Glacier FarmMedia – Agriculture and Agri-food Canada scientists have historically spent their time on things like improving yields, fighting crop diseases and increasing livestock feed efficiency — mostly agriculture production and risks to production. Now, their top priorities should be sustainable agriculture and climate change, says the department’s Strategic Plan for Science, a document released […] Read more
Tag Archives politics — page 9
Canadian agri-food scientists urged to switch tracks
A new federal strategy asks scientists to focus on sustainability and climate change rather than production
Unlocking markets in a time of uncertainty
Canada has opportunity to boost lagging exports in a world looking for more food
Canada needs a new agriculture and food strategy as political, pandemic and economic shocks to the global food system render the way Canada has thrived in the world no longer viable. That was the message at a conference in Ottawa Jan. 31, hosted by leading agriculture policy think tanks and attended by agriculture leaders in […] Read more
Ontario farmers gather once again post-pandemic
OFA annual meeting held in new host city and offered grassroots discussions
Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) president and Thunder Bay-area dairy farmer Peggy Brekveld was re-elected to a third one-year term at the organization’s recent annual meeting. The meeting, held for the first time in London, was the OFA’s first in person in three years. Of the 26 resolutions brought forward to the OFA board from […] Read more
Editorial: Smoke and mirrors
Do more with less” is without a doubt the overarching theme for Canadian agriculture in 2022. Although that exact phrase may not always be used, its sentiment has been consistent. Farmers and those working in the agriculture industry have been bombarded with information and commentary about how the climate is in crisis, and that they […] Read more
Opinion: Farmers can play a role in staving off political stupidity
Glacier FarmMedia – When democracy works, politicians of all stripes have lots of opportunities to stave off stupidity. This is the sort of policy stupidity they might commit when in power if they weren’t clued in to the nightmarish consequences of their actions. To help with that, farm and other organizations work hard to provide […] Read more
Carbon price exemptions preferred over rebates, committee hears
Amendments to federal legislation that would exempt fuel used to dry grain and heat barns return to ag committee
Glacier FarmMedia – Carbon price exemptions, rather than rebates, would help farmers invest in more energy-efficient and sustainable practices, witnesses told the standing committee on agriculture. The committee has resumed its study of Bill C-234, which would amend federal legislation to exempt propane and natural gas from carbon pricing if used to dry grain or […] Read more
Trucker blockades in Brazil increase in wake of Bolsonaro election loss
Sao Paulo | Reuters – Truckers who support Brazil’s outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro escalated their protests on Monday, blocking roads in 16 states in an action that could affect agricultural exports in one of the world’s top food producers. Bolsonaro lost Sunday’s election to leftist former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but has yet to concede […] Read more
Russia halts Ukraine Black Sea grain exports, Biden outraged
Reuters – Russia on Saturday suspended participation in a U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal after what it said was a major Ukrainian drone attack on its fleet in Crimea, dealing a blow to attempts to ease the global food crisis. U.S. President Joe Biden denounced the move as “purely outrageous” and said it would increase […] Read more
Opinion: World given opportunity to revive rules-based trade
Glacier FarmMedia – A couple of years ago, rules-following free traders like Canada seemed to be sadly out of step with the march of history. China was beating down on countries like Canada and Australia for daring to anger it, nakedly weaponizing trade for political ends. The United States was coming to the end of […] Read more
Opinion: Gorbachev’s Ontario farm walk that changed the world
Mikhail Gorbachev’s recent passing has prompted many retrospectives about his role as the last leader of the Soviet Union and the downfall of communism. Few, however, know of his connections to agriculture – and a walk in the fields of southern Ontario during his first trip to North America – that helped inform his views […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
