California’s Proposition 12, which sets minimum space standards for pregnant sows that produce pork destined for sale in California, has become a fascinating case study of voter-consumer behaviours as data emerges on the effects. More importantly, it’s a case study with ominous overtones for Canadian farmers as they watch the coveted U.S. market splinter along
Editorial: Prop 12 pork sector proposition a fascinating case study
Proposition 12 ‘insulting,’ but economic effects muted
Regulations requiring more space for pregnant sows won’t be as damaging as feared, says California economist
Newly imposed animal welfare regulations in California will have little economic impact on the North American hog sector, an agricultural economist with the University of California Davis predicts. “California consumers like me are going to pay, I don’t know, five or 10 per cent more for pork that’s covered by the policy, which means a
Editorial: Production, productivity and climate change
A tantalizing report from Farm Credit Canada recently estimated the riches that would flow if the productivity growth of the decades leading into the 21st century were to return. “Assuming the Canadian agriculture industry returns productivity growth to the plateau we recorded two decades ago, this would add as much as $30 billion in net
Editorial: Division or unity on water?
Wab Kinew wouldn’t be the first Manitoba premier who came into office vowing to represent all Manitobans or to preach the politics of unity. However, he may be looking at a steeper slope. He comes into office as post-pandemic discord has created deep societal polarization and faces a quagmire of intersecting crises, including the escalating
Opinion: U.S. meat labelling changes could disrupt live animal trade
American lawmakers propose a voluntary standard, but it’s still a risk for Canada
As the late Yogi Berra once said, it’s “déjà vu all over again” as Canadian livestock producers nervously monitor new developments south of the border that threaten to unravel the tightly knit North American meat trade. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service is seeking comment until May 12 on a plan to tighten its
Opinion: Net zero could be change catalyst
As keynote presentations go, the kick-off speaker’s at a conference on the sustainability of Canadian agriculture hosted March 7 by the University of Manitoba was a bit of a downer — at least initially. Henry Janzen, a career Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada scientist with who now serves as an honorary research associate with the department’s
Editorial: Global food system productive but not sustainable
One of the world’s leading advocates for global food security had a sobering message for the movers and shakers of Canada’s agricultural sector who attended the Nov. 30 GrowCanada conference. “The reality is, the food system is productive, but it’s not sustainable, folks,” Ertharin Cousin, told her audience of 500 industry and farm organization executives.
This week on ‘Between The Rows’
Episode 307, Dec. 22, 2022
To hear the latest episode of Between The Rows, CLICK HERE. The show is also available to you each week through Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts — and you can also find our episode archive on YouTube.
Editorial: Food security hurt by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
The only clarity to emerge in the eight months that have passed since Russia invaded Ukraine is that there is no end in sight. Everyone can agree this war has profound implications for grain markets and global food security. However, our understanding of how fundamentally this conflict is changing the geopolitics of food is just
Pitching forage as a cash crop
Adding perennial forages to annual crop rotation can pay big dividends, in more than just your bank account
Grain farmers can harvest a heap of benefits by cycling perennial forages through their crop rotations, says an agronomist with Federated Co-operatives Ltd. Ken Wall said the economics of growing forage as a cash crop have changed significantly in recent years due to market conditions and a sharp increase in the price of fuel. Hay