Queen Victoria's statue at the Manitoba Legislature. As in North America, Britain's farmers are considered by many to be political and economic conservatives by birth and disposition.

Brexit: ‘Taking farmers for fools’

U.K. farmers find themselves torn between their innate conservatism and 
economic interests that may be best served by staying in the EU

With electronic ignition, fuel injection and more computing power than the space shuttle, today’s cars and trucks never backfire. Our politicians — with less horsepower and far less memory — often still do. The latest may be British Prime Minister David Cameron who, during his 2015 re-election campaign, promised British voters a referendum on whether



(Dave Bedard photo)

Germany to abstain in EU glyphosate vote next week

Berlin | Reuters — Germany will abstain in a European Union vote next week on the continued use of glyphosate in herbicides, because ministries run by different parties remain at odds over the chemical which some experts say could be carcinogenic. Contradictory findings on the carcinogenic risks of glyphosate have thrust the chemical into the

Democratic U.S presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Circle of Mothers conference, Trayvon Martin Foundation Gala in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May 21, 2016.

Trade deals going nowhere

The three front-runners in the U.S. presidential race are leery of trade deals

As the politics of this U.S. election year heat up, the chances of Congress debating — let alone passing — either of the White House’s marquee trade deals continue to melt away. Oh, there’s plenty of talk about the westward-looking Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Euro-centred Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TPP and TTIP, respectively.



(Europa.eu)

Germany looks set to abstain in EU glyphosate vote

Reuters — Germany looks set to abstain in a European Union vote next week on the continued use of glyphosate in weed killers because ministries run by different parties remain at odds over the chemical which some experts say could be carcinogenic. Glyphosate is used in many herbicides including Monsanto’s Roundup, despite a dispute between


Skim milk powder. (PelchGroup.com)

Ottawa plans talks toward dairy farmers’ CETA compensation

The federal government has pledged to meet with dairy sector representatives within 30 days to draw up a compensation plan for concessions made in Canada’s planned free trade pact with the European Union. “Our conversations will address, among other issues, transition support for producers and processors, as well as proposed program and investment options,” Agriculture

(Europa.eu)

U.S., European trade negotiators battle political headwinds

New York | Reuters — Facing deeply entrenched differences and political headwinds, the top negotiators trying to reach a sweeping U.S.-European free trade deal avoided agriculture, public procurement and other thorny issues in talks this week. Instead, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Daniel Mullaney and European Commission lead negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercera said on Friday they


dairy cow

Dairy market loss close to four per cent

Dairy groups told no answer is coming until after the deals are ratified

Dairy farmers are still waiting to find out if the new federal government will honour the word of its Conservative predecessor. They were promised compensation to offset market loss under two proposed trade deals, but six months into its mandate, the Trudeau government has been noncommittal. Speaking at a Dairy Farmers of Manitoba meeting here

(Dave Bedard photo)

European Parliament backs glyphosate, with conditions

Brussels | Reuters — European politicians advised on Wednesday that the herbicide glyphosate should only be approved for another seven years, rather than the 15 proposed by the EU executive, and should not be used by the general public. Environmental campaigners have demanded a ban on glyphosate, which is used in products such as Monsanto’s