Federal sources say new quarantine rules recently announced by Ottawa will not apply to temporary foreign workers
New travel restrictions imposed on Canadians by the federal government won’t impact the arrival of temporary or seasonal foreign workers, according to sources. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Jan. 29 that Canada’s air carriers had agreed to suspend services to sunny destinations. Flights to tropical locations, like Mexico, are being cancelled by Air Canada, West […] Read moreTag Archives COVID-19 virus
Updates to watch for with COVID-19 programs, subsidies
With the unpredictability of the economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has come out with many changing programs and subsidies to help. It is important you are aware of these programs and their updates to determine if they are right for your farm. Canada Emergency Business Account The CEBA program is aimed […] Read more
COVID becomes part of food worker contract talks
Union says employee frustration over how companies have handled the pandemic could result in labour disruptions
An Alberta union representing about 35,000 workers ranging from meat processors to grocery store employees said frustration over how its members have been treated during the COVID-19 pandemic is raising the risk of them going on strike. The impact of the crisis on such workers directly affects farmers and ranchers, said president Thomas Hesse of […] Read more
Butter sales increased 12.4 percent last year
Dairy producers had a good year in 2020 despite early COVID hiccups and milk prices are expected to rise this year
Dairy farmers should face a much less dramatic 2021 than what they experienced in 2020, Farm Credit Canada reports. And in the end, 2020 didn’t end up too badly for most. “2021 will be a year of adjustments, but hopefully less volatile than 2020,” said FCC in a January commentary. “Although the pandemic forced temporary […] Read more
Governments must continue to improve supports for mental health
Government efforts to improve mental health supports for Canadians should be improved. Every year, Bell “Let’s Talk Day” is welcomed with kind messages from people, including politicians, encouraging folks to take care of themselves and each other. Agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau did just that this Jan. 28. In a news release, Bibeau says workers in […] Read more
Ag exhibition’s expansion plans put on hold
A provincial grant helps Lloydminster association buy land for proposed expansion, but COVID has caused hardship
As it faces the ongoing economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association is biding its time about expanding on to land that will be partly paid for by an Alberta provincial grant. “The association is at significant risk if the pandemic continues for another 10 to 12 months, but we are […] Read more
Risk management needs support now
After providing Canadian families with a reliable source of food throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s agriculture sector is in a position to help lead the post-pandemic economic recovery. But in order to do so, farmers are telling their governments that they cannot do it without help. Effective business risk management programs are essential to provide […] Read more
Lethbridge’s Ag-Expo rescheduled
Ag-Expo in Lethbridge, the long-running and largest agricultural trade show in Alberta, has been rescheduled from its usual time slot. The event, held at Lethbridge Exhibition Park, is now scheduled for March 17-19 instead of the previously planned dates of Feb. 24-26. The change results from Alberta health restrictions on indoor gatherings that were implemented […] Read more
Foreign workers cannot be neglected as COVID vaccinations begin
The federal government should adopt a more assertive position in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. When the first batch of vaccines arrived in Canada, Ottawa released recommendations on who should receive the first doses, but the ultimate discretion was left to individual provinces. Federal recommendations were made to ensure the allocation of a limited supply […] Read more
Resources available for production economics
For some inexplicable reason, provincial agriculture departments have a tendency to bury some of their best work deep within their websites where it’s less likely to be discovered. With the amount of time and effort going into some of these reports, there should be more promotion and better website placement. Without a Crop Production Show […] Read more
