Farmers can start applying for the new, higher cash advances from the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA), starting Friday (June 7). “It’s three days earlier than we planned, but our team has been working very hard, along with program officials, to get this enhanced service in the hands of the hundreds of farmers who have […] Read more

CCGA now accepting upgraded cash advance applications

Cash advance boost to take effect next week
Regulations permanently expanding loan limits under the federal Advance Payments Program — and temporarily boosting interest-free advances for canola growers — are in place for applications to begin next Monday at the earliest. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said Monday amendments to the Agricultural Marketing Programs Regulations are now in place to boost the APP loan […] Read more

Mexico, Canada plow ahead on trade pact ratification despite Trump threats
Mexico City/Ottawa | Reuters — Mexico and Canada said on Friday they would proceed with plans to ratify a new continental trade pact despite a new threat from U.S. President Donald Trump that critics say could undermine chances of the treaty coming into force. Trump, whose administration has made passing the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free […] Read more
More rain for Ontario fields sees less planted acres, so far
Ontario Field Crop Report for the week of May 27
There was widespread rainfall over the weekend with most areas receiving 1 to 6 inches of rain on Saturday. It’s raining again today. Heavy downpours caused erosion and flooding around Parkhill, Tavistock, Lucan, and Embro just to name a few areas. Fields are saturated and there is little chance of field work until the end […] Read more

Fungicide re-evaluation has growers looking for alternatives
PMRA re-evaluation of chlorothalonil will make it more difficult to use
Chlorothalonil, a broad-spectrum multi-site fungicide active ingredient found in horticulture fungicides, has been re-evaluated by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for all uses within agriculture and turf. It is part of PMRA protocol to re-evaluate pesticide products every 15 years, or sooner, as science evolves and new information, methodologies and approaches become available to […] Read more

Mandatory Saskatchewan farm trucker training planned
The training exemption offered in Saskatchewan for semi truck drivers in agriculture operations is now set to be phased out within two years, the province said Wednesday. The provincial government in late 2018 announced it will require a minimum of 121.5 hours of training before a driver can obtain a Class 1 commercial driver’s licence, […] Read more

Federal ‘Product of Canada’ food guidelines under review
Food processors wanting to make “Product of Canada” or “Made in Canada” label claims for their wares might not have to be as strict on their use of Canadian ingredients, under proposed changes to labelling guidelines. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday announced public consultations and a public comment period, to run until June […] Read more

Canada takes first step on ratifying USMCA trade deal
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada took a first step toward ratifying the new North American trade agreement on Monday just three days ahead of U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence’s trip to Ottawa to discuss the passage of the treaty. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland presented what’s known as a ways and means motion to the House of […] Read more

Prairie dryness concerns to persist
MarketsFarm — Large areas of Western Canada remain on the dry side, with little moisture in the immediate forecasts. And while it’s still early in the growing season, the interplay of conflicting patterns from the south and north will determine whether the dry areas receive timely precipitation during the growing season. “We are looking at […] Read more

Greenhouse biosecurity will be key to keeping tomato pest out of Canada
Horticulture experts say biosecurity and vigilance can help keep tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus out of the country
Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) continues to be found in more countries, but luckily Canada is not yet among them. Within the first few months of 2019, it transferred to Germany, Mexico and Italy. It has also been previously found in California, and the first outbreaks were found in Israel in 2014 and Jordan […] Read more