UPDATED: Dec. 7, 2015 – 1145 CST – The World Trade Organization has granted Canada and Mexico the right to impose more than $1 billion in retaliatory tariffs against the United States following a seven year dispute over country-of-origin labeling. In a Dec. 7 news release, the WTO arbitration panel set the annual level of […] Read more
News
Scientists find no evidence glyphosate causes cancer
A panel of epidemiologists and toxicologists says the World Health Organization is wrong about glyphosate. Sixteen experts from Canada, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and elsewhere reviewed scientific literature on glyphosate and cancer. In a report released this morning, the panel said there’s no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer. “None of the results […] Read more
Canada, Mexico win $1 billion in COOL sanctions
GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters) — Canada and Mexico were awarded the right to impose a total of $1 billion in trade sanctions annually against the United States today in a dispute over meat labelling at the World Trade Organization. A WTO arbitration panel set the annual level of retaliation at $1.055 billion for Canada and $228 […] Read more
Farm groups speak out on Alberta’s Bill 6, Alberta’s proposed farm labour changes
Many agricultural and rural groups in Alberta have issued public responses to Bill 6, the Alberta government’s Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. Here is a summary of their views. Alberta Federation of Agriculture The federation said it has met with government officials to discuss farm safety but without detail. “Specific information relating […] Read more
Dairy farmer doesn’t want individual compensation for TPP
Canadian dairy farmers will receive approximately $2.9 billion for domestic market losses associated with the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. A Manitoba farmer says the optics of the federal compensation package send the “wrong message” to consumers. Steven Boerchers, a dairy farmer from Beausejour, Man., is worried the compensation looks like a government handout. He believes […] Read more
What the other provinces are doing about farm worker safety
Alberta’s Bill 6 plans to eliminate the farm exemptions on the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Workers Compensation, Labour Relations and Employment Standards. Legislation in the other western provinces varies when it comes to coverage and exemptions for farmers and farm workers. Below is a snapshot of what the proposed changes in Alberta look like […] Read more
Shaken sensors stir interest in Canadian seed monitoring
HANNOVER, Germany — Bill Baker believes in the internet of things and independence of devices, even when it comes to agriculture. His company, Agtron Enterprises, drew a lot attention at Germany’s Agritechnica farm show. Air delivery of seed and other inputs is old hat for the Prairies and Plains, but for large parts of the […] Read more
Canola futures show surprise resilience in face of bigger crop
A huge increase in the estimate of Canada’s canola crop hardly pushed futures lower as a big rally in soy oil offset the downward price pressure. Statistics Canada’s producer survey today pegged the canola crop at 17.23 million tonnes, up about three million from the September survey and up five percent from last year. Most […] Read more
UPDATED: StatCan crop estimates top expectations. Huge canola crop
By Rod Nickel and Simon Doyle of Reuters WINNIPEG/OTTAWA, Dec 4 – Canada produced more wheat and canola than expected, as dry weather gave way to crucial rains later in summer, Statistics Canada said on Friday in its final 2015 crop report. After the report, traders drove down ICE Canada January canola futures one percent. […] Read more
‘We will pass this bill this fall’: Notley
Alberta premier Rachel Notley is pushing ahead with Bill 6 despite protests across the province to delay or kill the farm safety bill. “We will pass this bill this fall, those paid wage-earning farm workers (in an accident) will receive compensation and will have the right to refuse unsafe work. Over the months to come […] Read more
