canada

R-Calf USA is warning of catastrophic consequences if the 2023 Farm Bill doesn’t include reforms.  CEO Bill Bullard said the future important infrastructure components to remain competitive such as participants, cattle and markets are in jeopardy.   “And f...

After the sharp increase in the cost of doing business, the Washington State Dairy Federation is hoping the industry can avoid more consolidation.  The Federation is also optimistic about legislation in Olympia to initiate a carbon reduction program for dairy.  In case...

A recent proposal by USDA which involves meat product labelling immediately raised the spectre of COOL, Country-of-Origin labelling, for Canadian red meat sectors.  USDA proposed that ‘only’ meat products derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States should be allowed to carry a Made in the USA label.  Back in late 2...

With warmer weather in the long-term forecast, growers are planning for the season ahead.  Karen Sowers, Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Canola Association saw while canola seed is produced across much of the western Hemisphere; in the U.S., ...

The maple tree sap started flowing a couple of weeks early this year in eastern Canada and that’s not really a good thing.  Stretches of mild weather in January and in February is expected to produce smaller volumes of processed syrup, along with a less than perfect product.  Extended...

As Canadian farmers plan their operating costs for another planting season, a major consideration is the extremely high cost of fertilizer inputs.  This past spring already expensive fertilizer prices took another last-minute increase when the Canadian government announced import tariff charges just weeks before planting season.  ...

According to the latest numbers from the Association of Equipment Manufactures, U.S. ag tractor sales finished January 2023 in the negative, while all segments of farm equipment grew in Canada.  Total U.S. ag tractor unit sales fell for January in all segments except one, with 100-plus horsepower two-wheel-drive tractors growing 22.8%.  U.S....

The United States has requested a second dispute settlement panel within USMCA.  At issue, Canada's dairy tariff rate quotas.   "We bring the case our findings and our documentation to the panel," noted Doug McKalip, chief Ag negotiator at USTR.  "The way these th...

Canada is moving closer to a grocery industry Code of Conduct.  It’s an attempt to level the playing field for fresh produce farmers, food manufacturers, and for independent grocers.  Canadian consumers have very few choices in where they buy their groceries.   Recent...

Senate Finance Committee Chair Oregon’s Ron Wyden, and Ranking Member Idaho’s Mike Crapo, are calling for the administration to continue to press for strong enforcement of USMCA.  Thursday’s letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai says such enforcement will ensure American trading partners live up to their obligations.   Crapo and Wyden sa...