Cattle producers pan AgriStability

“If you don’t have a margin, how do you access funds?” – Robert McLean, KAP Dianne Smith was expecting a rough ride from Manitoba cattle producers over her presentation on business risk management programs. But the audience sat mostly in stony silence, offering only a few perfunctory questions. Smith, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada client

Food agency picks advisory panel

“We didn’t meet the expectations of Canadians in dealing with listeria and that has had a profound effect on the CFIA.” – Brian Evans, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Executive Vice-President The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is turning to outside experts for advice in battling food safety threats. It has named four academics to an advisory


Ritz returns, Transport gets a new look

“Farming is the backbone of the Canadian economy and in times of global economic uncertainty this government is committed to continue putting farmers first.” Gerry Ritz is staying on as agriculture minister in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s new cabinet. But there’s plenty of change in other key portfolios. As was generally expected, Jim Flaherty remains

Election changes little on farm scene

The Conservative win in the Oct. 14 election brought little change to the farm scene in Parliament. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was re-elected with a comfortable margin in his western Saskatchewan riding, despite the national flap over his “cold cuts” comments. Ritz’s main critics, Liberal Wayne Easter and the NDP’s Alex Atamanenko, also won in