For the first time since at least 1980, according to a long-time member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, a sitting Prime Minister has spoken to the annual meeting of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). Liberal leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was a last minute addition to the agenda, joining Conservative Party leader Pierre […] Read more
Farmers hear from national political leaders
Horner back as ag minister, Toews returns to finance in new cabinet
The ag ministry is being revamped again, with forestry split off and irrigation added
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nate Horner has returned as Alberta agriculture minister but his portfolio has been revamped by new Premier Danielle Smith. Formerly the minister of agriculture, forestry and rural economic development, Horner is now minister of agriculture and irrigation. “I look forward to building on our government’s historic investment of nearly $1 billion in irrigation infrastructure and […] Read more
Trucker blockades in Brazil increase in wake of Bolsonaro election loss
Sao Paulo | Reuters – Truckers who support Brazil’s outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro escalated their protests on Monday, blocking roads in 16 states in an action that could affect agricultural exports in one of the world’s top food producers. Bolsonaro lost Sunday’s election to leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but has yet to concede […] Read more
Russia halts Ukraine Black Sea grain exports, Biden outraged
Reuters – Russia on Saturday suspended participation in a U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal after what it said was a major Ukrainian drone attack on its fleet in Crimea, dealing a blow to attempts to ease the global food crisis. U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the move as “purely outrageous” and said it would increase […] Read more
Opinion: The emissions controversy offers an opportunity for both sides
Like many farmers, I’m concerned but also see there’s a way to move forward if we work together
Reading Time: 3 minutes You may have heard the buzz lately. There has been a lot of talk about emissions, environmental impact, and what the future looks like with a changing climate. The past few weeks have been dominated by conversations about the government of Canada’s plan to reduce emissions from on-farm fertilizer use. With little substance revealed regarding […] Read more
Ukraine seeks to extend shipping safe passage deal beyond grain
Istanbul/Kyiv | Reuters – Three grain ships left Ukrainian ports on Friday while the first inbound cargo vessel since Russia’s invasion was due in Ukraine to load, as Kyiv called for the safe passage deal to be extended to other cargoes such as metals. The July 22 deal marked a rare diplomatic breakthrough as war […] Read more
Philippines’ Marcos lays out ambitious policy agenda with farm sector in focus
Manila | Reuters – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Monday outlined ambitious plans for his six-year term in office that focus on fiscal management, infrastructure upgrades and turning the long-neglected farm sector into an engine of growth. The Philippines is beset with numerous challenges, from soaring prices, food shortages, poverty and inequities in education, but Marcos, the […] Read more
Alberta Beef Producers get funding for ‘living labs’ project
Government says real-world testing of stewardship practices will benefit the environment and farmers
Reading Time: 4 minutes Ottawa is putting $54-million into ‘living labs’ initiatives in six provinces, including $8.5 million in a project that will be led by Alberta Beef Producers. “Each living lab will focus on identifying innovative technologies and on-farm management practices that can be adopted by farmers nationwide to tackle climate change,” the government said in a release. […] Read more
Shipping container issues make Canada uncompetitive
MarketsFarm – Even though harvest in Canada is months away, major issues with shipping by container out of the country needs to be resolved, according to Greg Northey, vice-president of corporate affairs for Pulse Canada and the spokesperson for the Coalition to Fix the Container Crunch. “The worry in the fall is if we have […] Read more
Jobs and rural economy likely focus of new agriculture minister
Nate Horner gets cabinet post after predecessor resigns after allegations of heavy drinking
Reading Time: 4 minutes Making rural Alberta even more of an economic engine is a top priority for the province’s new ag minister. Drumheller-Stettler MLA Nate Horner was suddenly promoted on Nov. 5 after his predecessor, Devin Dreeshen, resigned amidst allegations of heavy drinking. The changing of the guard was so sudden that Horner didn’t even have the usual […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
