Regardless of any changes in leadership and climate change policy that might occur in the next year, one thing is for certain — North American farmers will find their businesses affected in some way. | File photo

Climate change a political hot potato on both sides of border

Lately, it’s been nearly impossible to watch, read or listen to the news without politics being in the headlines. At the forefront is the upcoming presidential election in the United States and the race between current U.S. vice-president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump. It’s interesting fodder at times, but as I write this […] Read more

Canada is levying a 100 per cent surtax on all Chinese-made electric vehicles effective Oct. 1, 2024. The fear is that China may respond with retaliatory tariffs or other trade-restricting measures applied to some Canadian agri-food exports. | Getty Images

EV tariffs raise Chinese retaliation worries

SASKATOON — The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance is closely monitoring China’s response to a new round of Canadian tariffs. “Anything that could be perceived as an irritant to China obviously puts agri-food or anything else potentially in the crosshairs because we’ve seen it before,” said CAFTA president Greg Northey. Related stories: But it doesn’t mean […] Read more



Unless labour agreements are reached, both Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City will shut all freight rail services in Canada at the same time early on Thursday for the first time in history. | File photo

WP rail labour dispute coverage

Below are links to all our recent coverage of the rail stoppage that will harshly impact the ag industry. The most-recent stories will be posted at the top. Please check back often as this page will be constantly updated until this issue is resolved. Posted Wednesday September 4, 2024: Damage assessed as railways resume operations […] Read more


Unless labour agreements are reached, both Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City will shut all freight rail services in Canada at the same time early on Thursday for the first time in history. | File photo

Canada tells railways, union to work harder

OTTAWA (Reuters) — Canada’s labour minister will meet with the country’s two main railway companies and the Teamsters union in Montreal today and Calgary tomorrow to try to avert a crippling rail transport stoppage. Unless labour agreements are reached, both Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City will shut all freight rail services in […] Read more

Canada is the world's second-largest country by area and relies heavily on trains to transport grain, automobiles, potash, coal and other goods. | File photo

Shippers fear rail stoppage ‘catastrophe’

OTTAWA (Reuters) — North American industry groups and shippers are bracing for an unprecedented simultaneous stoppage at both of Canada’s main railways that could inflict billions of dollars’ worth of economic damage. Canada is the world’s second-largest country by area and relies heavily on trains to transport grain, automobiles, potash, coal and other goods. “It’s […] Read more

"Any work stoppage affecting our railways and ports would be crippling for our national economy and North American supply chains," Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that was released by her office. | File photo

Alberta urges feds to head off port, rail strikes

OTTAWA (Reuters) —Alberta has urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to do all he can to head off potentially devastating strikes by railway and port workers. Staff represented by the Teamsters union voted overwhelmingly this month to strike as early as May 22. Railways are critical to Canada’s economy, due to its vast geography and exports […] Read more


Canada is India's main import source of lentils, a protein-rich staple used to make daal curry. |  File photo

Lentil sales to India slow following murder allegation

WINNIPEG/MUMBAI (Reuters) — Canadian lentil sales to India have slowed since prime minister Justin Trudeau said last week he suspected India of involvement in an assassination on Canadian soil, industry sources in both countries say. Trudeau said Canada was “actively pursuing credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader […] Read more

India represents a significant market for Canadian agricultural exports. About half of the country’s lentil imports come from Saskatchewan. Total value of Saskatchewan exports to India last year was $1.4 billion. But India has also at times implemented trade barriers that block those lentils. | File photo

Ag sector watches for fallout from India-Canada spat

The chief executive officer of a major Canadian pulse buyer and exporter said Sept. 21 he is closely watching political developments between Canada and India. Murad Al-Katib from AGT Foods told reporters in Regina that waiting and watching is about all the agriculture sector can do right now. He said geopolitical risks are a major […] Read more