Reading Time: 2 minutes Incoming changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program will add to the sector's already significant labour challenges, the Canadian Meat Council says.
Canadian Meat Council decries TFW changes
Industry group says ending special measures for sector is 'premature'
EU envoys strike new deal on Ukraine food imports
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ambassadors from European Union countries reached a revised deal on Wednesday to extend tariff-free food imports from Ukraine - with restrictions - after some states complained the original agreement risked destabilizing the bloc's agricultural markets.
UK says rules of origin deal with Canada probably won’t be extended
Post-Brexit trading rules expire at the end of March; trade talks paused over tensions
Reading Time: 2 minutes Britain said on Wednesday that post-Brexit trade arrangements with Canada that enable its carmakers to avoid high tariffs there were likely to expire next week, marking the latest deterioration in trade ties between the historic allies.
Mexico delays glyphosate ban as substitute sought
Ban part of controversial plan to reduce reliance on GMO corn for human consumption
Reading Time: 2 minutes Mexico said it would delay a ban on the use of the herbicide glyphosate after it was unable to identify a substitute, rolling back a commitment that is part of a larger plan to reduce consumption of genetically-modified corn.
Local food system would reap big economic benefits researcher says
B.C. researchers found that the Okanagan could produce two thirds of its own food while maintaining exports
Reading Time: 2 minutes Assuming an average Canadian diet, the Okanagan can currently produce 88 per cent of its dairy needs, Mullinix and colleagues wrote in a report on the study. It can produce 60 per cent of its poultry needs, 34 per cent of its fruit needs (due to fruits eaten that can’t be grown in the region, or are eaten out of season), and small amounts of other food groups like grains, red meat, eggs and oils.
France leads push for greater Ukraine import curbs as farmers protest
Destabilized markets could erode public supports for Kyiv, French agriculture minister says
Reading Time: < 1 minute France said on Tuesday that it and a group of other EU countries were pushing for greater curbs on imports of food products from Ukraine to prevent the destabilization of EU agricultural markets.
Disease affecting U.S. dairy cows re-identified as bird flu
U.S. officials say threat to the public is low; cows don't appear to spread infection within herd
Reading Time: 2 minutes A wild waterfowl-borne disease creating milk production problems in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico dairy herds has been identified as a strain of bird flu, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says.
Producers welcome change to cash advance program
After much lobbying, federal government increases interest-free portion of program to $250,000
Reading Time: 2 minutes The interest-free portion of the federal Advance Payments Program will be $250,000 this year, much to farmers’ relief. The amount had been set to drop back to $100,000 at the end of this month after sitting at $350,000 for 2023.
Hemp sector disappointed new report ignores deregulation
Reading Time: 3 minutes Leaders in Canada’s hemp industry were hoping an expert committee would recommend significant changes to hemp regulations so it could be treated the same as wheat, canola and other crops. That didn’t happen. Instead, the committee of experts reviewing the Cannabis Act barely mentioned hemp in its 91 page report published March 21.
Dairy farmers urged to be on lookout for U.S. disease
Older, lactating cattle more likely to be severely impacted, effected farmers say
Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. dairy producers are reporting high onset of and high morbidity from Texas Agalactiae Syndrome, with confirmed cases in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico. Lactating cows are considered particularly vulnerable.
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
