Taking out or putting in, say, 10 million acres of American production in CRP over two or three years has a significant, albeit slow, impact on global markets.

Comment: First USDA quick fix. CRP expansion and reform

Incoming U.S. agriculture secretary has signalled a boost could be coming to the long-standing program

On his way out the door last month, former House Ag Committee chairman Collin Peterson, just off a hammering re-election defeat, offered the nation one final idea: the incoming secretary of agriculture should be empowered to enrol up to 50 million acres in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) over the next five years. Yes, 50

Farmers participate in a tractor rally to protest against the newly passed farm bills, on a highway on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, January 7, 2021.

Indian farmers to step up protests

Move comes after rejecting offer to defer controversial new laws

Indian farmers have rejected an offer by the government to defer three farm reform laws for 1-1/2 years, warning they would step up protests as they seek a repeal of the laws and a guarantee on minimum crop prices. Farm leaders said hundreds of thousands of farmers from neighbouring states including Haryana, Punjab and western


The last thing rural communities need is a further silencing of their own voices in the decisions that impact their very foundations, like local public schools.

Comment: The education fields are frozen

So why is the provincial government sowing the seeds of reform now?

For everything there is a season and growing up in a small rural community, I recognize this is certainly the time of year when we take time to pause following months of hard work. The animals still need tending but the crop is in the bin. Winter has arrived. This past year has brought many

Many political and farm leaders in rural communities howl about the evils of “big government” and “socialism” even though big government social programs keep their communities from disappearing.

Comment: ‘Why are you giving extreme voices so much attention?’

Taking a break from a long-standing tradition is a sign of the divisive times

Around this time of year, I usually feature comments from readers whose views differ from those found here the previous 50 or so weeks. At least that’s how it has been for at least 25 years. Not this year, however, because I received a reader email Dec. 9 that asked me to stop highlighting these


"We need these changes to make the program work for farmers, ranchers.” – Bob Lowe, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

Commodity groups push provinces on AgriStability

Year-end virtual town hall sees call for quick adoption of policies to accept AgriStability changes

Leaders of several leading Canadian producer groups called on provincial governments to accept Ottawa’s proposal to improve business risk management (BRM) programs. During an end-of-year virtual town hall meeting, Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Mary Robinson said federal Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau’s proposal to fix AgriStability, a leading irritant of the BRMs, “represents a

Photo: iStock

Biden transition team holds talks with biofuel groups -sources

New York | Reuters – U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team has held calls with biofuel groups on topics including compliance with U.S. biofuel blending laws and Biden’s low-carbon climate vision, according to two sources familiar with the conversations. The discussions with biofuel trade groups as well as POET, a top company in the cellulosic


Dairy farmers have a marketing budget exceeding $130 million a year. It is a monster of an organization, and very few Canadians can appreciate this.

Comment: Santa Claus loves milk, especially Canadian milk

Trade compensation given quickly with few strings attached will be an expensive and wasteful exit strategy

In haste, Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau chose a Saturday, hours before a long-awaited economic update, to offer more non-COVID-related compensations to supply-managed farmers. Compensations were expected, but how it was done was a little strange. Few in the industry knew what was going on before the announcement. When giving money away, governments would want as much

Comment: Direct payments to U.S. farmers may dry up under Biden administration

The president-elect seems lukewarm at best towards strings-free payments to farmers

Reuters – U.S. farmers will likely see a familiar face at the helm of the Department of Agriculture come January, but the lofty government assistance programs they have got used to could be a thing of the past. President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary, a move seen as safe but welcoming


Lack of detail, slow ratification of U.K. trade deal raises concern

Lack of detail, slow ratification of U.K. trade deal raises concern

There’s a chance that Canada-U.K. trade could be hit with tariffs, critics say

Despite boasting of signing a transitional agreement, Canada may not have a trade deal ready with the United Kingdom by the time 2021 rolls around. Exporters could be forced to pay British tariffs if the deal isn’t ratified into law by the end of the year. Canada’s International Trade Minister Mary Ng has failed to

With Joe Biden as the incoming U.S. president, Canada’s climate policy may end up benefiting farmers.

Opinion: Biden’s victory a win for carbon pricing policy

Expect opposition to evaporate as one of the world’s largest economies signs on

President-elect Joe Biden’s climate strategy will lay waste to the opposition some Canadians have to our country’s carbon pricing policy. Biden campaigned on aggressively combating climate change. When he becomes president in January, it is expected he will create investment in green technologies. Like Canada, the United States will soon be trying to reach net-zero