Reading Time: 4 minutes Europe's farming sector is facing a major crisis and needs to 'profoundly' change its rules, French President Emmanuel Macron said in Brussels, reaffirming Paris is against striking the Mercosur free-trade agreement with Latin American countries.
Europe needs to ‘profoundly’ change its farming rules, says Macron
French farmers' union call for end of blockades
EU plans curbs on Ukraine farm imports to calm angry farmers
Measures possible for other farm produce if markets disrupted
Reading Time: 2 minutes The European Commission on Wednesday proposed measures to limit agricultural imports from Ukraine and offer greater flexibility on rules for fallow land in a bid to quell protests by angry farmers in France and other EU members.
Belgian farmers block roads to Zeebrugge port as French protests spill over
Spanish farmers plan February protests as anger spreads across Europe
Reading Time: 3 minutes Belgian farmers angry about rising costs, EU environmental policies and cheap food imports blocked access roads to the Zeebrugge container port on Tuesday.
France drops plan to decrease farmers’ diesel discount
Protests to continue on unanswered questions says farming union
Reading Time: 2 minutes The French government dropped plans to gradually reduce state subsidies on agricultural diesel but that seems not enough for angry farmers surrounding Paris and still threatening to converge on the capital in their tractors.
French farmers block roads, dump produce as protest edges closer to Paris
Farming union handed French government a list of demands late Wednesday
Reading Time: 3 minutes French farmers blocked highways and dumped crates of imported produce on Thursday, demanding urgent action on low farmgate prices, green regulation and free-trade policies as swelling protests moved closer to Paris.
Canadian potato output rises in 2023
Alberta vaults to first place in provincial potato production
Reading Time: 2 minutes At 32.063 million hundredweight of potatoes this year, Alberta vaulted from third to first place as it improved on the previous year’s crop of 26.813 million. Manitoba moved into second spot from third with its harvest of 29.760 million cwt. following last year’s 26.139 million. Prince Edward Island saw its output reduced in 2023 to 25.813 million cwt. from 27.789 million. In 2023, the trio combined for 68 per cent of Canada’s total potato harvest of 128,801 million cwt.
Feds disburse funds on community food security projects
Since 2019 the Local Food Infrastructure Fund has committed $64.8 million to such projects
Reading Time: < 1 minute Wednesday, federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay announced up to $9.98 million in funding for community food projects through the fifth phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, an outworking of the Food Policy for Canada.
Major strawberry plant producer changes hands
New owners get funding to buy Lareault business
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Quebec company billed as Canada’s largest producer of strawberry plants has picked up new ownership after nearly 70 years. Production Lareault, based on just over 450 acres at Lavaltrie, Que. — about 40 km northeast of Montreal, in the province’s Lanaudiere region — has been acquired by investors Antoine Casimir and Andrea Borodenko for […] Read more
At Agribition: Northern community integrates tech, education into market garden
Flying Dust working to improve operation's food distribution
Reading Time: 2 minutes Riverside Market Garden, operated by Flying Dust First Nation, started in 2009 with two people and an old alfalfa field. Today it employs about 20 people, plus summer students; provides food for the community and some wholesalers; and gives youth a chance to learn about agriculture. Over the years the First Nation, just north of […] Read more
Agritechnica update: A new big horsepower Massey, adjustable hay conditioning and automation matures
Reading Time: 3 minutes Massey Ferguson released its new high-horsepower 9S tractor at Agritechnica. It’s the next tractor for Massey Ferguson with the unique 18 cm gap between the cab and the engine, which makes it more conformable for the operator and with better sight lines. It’s also new highest horsepower tractor available from Massey Ferguson at 425 maximum […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
