American businessman vows to fund ostrich farm’s legal battle
A New York-based businessman has pledged to fund a B.C. ostrich farm’s legal battle, as they dispute an order to cull the birds due to avian influenza.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency ordered the cull after 69 birds died from avian flu back in December and January. However, the owners of Universal Ostrich Farm have said they will take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada, if needed.
The farmers and their supporters say the surviving birds could be used for antibody research, though virologists have disputed this.
John A. Catsimatidis is an American businessman and conservative talk show host. He called the birds “iconic” and said he’d written to friends in the Trump administration for support.
Increasing farmland prices blamed on investors
Investors are driving up farmland values across Canada according to accounting firm Farm Business Consultants.
The company estimates that between nine and 15 per cent of all farmland transactions involve investors or “non-farming buyers,” depending on the province.
The firm’s CEO, Yves Millette, said farmland is a precious commodity for investors. It’s a finite resource, and it’s a safe, appreciating asset with stable long-term returns. He said rising prices are ultimately reducing rural viability and that governments should work to prevent further concentration of land ownership.
However, Canada’s largest farmland investor disagrees with Millette’s findings. Robert Andjelic owns about 250,000 acres.
He speculated that Millette may be including retired farmers in its numbers and said the main driving force behind farmland prices is the farmers themselves.
U.S. government diet nudging could affect agriculture markets
While tariffs and trade will likely remain key drivers of grain and oilseed markets, Robert Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again campaign could also play a role.
Kennedy is the U.S. secretary for health and human services. He’s long campaigned against seed oils, which include canola and soy oils and has tried to convince Americans to cook with animal fats like beef tallow.
PepsiCo said this month that it was expanding the use of avocado and olive oils across it’s brands, which include Lays potato chips. It has also pledged to stop using artificial flavors and colours – a move that falls in line with Kennedy’s agenda.
The statement came a day after President Donald Trump sparked concerns about corn demand after he said Coca-Cola had agreed to use cane sugar in U.S. beverages instead of cheaper high-fructose corn syrup.
Around 400 million bushels of corn per year are used to make corn syrup for drinks. This represents about 2.5 per cent of American corn production.
