Two rural organizations have emerged as part of a coalition of unions and social action groups campaigning to derail government plans to take Canada Post out of the admail business. National Farmers Union and Rural Dignity representatives told an Ottawa news conference Jan. 13 the loss of admail revenues would take money away from Canada […] Read more
Stories by Barry Wilson
Dubious espionage tale hurts group’s credibility
In the battle for public opinion over the pros and cons of the Canadian Wheat Board, the anti-Board side would be well advised to rein in its fringe. It does nothing for their credibility to have a prominent self-proclaimed spokesperson crossing the line from conviction, to obsession, to ridiculous. The issue is Ken Diller’s Jan. […] Read more
Dairy farmers do battle with subsidy cuts
The dairy farmer lobby flexed its political muscle last week and appears to have won a skirmish in the battle to insulate milk producers from looming federal subsidy cuts. Along the way, federal agriculture minister Ralph Goodale agreed to try to postpone by six months the planned Aug. 1 start of the dairy subsidy phase-out. […] Read more
U.S. loses dairy tariff dispute but won’t give up the war
SAINT JOHN, N.B. – For Canada’s dairy farmers, trade challenges are like a tiresome brother-in-law who never realizes he has worn out his welcome. They never get out of your life. “Trade is going to be all-consuming in the next year,” Can-adian Federation of Agriculture president Jack Wilkinson told the Dairy Farmers of Canada annual […] Read more
Wheat price projection rise limited by weather, dollar
The Canadian Wheat Board increased its Pool Return Outlook for wheat by $1 a tonne thanks to improved market conditions caused by the Americans’ smaller than expected acreage seeded to winter wheat. However, that positive market factor was offset by slow grain movement caused by bad weather, which will reduce the amount of Canadian grain […] Read more
Wheat board grain sale followed by a dash of politics
On the business side of the ledger last week, the Canadian Wheat Board signed an agreement in Thailand that could put $250 million into prairie farmers’ pockets over the next five years. On the political side, Thai politicians and journalists got a glimpse of the debate over the future of the wheat board that has […] Read more
Winnipeg exchange study finds hog futures plausible
A feasibility study has shown a Canadian hog futures contract at the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange is possible. The exchange hired Sparks Companies Inc. last summer to do the study. Focus groups during July and August showed that basis risk would be reduced, foreign exchange concerns associated with using U.S. markets would be eliminated and a […] Read more
Pasta makers urge court to restore import duties
Canada’s pasta manufacturing companies have their day in court this week as they continue the fight to win protection from dumped imports of Italian pasta. There is evidence that subsidized imports continue to pour into Canada to claim a larger share of the domestic market. Domestic pasta companies complain those imports cost them millions of […] Read more
Senft leaves Sask Pool for grain commission
Although the former vice-president of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool is changing jobs and cities, Barry Senft says his resolve to defend the regulations that give Canadian grain its worldwide reputation remains the same. Within days, he will assume his new role as Winnipeg-based assistant chief commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission. “I think one of the […] Read more
Falling market prices won’t reopen U.S. farm bill debate, says lobbyist
Less than a year after the United States approved a new farm bill designed to get the government out of the commodity price-support bus-iness, falling market prices are creating political pressure to reverse the course, says a Washington farm lobbyist. But John Keeling, a farm policy specialist with the American Farm Bureau, said in an […] Read more
