercy of this hog market crisis, and this really takes the […] Read more