WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday the United States should consider terminating trade deals under which it imports cattle as he looks to help U.S. ranchers hit hard by the COVID-19 virus outbreak. The U.S. imports cattle from Mexico and Canada to supplement domestic supplies at lower prices and to slaughter in […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19 virus
Cattle and pork producers tell MPs $100 million for set-aside is not enough
A federal committee was told the $50 million made available by Ottawa for a set-aside program in the beef industry has already been spent, according to the Canadian Cattleman’s Association. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced up to $50 million in AgriRecovery funding was being earmarked to fund a COVID-19 set-aside program for cattle producers, allowing […] Read more
Food and beverage sector calls for changes to federal pandemic relief
Officials from Food and Beverage Canada told a parliamentary committee that the COVID-19 pandemic shows there is a “fundamental misunderstanding of how Canada’s food system operates” among senior policy makers. The comments were made during a digital meeting of the standing committee on agriculture and agri-food on May 8. James Donaldson, who sits on the […] Read more
Bibeau faces off with opposition MPs over pandemic supports
Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau confirmed to a parliamentary committee that the cost of business risk management programs would exceed its usual expense because of COVID-19. Typically around $1.6 billion is spent on the programming each year, but on May 12 Bibeau told the standing committee on agriculture that the amount is “expected to be […] Read more
Farmers wait for cash advances
UPDATED to include comments from the federal ag minister’s office – May 15, 2020 – 1330 CST – Farmers who have been waiting far too long for their spring cash advances are going to have to be patient a little longer, says one of the administrators of the program. An application approval process that typically […] Read more
Farmers limit ag aid praise
Farm leaders were careful last week to thank Ottawa for the $252-million aid package it announced May 5, but disappointment throughout the sector is clear. “It’s just too little,” said Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Bob Lowe. “I won’t say too late. It’s just too little.” Canadian Pork Council chair Rick Bergmann called it an important […] Read more
CGC resumes research into spring oilseed harvest quality
The Canadian Grain Commission has rebooted a research project aimed at examining the quality and storability of spring-harvested canola and flaxseed. The CGC project was temporarily suspended earlier this year due to concerns over workplace safety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But Veronique Barthet, program manager of oilseeds at the CGC’s Grain Research Laboratory in […] Read more
U.S. packer shutdowns sideswipe Canadian hog farmers
It is cruel irony that Canadian hog prices are hammered lower even as the slaughter pace in this country is surprisingly resilient and pork exports are booming. The Canadian industry is suffering collateral damage from the severe slaughter decline in the United States, caused by outbreaks of COVID-19 at several plants. U.S. hog slaughter in […] Read more
Chinese tariff threat opens up barley market
China proposes an 80 percent tariff on Australian barley, which would makes sales into that market easier for Canada
The re-ignition of China’s barley dispute with Australia bodes well for Canadian growers and exporters of the crop, says an industry official. A number of Australian farm groups are reporting that China has notified Australia that it is proposing to impose tariffs of 80 percent on Australian barley exports following an 18-month anti-dumping investigation. Australia […] Read more
Agriculture requires more support
Overall, I have been impressed with the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has altered the lives of all Canadians in one way or another. They have been rolling out funding programs over the past weeks and months for Canadians who have lost work, for students, for small- and medium-sized businesses, and more. As […] Read more
