Reading Time: 4 minutes Our farming and feeding operations have fundamental challenges and issues that are not being communicated in an effective manner to government. We have ongoing issues about hiring qualified managers and workers; with WCB compliance and enforcement; OH&S adherence; WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) education of our employees; an obsolete farm taxation model utilizing 25-year-old […] Read more
Opinion: The beef industry needs to start speaking with a unified voice
Having at least 10 organizations representing the beef industry in Alberta is quite frankly a joke
Long-running BSE class-action lawsuit grinds on
It’s now hoped the suit against the federal government will go to trial in September 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutes A class-action lawsuit seeking compensation for losses cattle producers suffered during the BSE crisis is now expected to go to trial in September 2019. The lawsuit is seeking $8 billion in damages from the federal government for losses incurred when the U.S. border was closed to Canadian cattle from 2003 to 2005. It has been […] Read more
Transport bill delays blasted
Reading Time: < 1 minute Delays in passing Bill C-49, the Transportation Modernization Act, means farmers could see another crop year with no mechanisms in place to hold the railways accountable, say the Alberta Wheat Commission and Alberta Barley. Read more: Grain groups rip lawmakers over derailed transport bill Political manoeuvring has stalled the legislation and there’s an increasing risk […] Read more
Ag societies get their funding wish
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta’s ag societies got their wish in last month’s provincial budget — stable funding from the province. The government pledged to give the 283 primary and seven regional agricultural societies $11.5 million per year for the next three years. “This longer-term commitment ensures that agricultural societies can plan ahead and budget for the facilities, events, […] Read more
Late-summer launch for protein projects
Reading Time: < 1 minute Protein Industries Canada says it will receive up to $153 million in federal funding for its efforts to make Canada a world leader in the development of plant-based proteins. The consortium of more than 120 businesses, farm groups, universities, and other industry players is one of five groups sharing $950 million over five years from […] Read more
Farm leaders again ask government to act
But with spring road bans and seeding season approaching, any moves are likely ‘too little, too late’
Reading Time: 3 minutes “Too little too late.” That comment from the president of the Grain Growers of Canada likely sums it up for many producers across the Prairies. “While western grain farmers are pleased to see that the government and railways have recognized the negative impact that poor rail service is having on farmers, it shouldn’t take a […] Read more
Survey on Alberta’s agriculture priorities
Survey open until March 18
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has developed a short online survey for input on the program concepts for the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the successor to Growing Forward 2), which is set to begin in April. Input provided will equip provincial staff to provide programming that meets the needs and priorities of Alberta’s industry. The five priority […] Read more
Troubled pulse trade generating lots of headlines
Tariffs, fumigation, and prime minister’s India trip have put the crop into the media spotlight
Reading Time: 3 minutes The politics of pulses haven’t reached White House levels yet, but the unassuming legumes are generating headlines like never before. The latest ones include another hike in India’s tariffs, a pledge to resolve a long-running dispute over fumigation, and a new attempt to shield Indian farmers from falling prices. Justin Trudeau appeared to have ended […] Read more
More temporary foreign workers needed, says CCA
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association wants the federal government to make changes to the temporary foreign worker program to address the shortage of labour. “Cattle producers and beef processors are struggling to find enough workers, and straining to deal with the impacts of job vacancies on production,” the association said in a recent newsletter. It cites […] Read more
Ontario proposal aims to double ethanol blend in fuel
Government move would boost corn market in the province
An Ontario government proposal could dramatically increase the amount of Ontario corn going into ethanol production and help bring consistency to the basis price for corn in the province. The government has posted its proposal to increase ethanol content in the province’s gasoline from five to 10 per cent to the Environmental Bill of Rights […] Read more
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