U.S. President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue participate in a farmers’ roundtable event April 25 at the White House. (Video screengrab from WhiteHouse.gov)

Trump reassures farmers immigration crackdown not aimed at their workers

Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington/San Francisco | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump said he would seek to keep his tough immigration enforcement policies from harming the U.S. farm industry and its largely immigrant workforce, according to farmers and officials who met with him. At a roundtable on farm labour at the White House last month, Trump said he […] Read more

(PortMetroVancouver.com)

Pacific trade pact countries seek ‘progressive’ way forward

Reading Time: 2 minutes Vina Del Mar, Chile | Reuters — The remaining members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are seeking a way forward on the trade pact, they said on Wednesday, as some emphasized the need for deals to address concerns about workers’ rights and other issues. The TPP, which originally covered some 40 per cent of global […] Read more


Farmer and His Son Leaning on a Gate in a Paddock on a Farm

Getting onboard with your employees

The most valuable time you spend with any employee may be their first few hours on the job

Reading Time: 5 minutes Whew! After months of advertising, searching and interviewing, you’ve finally found and hired someone to help on your farm. As processes go, this one has been stressful, time-consuming, and more than a little frustrating. Nor is that surprising. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council found in 2014 that our farms have a job vacancy rate […] Read more

A rally of 200 people at the legislature on Nov. 27 voicing their displeasure with Bill 6. A second demonstration three days later drew 1,000 people, prompting the NDP government to amend the bill.

The national cost of Alberta’s Bill 6

Farm outrage at the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act may have already backfired

Reading Time: 5 minutes As 2015 came to a close, Canadians watched Alberta farmers hold massive rallies against legislation intended to improve farm safety. They listened to farmers raging against the costs Bill 6 would impose on their operations, with farmers saying the legislation will destroy family farms. They heard farmers complain they hadn’t been consulted in the drafting […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Western states to get US$110M in drought aid

Reading Time: < 1 minute Washington | Reuters — The White House said Friday it would spend an additional US$110 million to help farmers and communities in western states hit hard by drought and wildfires. The drought has affected a third of the western United States, and President Barack Obama was slated to discuss it with western governors in a […] Read more