New Program Proffered To Improve AgriStability

“It would be a bilateral agreement between the producer and the national government.” – BRYAN FERRISS Aproposed new farm income stabilization program developed for the Manitoba Pork Council is being touted as a solution to chronic problems with existing programs. The insurance-based program would incorporate production costs in the payment formula to help compensate for

BrM Changes Needed To Save Spring Seeding: CFA

“I’m quite sure they will not have enough money.” – LAURENT PELLERIN, CFA Livestock producers need immediate improvements to agricultural safety net programs or they may not be able to seed crops this spring, the head of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture warns. That’s especially true for Canada’s financially ravaged hog farmers, Laurent Pellerin said


KAP Refuses To Sanction Ag Ministers

Discontent with federal and provincial agriculture ministers failed to translate into policy at Keystone Agricultural Producers annual meeting last week. Delegates defeated two separate resolutions criticizing federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Stan Struthers. The first accused Ritz of behaving “in a manner, which is less than mature,

Livestock Sector Could Fold, CFA Head Warns

“I think that beef and pork are at risk in this country.” – LAURENT PELLERIN, CFA Canada’s beleaguered livestock producers could go the way of the fishing industry unless Ottawa moves quickly to save it, warns the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s president. The hog and cattle sectors may end up looking like the collapsed East


EU FTA Talks Resume

Asecond round of negotiations with the European Union on a proposed free trade agreement resumed in mid-January with little more than a government press release. The tranquil reaction from farm groups was in contrast to the usual excitement surrounding trade negotiations. Federal officials have held extensive discussions with farm and other business groups on the

New Agricultural Alliance To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Canada has joined an international network devoted to helping farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The group called the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases will collaborate on research and exchange information on mitigating greenhouse gases from agricultural activity. Besides Canada, the alliance includes the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Ghana,


Include European Pesticide Policy In Free Trade Talks

Officials negotiating a free trade deal with Europe must get EU officials to clarify the impact proposed pesticide registration rules will have on food imports from Canada, says Ron Bonnett, first vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “We plan to raise this issue with Canadian negotiators,” Bonnett said in an interview after a meeting

Domestic Trade Pact Could Threaten Supply Management

“We don’t have enough information to provide the level of comfort.” – WALLY SMITH, DFC Canada’s supply management groups are lobbying hard against wording in an interprovincial trade agreement which they fear could threaten their industries. Dairy Farmers of Canada wants governments to plug possible loopholes in the agreement that might leave supply management open


Easter Critical Of Leaders For Not Defending Members

Liberal Agriculture Critic Wayne Easter says the leadership within Canada’s hog and cattle industries isn’t doing enough to defend producers from inadequate government action. “For the life of me I don’t know why the hog and beef industry isn’t standing up for themselves,” the Prince Edward Island MP told the 40th annual meeting of the

Not The Time To Neglect Agriculture

The 34th North American European Union Agricultural Conference, a major forum for discussion on solutions to the world economic crisis affecting farmers, was hosted by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture at Niagara Falls, Ontario this fall. This year, there were representatives from 73 farm organizations from 19 different countries. It is widely agreed that agricultural