Reading Time: 3 minutes A farmer-led group is hoping to cut through the politics surrounding climate issues by bringing together a diverse group of Prairie farmers and ranchers for discussions around sustainability. “There’s a number of loud voices that tend to dominate the conversations,” says Ian McCreary, a grain and cattle farmer from Bladworth, Sask. McCreary is co-leading the […] Read more
Coalition seeks farmers, ranchers to join climate change forum
Farmers for Climate Solutions aims to gather diverse viewpoints
NFU takes demand for ban on investor ownership to Parliament Hill
Organization's youth caucus concerned amid ‘transition crisis’
Reading Time: 3 minutes Members of the National Farmers Union (NFU) gathered on Parliament Hill Wednesday to demand a ban on investor ownership of farmland. The demonstration was organized by the NFU Youth Caucus and Farm Workers’ Working Group. The goal was to demand protection of food sovereignty and help farmers, especially young ones, gain more access to farmland. […] Read more
At Agribition: Iowa school group looks in on Prairie ag
Media program students, alumni gather participants' stories
Reading Time: 3 minutes Fresh faces and new blood were injected into the usual cadre of journalism veterans this week at Canadian Western Agribition. Students from Iowa’s CAC Media Group ventured to Regina for hands-on agricultural journalism experience. Hannah Grantz, Jake VanderHeiden and Katlin Truelsen, students from high schools across Clinton County in eastern Iowa, interviewed, photographed and videotaped […] Read more
Feds plan to ease Underused Housing Tax reporting load
New exemption also proposed for employee housing outside cities
Reading Time: 3 minutes Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s latest Fall Economic Statement offers to take some of the reporting burden off certain farmers and other Canadians when filing for exemptions from the national Underused Housing Tax (UHT). The federal finance department on Nov. 16 posted its legislative and regulatory proposals for changes to the UHT online and has […] Read more
Country Guide Podcast: Olivia Riddoch
Reading Time: < 1 minute In Episode 2 of our Better Advice series, Country Guide spoke with Olivia Riddoch of Fairwind Farms, where she shared the career change that brought her back to the family farm and how she’s now managing crop protection on over 4000 acres. Tune in at country-guide.ca or subscribe on Apple or Google.
Legislation allows Quebec’s UPA to rework funding formula
Bill 28 passes Quebec assembly
Reading Time: 2 minutes Quebec’s legislative assembly has passed a bill allowing the province’s overarching general farm organization, the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), to start the process toward a new funding model. Provincial Agriculture Minister Andre Lamontagne on Thursday announced the passage of Bill 28, which amends legislation governing organization of farming activities and the accreditation of UPA. […] Read more
Country Guide Podcast: Mark Lumley
Reading Time: < 1 minute In the first episode of our NEW Better Advice podcast series, Country Guide sat down with Mark Lumley of Fairwind Farms to chat about the evolution of his family farm and how he keeps on when it isn’t always easy. Tune in at country-guide.ca or subscribe on Apple or Google.
Canada to boost carbon tax rebate for rural areas
Will also pause carbon tax on home heating oil for three years
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ottawa | Reuters — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday announced a three-year carbon tax exemption for home heating oil and higher carbon tax rebates for people in rural areas, measures he said were intended to bring relief amid soaring costs of living. Trudeau’s Liberal government has implemented a price on carbon to combat […] Read more
Former ag minister returns in new Manitoba cabinet
Kinew names Kostyshyn to ag portfolio
Reading Time: 2 minutes Incoming Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has brought a former provincial agriculture minister back to the cabinet table to handle the ag file. Ron Kostyshyn, who from 2012 to 2016 was then-premier Greg Selinger’s ag minister while serving as MLA for the northwestern riding of Swan River, was sworn in Wednesday as minister of agriculture in […] Read more
Manitoba legislature’s agriculture leaders to return under new management
NDP scores majority over incumbent Tories
Reading Time: 2 minutes Manitoba’s incumbent agriculture minister and lead opposition agriculture critic are headed back to the legislature — but under a new seating plan. Opposition leader Wab Kinew’s New Democrats are expected to form a majority government coming out of Tuesday’s provincial election, unseating incumbent premier Heather Stefanson’s Progressive Conservatives. Just after 1 a.m. Wednesday, NDP candidates […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
