Glacier FarmMedia – Ahead of a federal election call, three federal ministers called a halt to a process that would likely have yielded quick results on increasing the maximum residue limits for glyphosate applied to dry beans, lentils and peas. Regular reviews of the scientific data for safe levels of pesticides on food products and […] Read more
Tag Archives politics — page 14
Opinion: Glyphosate a tool for farmers, not a politician’s tactic
Glyphosate review aimed to bring Canada’s limits in line with international norms
Labour shortages, carbon tax and next policy framework top agriculture election priorities
Canadian agriculture has repeatedly been identified as a sector for economic growth
Farm groups say they want federal political parties to prioritize agricultural issues in the federal election. Their main requests include Business Risk Management (BRM) programs, like AgriStability, climate change, environmental concerns and trade and market access. Why it matters: The pandemic provided a focus on agriculture’s critical role in feeding the nation and in post-pandemic […] Read more
Trading nations hope for reinvigorated WTO
Countries from three continents plan to meet later this year to begin the process of fixing the World Trade Organization
Glacier FarmMedia – Food exporters and importers on three continents are hoping the World Trade Organization (WTO) can get back on its feet, and soon. They also hope an upcoming summit will put the WTO on a path that not only returns it to previous functionality but also helps it climb higher on the evolutionary […] Read more
Momentum builds for Product of USA label
American cattle producers support the Biden administration as it forges ahead with ‘top to bottom’ review of meat labels
Glacier FarmMedia – It’s nearly a certainty that America will change its Product of the USA label for meat. President Joe Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack seem determined to clear up confusion over the voluntary labeling program and make it easier to understand. In the first week of July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture […] Read more
More flexibility urged for next ag policy round
Former assistant deputy agriculture minister says farm programs must be designed differently because world has changed
Glacier FarmMedia – Rising east-west tensions could erode the foundation of Canada’s agricultural policy framework even as governments negotiate the next one, says a former federal civil servant. Douglas Hedley, in a paper commissioned by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, said the stability established through common policies 20 years ago is now shaky. He helped […] Read more
Ontario ag minister Thompson steps into new role
Focus on growing efficiencies, market share and innovation top new ag minister’s to-do list
Lisa Thompson has a quick, warm smile and a penchant for direct eye contact when engaging in conversation. Her open nature can momentarily eclipse her razor-sharp observational skills and the wealth of knowledge she brings to the table as a farmer, businessperson and politician. “I think the foundation to addressing any situation, whether it’s good […] Read more
Opinion: Drought-prompted AgriStability changes not a sign of continued co-operation
A drought forced the federal and western Canadian governments 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 to which they are entitled. The two ministers of agriculture involved, Marie-Claude […] Read more
American farmers’ right to repair powered by the president
Glacier FarmMedia – U.S. President Joe Biden has issued an executive order on a farmer’s right to repair equipment. Biden signed the order July 9 that asks the Federal Trade Commission to force large manufacturers, including tech companies and agricultural equipment makers, to let consumers repair their own devices or use the technician of their […] Read more
Opinion: Farm policy for the future
It’s safe to say that most farmers in Canada don’t really know the history of farm policy developments in this country and they don’t really care. What they do care about is whether supports will be there for them in their times of need, whether that’s when dealing with this year’s drought, last year’s pandemic […] Read more
Bipartisan U.S. bill aims to eliminate corn ethanol volume mandate
Reuters – A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced legislation on July 21 that would eliminate a national mandate requiring oil refiners to blend corn-based ethanol into their fuel mix – a proposal that would slam corn growers and is likely to face vehement opposition from the farm lobby. Republican Senator Pat Toomey from Pennsylvania and Democratic […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
