Mary Robinson. (Foodintegrity.ca)

CFA elects new chief

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture has elected its first-ever female president in a changing of the guard at its latest annual meeting. Mary Robinson, past-president of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture, was elected president Wednesday at the CFA’s AGM in Ottawa. She replaces Ron Bonnett, the organization’s president since 2010. Keith Currie, president

The Canadian agriculture sector needs a few more hands to share the workload.

Helping hands: pilot immigration program targets rural Canada

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program matches immigrants to jobs and could help agricultural recruiters fill vacancies

It’s no secret — finding employees to work on the farm isn’t getting any easier. Rural populations are dwindling, fewer have skills or aptitudes for farm work, or even any interest in finding out about jobs in agriculture. But a new initiative announced in late January could potentially send experienced farm managers, equipment operators, meat


Is intermittently flooded land fish habitat? That’s what the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association wants to know.

Cattlemen demanding Fisheries clarity

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says the murky definition of ‘fish habitat’ is causing concern

A last-minute amendment to a Fisheries bill is endangering the cattle industry across Canada. The rules change could see producers accused of destroying fish habitat and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is calling on senators to further amend the bill when they study it. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association said in a note it sent to MPs

Farmers could consider partnering with plant breeders to fund new varieties as an alternative to the current seed royalty options being proposed.

If farmers must pay more for seed, they want more say

A third option has emerged for funding new crop varieties — one that keeps farmers in the driver’s seat. An agricultural economist says it has merit

[UPDATED: Feb. 22, 2019]* When it comes to funding the development of new crops varieties, there could be a third way. Western Canadian farmers collectively should consider partnering with plant breeders to fund new varieties as an alternative to the two new seed royalty options farm leaders say lack widespread farmer support. The idea has merit,


Farmer in ripe wheat field

What does the updated Canada’s Food Guide mean for farmers?

Animal foods now housed in a protein category shared 
with milk, pulses, tofu and nuts

The new Canada’s Food Guide and its new emphasis on plant proteins drew swift but measured response from agricultural groups and organizations across the country last week. In a news release after the guide’s rollout January 22, Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) said it was “unfortunate that the revised food

Bernadette Jordan signals the return of a rural voice to the federal cabinet table.

Rural Canada has a new voice, say rural advocates

New minister of rural economic development expected to oversee ‘the creation of a rural development strategy to spur economic growth and create good, middle-class jobs in rural Canada’

Nova Scotia MP Bernadette Jordan’s appointment to a new portfolio as minister of rural economic development is good news for rural Canada, say rural development experts. Why it matters: Bernadette Jordan’s appointment is a dedicated federal portfolio for rural economic development. Her appointment and the creation of this new office brings back a rural voice


The five-year Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot aims to attract more skilled immigrants to rural areas in Canada.

New program aims to attract skilled immigrants to rural Canada

Participating communities will gain access to a range of supports to help newcomers settle there

A new program announced by the federal government last week aims to tackle the problem of so few skilled immigrants choosing to work and live outside Canada’s large urban centres. The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the new five-year pilot program January 24, saying it will be aimed at

Wheat Board and ‘Crow’ in the headlines

Wheat Board and ‘Crow’ in the headlines

Our History: January 1982

The wheat board and the Crow rate dominated the front page of our Jan. 28, 1982 issues. The Western Agricultural Conference of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture passed a resolution calling for the CWB’s Producer Advisory Committee to be replaced by a producer-elected board of directors, to which the CWB would be directly responsible. The


Where’s the beef? It’s in the upper righthand corner of the new edition of Canada’s Food Guide, in the section labelled ‘Eat protein foods.’

A plateful of advice offered in new national food guide

But that plate has less meat, more plant-based protein, and water is the ‘drink of choice’

“Don’t see a lot of meat or dairy!” That tweet from a University of Guelph food expert summed up the reaction of many farm groups in the country following the unveiling of the revamped Canada’s Food Guide. As expected, Health Canada’s new edition of the guide — last revised in 2007 — recommends Canadians eat

CFA and CCFI to lead development of public trust strategy

The federal government is putting up the dollars but is letting industry drive the bus

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has awarded about $440,000 to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) to develop a strategy to boost consumer confidence in food. CFA’s role in the strategy development will be to manage and administer the process nationally through the Public Trust Steering Committee (PTSC). It