Livestock traceability promises many benefits, but Canadian producers have yet to see substantial payoffs to offset its costs. In 2009, federal and provincial agriculture ministers committed to develop a comprehensive mandatory national traceability system for the livestock industry by 2011. The deadline was missed and there is spirited debate about the value of pursuing the […] Read more
Tag Archives Ag Finance
Cost-benefit study needed for traceability acceptance
Sofina Foods Inc. plans growth with Fearmans buy
Sofina Foods Inc. is buying Fearmans Pork from Sun Capital Partners Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Fearmans is Ontario’s largest pork plant. Sun Capital bought the Burlington facility and the Fearmans trademark from Maple Leaf in late 2010 and operated the plant as a standalone business. Sofina, a growing, private, family owned Canadian food company […] Read more
Alberta’s Conservatives promise money for upgrades at Lethbridge College
Alberta’s Progressive Conservative government has pledged $55.6 million to upgrade Lethbridge College’s trades and technology facilities. The April 10 announcement by advanced education minister Greg Weadick will depend on the PCs winning re-election April 23. If the project proceeds, facilities for agriculture equipment technician, heavy equipment technician, automotive service technician and welder courses will be […] Read more
Changing with the times comes with challenges
Bill Gates’ well-known comments about the state of business has direct application to primary agriculture. We all know that change in farming isn’t new. There is an axiom that states that a business, including farms, will typically outgrow its management. Growth can mean more acres or animals but also more complexity in terms of the […] Read more
Ag policy shouldn’t be linked to health, social issues: expert
The solution to Canadians taking in more calories than they burn shouldn’t rest on ag policy, says professor
Should agricultural policy have an obligation to be part of the solution to broad societal problems? At a University of Guelph conference in Ottawa April 5, several speakers argued that too much is being expected of food policy. “It is true that a portion of our population is not getting the proper nutrition,” said University […] Read moreB.C. plan targets agrifood expansion
The British Columbia government wants agrifood business in the province to expand by almost $4 billion in the next five years. A new initiative of Christy Clark’s Liberal government, outlined in the BC Agrifoods: A Strategy for Growth document, sets a target: $14 billion in agrifood revenue by 2017, up from the current $10.5 billion. […] Read more
Lobb proud of independence
Conservative MP | Non-partisan tradition maintained in Ontario’s key agricultural riding
Ben Lobb had already made a political mark when he handily won the southwestern Ontario agricultural riding of Huron-Bruce from the Liberals in 2008. The riding, on the edge of Lake Huron northwest of Toronto is home to one of the country’s largest cattle sectors. It was also the last significant agricultural riding held by […] Read moreFeds tout insurance-based plan
Risk management | Insurance would replace current farm supports
As agriculture ministers prepare for an April 20 meeting in Ottawa to talk about a new five-year farm policy framework, federal minister Gerry Ritz has an agenda for change. He said April 13 that during the past several years of federal-provincial negotiations, which are supposed to culminate with an agreement in Whitehorse next September, he […] Read moreCanada wants all issues considered in COOL ruling
Some arguments not heard because the panel considered them redundant
Canada is challenging a World Trade Organization panel ruling against U.S. country-of-origin labelling. The WTO dispute settlement body ruled in November 2011 that COOL violates U.S. trade obligations. The U.S. announced its appeal of that decision March 23. Canada also filed an appeal at the end of March, saying that if the dispute panel finds […] Read moreEnd of support programs to co-ops ‘misguided’
Canadian co-operative leaders called it a “disturbing signal” from the government about its lack of regard for the importance of the co-operative movement. New Democratic Party agriculture critic Malcolm Allen called it a “ruthless” and “misguided” government decision that will hurt rural development. Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said it simply is a reflection that the […] Read more
