Agriculture Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be consulting with seed trade groups in the coming weeks on proposed Plant Breeders’ Rights Regulations released in April. Those sessions in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Ottawa will be followed up with sessions in November that will include the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Grain Growers of
Seed industry applauds PBR consultations
Sessions will be held in four cities — including Winnipeg — with seed growers and other groups
Dairy and poultry farm groups discuss USMCA compensation
It could take more than money to settle the ruffled feathers of supply management groups, who say they were pawns in the negotiations
Within hours of announcing a new free trade deal with the United States and Mexico, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland were promising compensation for dairy and poultry farmers. While Trudeau and Freeland talked as if the compensation discussions had already started, Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has just begun to arrange
Most agri-food groups welcome end to NAFTA drama
Many are still wading through the fine print of the new USMCA to understand its full implications
Most Canadian farm groups are relieved a new North American trade deal will preserve existing agriculture commitments. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) still needs to be ratified by the three countries, but the negotiations have concluded and the text of the deal has been released. One exception was the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) which
Success starts at home
Don’t forget the domestic market in building Canadian agri-food sales
A key ingredient in the recipe for success for the Canadian agri-food sector is going to be growing the domestic market. According to a report from the Agri-Food Economic Strategy Table (AFEST), it would be a mistake ignoring this close-to-home opportunity and pursuing only growing overseas demand. AFEST was set up by the federal government
Veterinarians tout vaccine importance
Canada’s veterinarians say vaccines are key to healthy animals and safe foods
Canada’s veterinarians are using Animal Health Week in early October to remind everyone that vaccines are as important to the health of pets and livestock as they are to humans. The spread of communicable disease has not only become an increasing concern for humans but among animals as well, says the Canadian Veterinary Medicine Association
Dairy producers ‘deeply disappointed’
Canadian dairy farmers say Canada’s trade deals are progressively placing more pressures on their industry
Canadian dairy producers say they’ve been thrown under the bus in order for Canada to be part of the new United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement (USMCA) on trade. Piere Lampron, president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, says it’s an especially bitter pill to swallow considering Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had repeatedly assured the
Vets call for better management of dairy culls
The sector agrees better guidelines and improved transport conditions are worthy goals
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) wants to see a better way of handling compromised cull dairy cows. It’s calling for greater co-operation amongst producers, their vets, as well as transporters, processors and cattle marketers. In a resolution adopted at its annual summer meeting, the CVMA says cull dairy cows “have an increased likelihood of
Agri-food sector gearing up for neonic consultations
Government says it will listen to concerns about lack of useful alternatives to neonics
Farm groups are readying for battle over the federal government’s proposal to phase out more neonicotinoid pesticides. They’ve signalled their intention to grill Health Canada and the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) over their plans to eliminate the use of clothianidin and thiamethoxam over the next three to five years because they pose a threat
Overregulation a crushing burden for agri-food sector
A new report says the sector is particularly burdened by red tape
A new report on the cost of overregulation has singled out the agri-food sector for special attention. The report by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, titled Death by 130,000 cuts in reference to the number of federal regulations alone, said too much red tape is weakening Canada’s international competitiveness and dampening foreign investment. There are
Canada to host WTO reform meeting in October
Canada will host a meeting in October of trade ministers from countries supporting reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its rules for ensuring fair international trade. Jim Carr, minister of international trade diversification, has invited ministers from around the world who are committed to the multilateral trading system, said Allison Lewis, a spokeswoman
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