Proposed federal changes to the taxation of corporations fail to take into account that farms are not like other businesses and will result in larger, more vulnerable farms and increased risk for Canadian taxpayers. The proposed rules have been criticized by many different business sectors, but they would be particularly detrimental to primary agriculture. About […] Read more
Stories by Western Producer staff
Educating urbanites key to agriculture’s prosperity
For David Miller, the “Aha!” moment came during a meeting with Chicago-area soccer moms and mommy bloggers, the women who discuss and disseminate information — some right, some wrong — about food and its production. Miller is the research and commodity services director for the Iowa Farm Bureau, and the meeting was designed to address […] Read more
Farmers must reduce antibiotic use or gov’t will set own agenda
The warning by Herman Barkema, a leader in infectious disease in livestock, about antimicrobial-resistant bacteria is ominous: “If we do not get our act together they (regulatory bodies) will come with measures whether we like it or not.” The World Health Organization developed a plan to tackle the issue in 2015 with the One Health […] Read more
Japan hikes tariffs on beef
Japan hiked tariffs on frozen beef imports from Canada, the United States and other counties July 28. The tariff rises to 50 percent from 38.5 percent, until next March, Japan’s Ministry of Finance said. The tariff hike is a “safeguard” mechanism to protect domestic farmers. It is the first time it has been triggered since […] Read more
Japan hikes tariffs on beef, troubles trade relations
By Reuters and Western Producer Staff Japan hiked tariffs on frozen beef imports from Canada, the United States and other counties on Friday. The tariff rises to 50 percent from 38.5 percent, until next March, Japan’s Ministry of Finance said. The tariff hike is a “safeguard” mechanism to protect domestic farmers, Japan’s ministry said. It […] Read more
Wheat sharply down midmorning Thursday
U.S. spring wheat September futures are down about 39 cents a bushel or 4.8 percent at mid morning Thursday after touching a new four-year high a day earlier. Other wheat contracts are also lower, as is wheat, but canola is up a little and soybeans are about steady. “I’m surprised by the extent of the […] Read more
Creating national food policy will require give and take
Sometimes during an election, a candidate will choose an event at a farm or farmers market to solemnly state that Canada for too long has been without a national food policy. Most voters will nod in agreement and applaud. But the problem is that different people have different ideas of how a national food policy […] Read more
Bunge shares surge after report of possible Glencore takeover
May 23 (Reuters) – Shares of Bunge Ltd surged about 16 percent on Tuesday after a media report suggested the U.S. agribusiness is a takeover target of commodities trader Glencore PLC. Glencore, owner of Viterra, is already a big player in Canadian agriculture. “Glencore confirms that Glencore Agriculture Limited (Glencore’s non-consolidated agriculture joint venture) (GAL) […] Read more
Diversified exports essential to offset global import rules
Plans to build two pea processing plants in Western Canada have important ramifications that go beyond their infrastructure and jobs. They show how agriculture can grow and diversify in the export market. To see why diversification matters so much, we need only to look at what’s going on in India. Canada exports about $1 billion […] Read more
Cash advances changed to include unharvested grain
The Canadian Canola Growers Association has unveiled a new cash-advance option available to grain and oilseed farmers with unharvested grain. Farmers who have unharvested grain may be eligible for a cash advance under a revised application deadline, the CCGA said in a Nov. 15 news release. The CCGA will accept new seeded cash advance applications […] Read more
