Does this seem cruel to you? Or this? How about this? To some folks having any sort of a pig in a stall at any time looks cruel and abusive. To others, it looks just fine and a good way to keep an animal healthy and happy. After all, the pigs in the […] Read more
Tag Archives Ag Finance
Truth, falsehood, science, belief, feeling and image: What counts when it comes to sow stalls?
Youth summit studies global food security
In an age of financial turmoil and volatile food prices, Meahgan Sweet has discovered that Canada is in a sweet spot. “We’re in a good, solid position,” said the University of Saskatchewan marketing student, who recently took part in the Y20 international youth gathering in Mexico. Sweet, 21, was one of seven young Canadians, and […] Read more
Not only railway workers lack bargaining power
Those poor railway unions. As soon as they initiate strike action, the government rushes to introduce back-to-work legislation. It’s an affront to the collective bargaining process. Why would a railway negotiate in good faith knowing its employees will be quickly legislated back to work anyway? If you think the railway workers have it tough, try […] Read more
Possible mine delay unsettling
When Marius Kloppers speaks, the effects ripple across the world. Kloppers, chief executive officer of BHP Billiton, recently told Caixin Media Co. that the company would “wait and see” on new projects for 18 months to two years, and there would be no major approvals for six months. Naturally, media outlets jumped all over this […] Read more
EI reforms can’t be made on backs of producers
Reforms to Canada’s Employment Insurance plan are raising concerns among farmers who hire foreign labourers for seasonal work. Grain farming is mostly a mechanized industry now, but there are still many parts of agriculture that rely on unskilled human labour. Fruit, vegetable and honey farms often have jobs that can be strenuous and are usually […] Read more
Plans to reform Canada’s food inspection system sure to incite war of words
Let the war of words begin. Last week, the Canadian government announced an ambitious plan to reform the food inspection system in Canada, to radically change the regulatory and legislative base of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The public is being invited to comment, industry will be consulted and the government hope is to have […] Read more
Senate encourages Brazil trade
Canada is missing a golden opportunity to increase agricultural sales to Brazil, says the Senate foreign affairs and international trade committee. In a report tabled last week that was written after Ottawa hearings and a trip to Brazil, senators said a major missed market is Brazil’s large demand for wheat and barley. Last year, Canada […] Read more
NDP changes little in ag priorities
Now official opposition | Position revealed in minority report on ag committee’s farm policy plan
New Democrats on the House of Commons agriculture committee have offered the first glimpse of the party’s agriculture priorities since it vaulted to official opposition status a year ago. In many ways, the priorities outlined in the NDP minority report on the next five-year federal-provincial farm policy plan were consistent with past party policy — […] Read moreResearch aims to improve cattle efficiency
EDMONTON — New research into how amino acids affect the diets of dairy cows is expected to make animals more efficient and reduce the amount of nitrogen in manure. Lorraine Doepel, assistant professor at the University of Calgary’s veterinary medicine school, said the goal of her research is to make dairy cattle more efficient. “The […] Read more
Trade expert says it’s time to eliminate supply management
Too many tariffs Carleton University professor Michael Hart says getting rid of tariffs would make ag industries more competitive
QUEBEC CITY — One of the key architects of the 1989 Canada-United States free trade deal says it is time to take the next great leap against protectionism by eliminating tariffs. Michael Hart, a lead negotiator in the CUSTA negotiations, told the annual conference of the Canadian Meat Council June 1 that an announcement Canada […] Read more
