Comment: Is it worth voting Conservative again?

ELECTION | There are perils in being seen as a too-reliable voting bloc

Producers on the Prairies are expected to once again support the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC). Polling suggests the CPC vote share could be on the rise, and there is a chance the party sweeps all the seats in Saskatchewan again – this time with a higher share of the vote than in 2019. We’ve

Canada's 44th federal election will be held on Monday, Sept. 20.

Agriculture recognition election goal

Sectoral leaders say industry will do its best to push its issues onto the agenda

If agriculture garners attention during the 2021 election campaign, it will likely be as part of a larger discussion as candidates duke it out over climate change, an emerging green economy and post-pandemic recovery. That’s the perception of a number of observers in the province’s agriculture sector who recently spoke to the Co-operator. Why it matters:


It’s clear there’s going to be a big crop insurance payout this year, even if nobody’s exactly sure how big.

Editor’s Take: A tale of two programs

Crop and beef farmers across the province have faced the same challenging times this year but when it comes to being backstopped by support programs, there are some sharp differences. Early reports suggest many grain farmers are seeing yields in the 60 per cent of normal neighbourhood on their cereals. Some have, of course, done

Childcare deal holds promise for farm families: KAP

Childcare deal holds promise for farm families: KAP

A bilateral deal with the federal government will bring $10-per-day care and 23,000 more spots to Manitoba, the province says

A new federal-provincial deal for childcare shows promise for rural and farming families, says KAP. “There’s a lot of good news all around,” said Graham Schellenberg, communications and government relations co-ordinator with Keystone Agricultural Producers. “In terms of rural families, there’s really a good impact here from what we see,” he added. On August 9,


Editor’s Take: The political winds are blowing

For those who care about such things, it’s been an eventful few days in politics, both provincially and federally. Here in Manitoba, Brian Pallister, the only Manitoba premier in many years to have grown up on a farm, confirmed speculation that he won’t be leading the Progressive Conservatives into the next campaign. And federally, the

Opinion: Co-operation breakdown

Drought-prompted AgriStability changes are not a sign of continued co-operation

A drought forced the federal and Saskatchewan government to reach an agreement on AgriStability – but is it a sign of what’s to come? Near the start of August, the two governments agreed to allow Saskatchewan producers early access to the 2021 payments they are entitled to. The two ministers of agriculture involved, Marie-Claude Bibeau


Opinion: UN summit shows climate change not going away

Opinion: UN summit shows climate change not going away

The direction isn’t clear, but the amount of discussion on agriculture and climate change says the policy winds will blow

Attendees of a recent UN event hint a heightened focus on agriculture and climate change is coming.  Held in Rome (and virtually), the United Nations Food System Pre-Summit acted as a precursor to the main event, taking place in September.  Simply put, the objective of attendees is to launch new strategies to help deliver on

Editor’s Take: The enemy of my enemy is my friend

Canadian farm publications — or Canadian farmers for that matter — don’t often heap well wishes on U.S. farm groups. While there are often shared interests there are also, all too often, bones of contention. From country-of-origin labelling (COOL) to dairy quotas, Canadian agriculture frequently finds itself under withering not-so-friendly fire from our southern neighbours.


Editor’s Take: A full plate for returning ag minister

There’s little doubt that Ralph Eichler enjoyed the agriculture portfolio the last time he led it. From 2016 to 2019, Eichler was a fixture at agriculture events throughout the province. He clearly relished the role and felt it was an important one within the provincial government; it was an industry he was proud to represent.