Aug. 1 marked the eighth anniversary of one of the great economic tragedies in Canadian history. This was the day the wrecking ball swung by then Prime Minister Stephen Harper and former Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz finally destroyed one of the most important institutions working for economic justice for farmers — the Canadian Wheat Board. […] Read more
Stories by Terry Boehm
Bill C-18 will take from farmers’ pockets
One of the most disturbing aspects of the debate or lack of debate on moving Canada’s plant breeder’s rights legislation to comply with UPOV 91 is how most farm groups have complacently accepted that we have to go down this path to access new crop varieties. Many have vigorously endorsed this. They are willing to […] Read more
Current grain prices not at record highs
Terry Boehm, president of the National Farmers Union, says escalating food prices have little to do with higher grain costs. Reporters and politicians are making increasingly frequent references to high food prices– some going so far as to suggest prices are nearing record levels. But for the farmers and peasants who produce the world’s food, […] Read more
Canada-EU trade agreement damaging
Canada and the European Union are negotiating a new free trade agreement, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). This agreement with the EU is no small matter for farmers. The CETA, if implemented, will, as much as the North American Free Trade Agreement or the World Trade Organization, transform Canadian agriculture and farms. And […] Read more
CGC changes put farmers at risk – Opinion
Boehm is vice-president of the National Farmers Union. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture recently endorsed a recommendation that the mandate and governance of the Canadian Grain Commission be changed. Unfortunately, the change endorsed by the committee will imperil grain producers and ultimately allow grain companies to fundamentally restructure agriculture in their interests […] Read more
Seed changes have wide impact – Opinion
Boehm is the vice-president of the National Farmers Union. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is conducting a 60-day internet-based consultation that is scheduled to end Dec. 2. Changes to the system of registering crop varieties for production in Canada are being contemplated. These proposed changes will have major consequences for Canadians in the kind of […] Read more
