COVID-19 may hurt Canadian farmers in the future, but for most commodities, other than cattle, there hasn’t been a huge impact, says Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. “Actually the food sector might be one of those that will be the least impacted because we will keep eating during the crisis so I don’t see
Coronavirus pain muted for ag
Farmers hurting more from past problems than COVID-19 so far
Canola dockage agreement with China expires, but limited exports to continue
Most remaining shipments meet Beijing's requirement
Exports of Canadian canola seed exports to China will continue, at the same reduced pace seen since March last year — but only if it contains less than one per cent dockage. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries allowing higher dockage ends Tuesday (March 31), a Canadian government official said in an
Ottawa expected to ‘officially’ declare ag an essential service
The Western Grain Elevator Association says that designation will clarify things and help to keep grain moving
Canada’s grain industry expects the federal government will soon officially declare agriculture an essential service. Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association (WGEA), says that designation will have a practical application. “Hopefully it ends all confusion about grain workers at elevators, railway workers and anybody else required for moving grain, as to
‘Essential’ travel rule fuzzy on farmers picking up parts, inputs
U.S. border officers will have final say on Canadian farmers' cross-border business trips
Whether Canadian farmers can continue to pick up machinery parts and other products for their operations in the United States is at the discretion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. At 11:59 p.m. ET Friday, Canada and the U.S. temporarily restricted non-essential travel between the two nations to try and slow the spread of
CUSMA grain act changes stir controversy
The NFU says the amendments should be on hold until the public can weigh in on the grain act review
Changes are coming to the Canada Grain Act to comply with NAFTA 2.0 — and that’s sparking concern in some quarters. Stewart Wells, former National Farmers Union president and current second vice-president of the group, says the proposed legislation (Bill C-4) inserts unnecessary clauses, and is being rushed through just weeks before planned public consultations
Canada, U.S. aim for border balancing act
COVID-19 shuts down non-essential traffic between Canada and the U.S. but not trade
Farmers on both sides of the Canada-United States border still have access to their best market — each other. That’s despite a two-way temporary ban on non-essential travel to slow the spread of COVID-19, which was expected to be implemented by March 20. In 2018 Canada was the U.S.’s largest agricultural export customer purchasing $25
Grain elevator companies set COVID-19 protocols
Goal is to keep people safe and grain flowing
If there ever was a sector that could operate during a pandemic, it’s grain. The Prairies are famous for wide open spaces, so with some planning and forethought farmers, truckers, grain companies, railways and terminal operators can keep moving Canadian grain to market, safely, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. “We don’t anticipate any issues to be
Grain keeps moving despite virus
COVID-19: For now the coronavirus hasn’t affected the supply chain
As Canadians increasingly hunker down at home hoping to slow the spread of COVID-19, Prairie grains and oilseeds continue to move from farms to markets, at home, to export terminals and the United States. “Our members are going to do their best to keep the supply chain moving,” Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western
FCC to funnel funds to ag sector
COVID-19: Loans, deferral assistance intended to ease sector through disruption
Canadian farmers, agribusiness and food processors will provide loan deferral assistance and access to more loans through a $5 billion program being administered by Farm Credit Canada (FCC) as Canada’s food sector faces the challenges of COVID-19. In addition farmers with cash advance loans due April 30, worth $173 million in total, will extended. The
Elevators implement COVID-19 protocols to keep grain moving
Canada’s grain companies are still moving grain to market, but have implemented measures to protect staff and customers from COVID-19. Richardson-Pioneer, Viterra, G3, Cargill and Parrish and Heimbecker are all taking farmers’ grain but are restricting contact between staff and farmers and moving it to market, while using social distancing. “We remain open for business,
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