MEDICINE HAT — Alberta and Saskatchewan ranchers affected by the discovery and investigation of bovine tuberculosis last year will see an improved set of income tax deferrals. Federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay announced Nov. 6 that no tax need be paid in 2016 and 2017 on compensation received for animals destroyed in the tuberculosis investigation. […] Read more
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Feds give ranch operations hit by TB added tax deferrals
Grain sector closely watching CN service network
Canada’s grain supply chain has managed to avoid any major service disruptions since the disastrous 2013-14 grain shipping season when system-wide congestion slowed export grain movements to a trickle. However, there are troubling signs that rail service in Western Canada may be losing traction, a scenario that has shippers and commodity groups nervous. “There are […] Read more
Ag groups want more focus on TPP revival talks
Trans-Pacific Partnership members are attempting to reach a new deal after the U.S. pulled out of the agreement in January
Canadian agricultural commodity groups are urging the federal government to take more of a leadership role in pushing for a revised Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement this week in Vietnam. The Canadian Meat Council issued a news release saying “abstention or indecision” by the Canadian government is unacceptable. Council president Chris White said the government has been […] Read moreFarmers renew call for national environmental farm plan program
OTTAWA — Farmers say a national environmental farm plan could be a good base line tool for them, given the demands from consumers and the proliferation of sustainability programs from other players in the food chain. Jason Lenz, chair of Alberta Barley from Bentley, Alta., said he still uses the EFP he completed in 2006 […] Read more
Man. hog sector says carbon tax on heating will swallow profits
Manitoba’s proposed new carbon tax could cost hog farmers thousands of dollars a year, says the province’s hog farming organization. Farm fuel such as diesel and gasoline will be exempted from the carbon tax of $25 per tonne, but so far there is no guarantee that the levy won’t be imposed on propane and natural […] Read more
Canola sales make sense if looking for cash flow
If you have to cash out a crop right now, why not canola? After strong counter-seasonal price gains recently, a weakened Canadian dollar and storage concerns, canola might be the crop to move. That’s what Adam Pukalo of P.I. Financial is telling his clients. “I’m not sure how much higher we’re going to get,” said […] Read more
Rail transport bill goes to Senate
A federal bill aimed at improving Canada’s transportation systems and ensuring better rail service for shippers passed third reading in the House of Commons Nov. 1 and is off to the Senate. Observers say key components in the act are provisions that support the use of reciprocal financial penalties in service level agreements between shippers […] Read more
Hedging with U.S. futures and options tricky but possible
Finding perfection in futures markets is an impossible task. However, brokers and traders say North America’s main futures contracts can provide good risk management, even if they sometimes take a bit of engineering and TLC. “A lot of times it’s never going to be a perfect hedge, especially with wheat, but it’s giving you some […] Read more
Winner of our #Harvest17 photo contest announced
The Western Producer’s fall photo contest, #Harvest17, has come to an end, and we would like to thank everyone who contributed to this project. We asked our readers to send us images of farm life and work during harvest, and we are extremely pleased with both the quality and volume of images that were submitted. […] Read more
Farm worker safety rules tabled
Alberta farmers have received a glimpse into what kinds of farm safety regulations may be introduced in the province. The groups tasked with making recommendations on new occupational health and safety standards for non-family farm workers in Alberta released their report Oct. 27. The report was in response to the province’s controversial Bill 6, the […] Read more
