The news came in a single news release, quietly sent out the afternoon of March 21. Despite ongoing conversations, the Canola Council of Canada had been informed Chinese importers were no longer interested in purchasing Canadian canola seed. Technical conversations, the release said, had not shown an “immediate resolution was possible.” At this time, Canola […] Read more
Tag Archives politics — page 26
Opinion: Agriculture now part of grand global political game
Capital Letters with Kelsey Johnson of iPolitics
Opinion: Federal government struggles to deal with trade irritants
Capital Letters with Kelsey Johnson of iPolitics
The Trudeau government has a trade problem down on the farm. The Chinese government recently announced it had embargoed canola exports from one of this country’s largest grain exporters: Richardson International Ltd. The Richardson embargo comes at a time of increased diplomatic tensions between Canada and China. Beijing says the move is required because a […] Read more
New rural caucus chair provides voice of the countryside to government
Francis Drouin lauds the recent appointment of a rural economic development minister
Expanded internet access, solving rural labour issues along with rural infrastructure problems are priorities for the new chair of the Liberal rural caucus. Francis Drouin, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell in eastern Ontario was recently elected by the 50 members of the Liberal rural caucus as its chair, replacing TJ Harvey, an MP […] Read more
Rain makes for tough Argentina crop season
An Argentinian farmer visiting Canada says unpredictable government policies are always a concern for farmers there
Parts of Argentina are awash in rain and January planting of corn was delayed in the north and centre regions of the country. German Peyronel, a farmer in Bandera, in the Santiago del Estero province of Argentina, hasn’t been able to plant all the acres he wanted to by now because of the rain and […] Read more
Opinion: Beyond the bubble of Ottawa
Capital Letters with Kelsey Johnson of iPolitics
For the last couple of years, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has hit the road in January to talk to Canadians. Town halls are scheduled at local arenas, gymnasiums or university campuses in communities across the country. Notices are put out. Anyone can come. It’s first come, first served. People can ask anything they want. Based […] Read more
Van Bommel resigns as processing vegetable growers board chair
To take on a role with the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission
Suzanne van Bommel has resigned her role as chair of the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers. Van Bommel was appointed chair after the province’s administrator turned control of the OPVG back to a grower board made up of half elected and half appointed members. The board will be fully elected by growers after the organization’s annual […] Read more
Trump defends tough trade policies to farmers, vows fair deal with China
Speech was short on details as farmers struggle because of the trade war and government shutdown
New Orleans | Reuters – United States President Donald Trump defended his tough trade policies in front of thousands of farmers Jan. 14, a key constituency that has struggled because of his trade war with China. He promised fair trade deals that will put America’s rural heartland back on its feet. “We’ve taken the toughest […] Read more
U.S. government shutdown keeps traders guessing
The absence of government reports on sales is clouding the marketplace
Chicago | Reuters – Commodity traders are in the dark because of the partial U.S. government shutdown, unable to see daily and weekly reports of agricultural exports to obtain clues as to whether China is following through with promises to buy grain and soy amid the ongoing trade war. Traders have been anxiously awaiting proof […] Read more
Canadian negotiator said CUSMA deal had to be done
The Canadian negotiators received pressure to end supply management until late in the negotiations
Canadian agriculture negotiators were dealing with proposals from the United States that would end supply management into September, 2018, not long before the deal was eventually completed at the end of September. That goes against the assurances of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue while visiting Canada last summer that the Americans didn’t want an end […] Read more
Province aims to strengthen farmer input with new committee
The heads of farmer, processor and agribusiness associations will be vice chairs of the committee
The Ontario government has released details on the structure and operations of its new agriculture advisory committee. The task force, first announced in November, is intended to strengthen the competitiveness of the province’s agriculture sector while working with industry on farm issues, the initiative was greeted with praise by Grain Farmers of Ontario. Why it […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
