Farmers have bigger things to worry about than the generally-expected cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline by the new U.S. Joe Biden administration. Farmers obviously realize the oil industry is not a core part of the agricultural economy, but it provides lots of off-farm jobs to many farm folk, plus the royalties and economic activity […] Read more
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Dairy processors demand long-term planning from feds
Canada’s dairy processors said the federal government has to develop a long-term plan for the sector after chipping away at…
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Trade certainty not expected to strengthen Canadian dollar
Even with more certainty around trade with the United States, Canadians shouldn’t expect to see the dollar flying in value.…
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A Canola System With Different Agronomic And Pricing Options
With canola remaining in high demand with good prices, growers are looking for ways to grow as much as…
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USMCA no solution to America’s surplus milk problem
Like much of the U.S. President Donald Trump administration’s efforts, the push to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement…
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‘Fortress Canada’ intact
American dairy farmers will benefit from the updated North American Free Trade Agreement because they get more access to the…
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Stories from our other publications
Farmers have bigger things than KXL to worry about
Could Canada run a two-track trade policy?
One track for the rules-following folks and one for the cheats?
We keep hoping this present worldwide binge of protectionism, geo-political bullying and bad-will will fade, subside and JUST GO AWAY! But if it doesn’t, what does Canada do? How do Canadian farmers adapt to that fact? It’s like with climate change: We hope it can be stopped, but if it can’t be, what do we […] Read more
China shows that you can’t count on China – ever
China blocks Canadian pork and beef and proves itself a bad bet for any future relationships
China has now added Canadian pork and beef to its blockade of Canadian agricultural exports, as it continues to bash away at Canada. Canadian farmers will be the biggest losers. It hits them directly. Not only does the physical movement of meat get disrupted, but export prices will be discounted as Canadian product looks to […] Read more
Send Chretien to crack China’s coldness?
It was a nostalgic feeling last week to hear the names “Mulroney” and “Chretien” being batted around in the national news again, connected with each other. The former Prime Ministers weren’t fighting, but rather Brian Mulroney was said to be lobbying present PM Justin Trudeau to dispatch Jean Chretien to China to try to fix […] Read more
Canada torn between two trade bullies with the U.S. and China
Best approach: stay standing and don't cry
Canada is torn between two bullies, feeling like a fool. Dealing with both of them is breaking all our hopes. With our belligerent erstwhile friend to the south having recently finished savaging us in the NAFTA2 negotiations, and China presently raging at us and locking up unlucky Canadians, it’s a very, very, very uncomfortable time […] Read more
Trade mission to China reflects new optimism
Three federal cabinet ministers will visit China this week as Canada focuses its trade gaze on the Asian country
Snow was falling and servers were shivering, but the mood was warm and sunny as leaders of Canada and Manitoba’s farming industries mingled with government representatives to celebrate agricultural trade. It was easy to understand why they were so happy. A few months earlier, the North American Free Trade Agreement was in doubt, the Comprehensive […] Read more
Dairy processors demand long-term planning from feds
Canada’s dairy processors said the federal government has to develop a long-term plan for the sector after chipping away at its profitability through trade agreements. Officials appeared at the Senate’s agriculture committee last week as part of the committee’s study of how the value-added sector can be more competitive. Dairy Processors Association of Canada president […] Read more
Trade certainty not expected to strengthen Canadian dollar
Even with more certainty around trade with the United States, Canadians shouldn’t expect to see the dollar flying in value. “It’s hard for me to see the Canadian dollar gain value against the U.S. dollar in the short-term, unless the Bank of Canada totally revises its stance towards interest rates,” said J.P. Gervais, chief agriculture […] Read more
USMCA no solution to America’s surplus milk problem
Like much of the U.S. President Donald Trump administration’s efforts, the push to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement was an exercise with much sound and fury but that failed to address the real challenges. In agriculture, the United States forced Canada to make concessions in dairy, but I believe the positive impact on […] Read more
Dairy farmers say trade deal threatens future
Alberta producers say the recently signed agreement will ‘negatively shape the future of the Canadian dairy industry’
Four days before the new international trade deal was agreed, Klaas and Eric VanderVeen welcomed a Lethbridge County tour group to their dairy farm in southern Alberta. The father and son talked about their recent investment in four robotic milkers, valued at $200,000 to $250,000 each, that made their operation more efficient and capable of […] Read more
