Reading Time: < 1 minute There have been no issues so far with supplies of inputs and parts, transportation or oilseed processing during the pandemic, canola industry officials report. “We’ve been really focused on making sure farmers have access to inputs and resources to get the 2020 crop in the ground,” Canola Council of Canada president Jim Everson said during […] Read more
Supply chain working but canola groups have concerns
Federal field trials need to continue and growers need protective equipment, they say
COVID-19 threatens federal field research
Prairie cereals' commissions urge AAFC to follow example of universities, private researchers
Reading Time: 4 minutes COVID-19 threatens to sideline Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) field, greenhouse and laboratory research this year, but not if the Prairie wheat and barley commissions that help to fund it with farmer money have a say. AAFC has been sending “mixed messages” about its plans, Pam de Rocquigny, general manager of the Manitoba Wheat and […] Read more
Tighter canola stocks, more wheat in updated ag department tables
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Updated supply/demand tables released by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on Wednesday include only minor adjustments to stocks and usage numbers, with slightly tighter canola ending stocks and a small increase in wheat supplies. Canola ending stocks for 2020-21 are forecast at 2.7 million tonnes in the updated tables. That would be down from […] Read more
Trade pacts, food policy on AAFC’s agenda for 2020-21
Department also plans to back collaborative research between farmers, scientists
Reading Time: 3 minutes Improving international trade and introducing the new food policy highlight Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) plans for the next year. In its 2020-21 departmental plan, which sets priorities for the upcoming year, AAFC says it will “continue to assist the sector to take advantage of market opportunities and maintain or improve access to international markets, […] Read more
Ottawa roundup: Carbon tax, Grain Act review, Horticultural Council AGM
Reading Time: 3 minutes Despite much of the world’s focus being on slumping stock markets and a global pandemic, there are several recent developments out of Ottawa related to agriculture: Canada Grain Act Canada’s Treasury Board has identified the Canada Grain Act as a piece of legislation in need of regulatory reform. This has been on the federal Liberal […] Read more
Business risk management program reforms in development
Changes expected to be announced in July
Reading Time: 3 minutes Recommendations are now being crafted for Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on how to improve business risk management (BRM) programs for farmers in Canada. It’s expected changes to BRM programs will be announced in July when Bibeau and her provincial counterparts meet in Guelph. The recommendations are coming after a study by MPs on the Commons […] Read more
USDA adjusts world rapeseed stocks estimates
Canadian carryout pegged above AAFC's estimate
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — World rapeseed ending stocks are forecast to tighten slightly in 2019-20 compared to earlier projections, according to an update from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service. The Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade report pegged world rapeseed carryout for the current marketing year at 6.307 million tonnes, down from the February estimate […] Read more
Grain Commission’s chief announces retirement
AAFC's review of Grain Act, and of CGC's future, continues
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is seeking a new chief commissioner. Patti Miller, who has held the position for three years, announced Tuesday to CGC staff that she will retire June 26. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) “will be launching an open, transparent and merit-based process to find a new commissioner as soon as possible,” […] Read more
Chickpea market steady, waits for next wave of demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Demand for chickpeas often comes in waves, with the market currently in a lull waiting for the next swell. The last demand cycle came in early January, and the market has lacked “any kind of enthusiasm” over the past month, according to Colin Young of Midwest Grain at Moose Jaw. Within every pricing […] Read more
Industry leaders weigh in on seed royalty review
'Other markets... have already moved past this'
Reading Time: 2 minutes Syngenta’s Trevor Heck isn’t choosing a route for collecting seed royalty rates — but says the federal government needs to “move forward on some type of value capture” model. “Right now, you know, if we don’t have that within the seed industry, it’s going to be very difficult to be able to get the level […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
