Reading Time: 3 minutes The Canadian Grain Commission will cut its two major user fees Aug. 1 — but an Alberta farm group says it needs to do more to whittle down a massive surplus accumulated over the last three years. If implemented, the combined fees for officially inspecting and weighing ships exporting Canadian grain will drop by 44 […] Read more
Grain commission proposes 24 per cent cut to major user fees
But Alberta Barley wants fees eliminated for a year while Alberta Wheat wants better testing at elevators
Pulse sector still on tenterhooks
India’s insistence on fumigation of pulse imports throws up major barrier to Canadian pulse shipments
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada’s pulse industry is still waiting to hear whether India will reverse a decision that could seriously hamper Prairie exports to its largest market. For more than a decade, India has required most pulse shipments be fumigated with methyl bromide in the country of origin. But Canada and some other countries were granted an exemption, […] Read more
Pulse sector roiled by India’s fumigation edict
Science says our pulses are safe — but industry officials are preparing a Plan B if India won’t back down
Reading Time: 4 minutes The clock is ticking on whether Indian officials will reverse an edict requiring Canadian pulse shipments to be fumigated at the port of origin rather than at their destination. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and a delegation from Pulse Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency were in India at the beginning of March to […] Read more
Compensation promised for ranches under TB quarantine
Ottawa promises financial help while Alberta Beef Producers trying to arrange for feedlots to take in calves
Reading Time: 5 minutes Beleaguered ranchers with quarantined herds are getting some relief as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has approved a beef industry plan to allow calves to be sent to feedlots. “We’re working with the CFIA on the conditions and requirements,” said Rich Smith, executive director of Alberta Beef Producers. “Obviously, it would be hard to get […] Read more
Canada, China canola talks end without deal
Winnipeg | Reuters — Talks between Canadian and Chinese officials ended in Beijing without China backing down from plans to toughen its inspection standard for canola, threatening $2 billion in Canadian exports of the oilseed ahead of a visit by Canada’s prime minister. Discussions will continue between the two governments, and resolving the issue is […] Read more
Feds and province fund Maple Leaf bacon plant
The governments of Canada and Manitoba have announced funding of $500,000 toward an expansion of Maple Leaf Food’s bacon processing plant in Winnipeg. The announcement was made Monday at the plant by federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler. A release said Maple Leaf Food’s investment in the bacon line expansion […] Read more
Ottawa weighs options over U.S. milk proteins
Winnipeg | Reuters — Canada is working on a plan to shore up its sheltered dairy industry, including measures to counter fast-rising imports of milk proteins from the U.S., according to the federal agriculture minister. Any new support risks widening a trade dispute among North America’s dairy farmers over $150 million worth of U.S. milk […] Read more
Ottawa plans talks toward dairy farmers’ CETA compensation
The federal government has pledged to meet with dairy sector representatives within 30 days to draw up a compensation plan for concessions made in Canada’s planned free trade pact with the European Union. “Our conversations will address, among other issues, transition support for producers and processors, as well as proposed program and investment options,” Agriculture […] Read more
Roundup Ready alfalfa primed for launch in East
But critics of GM alfalfa say U.S. experience shows that ‘coexistence’ isn’t possible
Reading Time: 3 minutes Roundup Ready alfalfa is being launched on a limited basis in Canada’s six eastern provinces. Forage Genetics International (FGI) said late last month it will be releasing some HarvXtra alfalfa seed for planting this spring — but critics of GM alfalfa denounced the move, saying it’s “a myth” it won’t contaminate non-GM seed and hay […] Read more
Ratify Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal asap, says beef group
Levelling the playing field in Japan is the top priority, says Alberta Beef Producers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta Beef Producers is urging the new federal Liberal government to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal “as soon as possible.” The producer group said its top priority is getting equal access to the Japanese market. “Our competitors in Australia implemented a free trade agreement with Japan at the start of 2015 and are […] Read more
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