Klaas Vanderveen is glad that details released Aug. 1 for the $250 million federal Dairy Farm Investment Program include funds for projects retroactive to November 2016. He began two months ago to install automated milkers at his dairy near Picture Butte, Alta. If his project qualifies for funding, the government could cover costs up to […] Read more
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Federal funding to help Canadian dairy producers prepare for CETA
Lack of supply management knowledge is worrisome finding
If there was even a tiny doubt about whether Canadians really don’t know where their food comes, a new poll from Angus Reid just quashed it. The polling firm asked 1,512 Canadians ahead of the pending North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiation whether they would be open to a federal concession around supply management. The […] Read more
Ag trade negotiators must uncover hidden supports
When talk in Canada turns to international trade, often the focus is on our systems such as supply management and whether we can or should preserve them. Maybe it is a Canadian trait to look inward, be self-critical and say sorry. But what about the other guys? Are they squeaky clean? Of course not. Almost […] Read more
Canada urged to go on trade offensive over subsidies
Hitting back should be an important part of dealing with Canada’s tricky agricultural competitors in negotiations, says a new report. Foreign competitors have been clever in appearing to abandon trade-distorting subsidies but have actually done little to minimize their actual production-distorting farm support spending. “Clearly, some of our competitors and many of our customers offer […] Read more
Plastic in ecosystem harms wildlife, environment
A vast, heaving mat of plastic bobs on the waves in a bend of the Grijalva River within the Sudidero Canyon of Chiapas, Mexico. The one kilometre towering cliffs, diverse wildlife and thick rainforests of Mexico’s Grand Canyon are just as striking as the plastic bottles and other debris choking the waterway. This is one […] Read more
Australia sees canola wither away in drought
The Australian Oilseeds Federation’s July crop report forecasts a canola crop of 3.12 million tonnes, down more than a million tonnes from last year’s bumper harvest. The report said extremely dry weather in Western Australia and South Australia meant some seeded fields failed to germinate and were re-seeded to cereals. New South Wales and Victoria […] Read more
CFIA reviews outdated livestock feed rules
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is reviewing feed regulations for beef and dairy cattle. “The regulations we have now date back to 1983 and we really haven’t done much in the way of updating those regulations. They are 30 plus years old,” said Sergio Tolusso, national manager of the agency’s animal feed division. “The world […] Read more
#Harvest17 Photo Contest
It’s time for The Western Producer’s annual harvest photo contest! This year the first prize is a WeatherFarm weather station and a two year service contract, which retails for $2,750.00. Please send your pictures of farm life and work during harvest to readerphotos@producer.com (subject: ‘Harvest17’), tweet them to @westernproducer, or post them on the WP […] Read more
USDA pegs U.S. corn, soybean, wheat crops above trade forecasts
WASHINGTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) – The 2017 U.S. corn and soybean harvests will be bigger than expected despite a slow start to planting and concerns that hot and dry conditions stressed the corn crop during critical periods of development, the government said on Thursday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s forecasts for corn yield and production […] Read more
Media savvy employees in high regard
OTTAWA — Communication has expanded well beyond the written word to a plethora of audio-visual expressions in a digital world. Krista Scaldwell, vice-president of communications with Great-West Life, told delegates at the recent Global 4-H Network Summit in Ottawa that those skills are highly sought after in her employees. She stressed the need for a […] Read more
