Brussels/Paris – Reuters — The European Union will grant an additional 500 million euros (C$721 million) to EU farmers struggling with a long-running crisis linked to low prices, notably in the dairy sector where it aims to reverse a boom in milk output after the scrapping of production quotas. European milk farmers have been struggling with […] Read more
EU livestock farmers get compensation
Dairy farmers receive funds to offset price slump after scrapping of quotas
They came, they saw, they milked
Reading Time: < 1 minute The fourth annual Breakfast on the Dairy Farm event at Yff Dairy near Red Deer on June 18 attracted more than 500 visitors. Along with a free breakfast, visitors were able to ask questions of milk farmers, a milk hauler, and herd veterinarian. They became acquainted with the cows themselves and even tried their hand […] Read more
Louis Dreyfus ring-fences some units, considers options
London | Reuters — Louis Dreyfus Commodities is ring-fencing its crop inputs, metals, juice and dairy units and is considering options ranging from joint ventures to the sale of certain assets, a senior company source said. In December, Reuters reported the trade house had been seeking buyers for its juice and fertilizer units for some […] Read more
VIDEO: Busy Ponoka couple named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers
Reading Time: 3 minutes Jammed packed doesn’t begin to describe it. On Nov. 20 in Edmonton, Patrick and Cherylynn Bos were named co-winners of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers award. Then it was back to Rock Ridge Dairy near Ponoka to fire up the most technologically advanced goat milking parlour on the continent and train 700 skeptical does to use […] Read more
Asking the questions that need to be asked
An innovative summit takes a frank look at the troubled U.K. dairy industry and what needs to change
Reading Time: 3 minutes Agrihive is an innovative new company out of Australia conceived by an idea that fellow Nuffield scholar James Walker had on his travels. His dream was to start a platform to tackle global issues and create actionable ideas. Part of that involves a U.K. Dairy Summit that was broadcast live on YouTube from London. The […] Read more
Market access, income supports come with Trans-Pacific pact
Canada’s federal government has pledged a suite of compensation programs for supply-managed dairy, poultry and egg sectors, against what it promises will be a mousehole in Canada’s tariff wall. Federal officials on Monday confirmed negotiations have concluded on the multilateral Trans-Pacific Partnership, now billed as “the largest, most ambitious free trade initiative in history.” The […] Read more
Election shifts attention to trade deal as race narrows
Ottawa | Reuters –– Trailing in second place with two weeks left before Canada’s election, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a new trade deal Monday that largely protects the key agricultural voting bloc, putting pressure on opponents who had hoped to have more to attack. Harper touted the Trans-Pacific Partnership as a good deal […] Read more
TPP trade ministers push to wrap up ambitious trade deal
Atlanta | Reuters — Pacific trade ministers readied on Wednesday to close the biggest trade deal in a generation but warned there was still work to be done on issues ranging from intellectual property to trade in dairy and automobiles. Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb said ministers from the 12 countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership […] Read more
Canada to pay farmers for any losses under TPP deal, Ritz says
Reuters — Canadian farmers will receive government compensation for any losses resulting from a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, the country’s agriculture minister said Wednesday in a discussion about the nation’s protected farm sectors. The U.S., New Zealand and Australia want Canada to start dismantling a system of supply and import controls over dairy, poultry […] Read more
Protect supply management, says Alberta Milk chair
Farm Vote: Tom Kootstra says critics of supply management don’t understand there’s no free market in milk
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s dairy industry needs Ottawa to fight for supply management, says the chair of Alberta Milk. “The biggest issue is continued support for our unique production model — supply management — and the potential impact that a trade deal could have on our system,” said Tom Kootstra. That means going to bat for supply management […] Read more