General

The federal New Democrats’ report urging a national food security policy calls for incentives and tax policies to encourage local food production and labelling that “properly” lays out foods’ origin. The report, released Tuesday, was developed over the party’s 18-month “Food for Thought Tour,” which scheduled forums in 28 communities and was  spearheaded by the […] Read more

It’s time for Canadian farms to plan ahead against the impact of interest rates expected to rise by as much as five per cent in the next five years, the Bank of Montreal (BMO) warns. “It’s important that Canada’s agriculture industry takes steps now in planning for higher rate scenarios in three to five years […] Read more

The federal government plans to convene a meeting this fall of young and beginning farmers with representatives from the ag industry and Ottawa, toward what’s expected to be a “redesign” of policy tools meant for renewal in the ag sector. Jean-Pierre Blackburn, the federal minister of state for agriculture, on Monday announced general plans for […] Read more

Farmers’ cash receipts and operating costs both declined in 2009 compared to 2008, leading to a $10 million (0.3 per cent) drop in realized net farm income, according to Statistics Canada. Realized net farm income — the difference between a farmer’s cash receipts and operating expenses, minus depreciation plus income in kind — amounted to […] Read more

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Canada’s chief veterinary officer has been named to an expanded role as the country’s chief food safety officer. Brian Evans, who’s been the country’s chief vet since 2004 at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and has also served as the CFIA’s executive vice-president in Ottawa since 2007, was named to the additional post Tuesday by […] Read more

A new report from Ontario’s chief medical officer of health mining current scientific evidence finds that while living near wind turbine farms “may annoy some people,” it’s a stretch to blame the turbines for health problems. “According to the scientific evidence, there isn’t any direct causal link between wind turbine noise and adverse health effects,” […] Read more

If you’ve not got your tickets yet for the Western Canada Farm Progress Show, they may be just a few clicks away. Farm Business Communications, Canada’s largest publisher of newspapers and magazines for farmers, and operators of this website, has a pair of free single-day show passes for you if you’re one of the first […] Read more

The main creditor of beleaguered Canadian organic supermarket chain Planet Organic Health has signed a deal to take over all the retailer’s assets. Under the agreement, subject to approval from Ontario’s Superior Court and the TSX Venture Echange, Toronto-based Catalyst Capital Group would acquire all of the Edmonton company’s assets in both Canada and the […] Read more

The federal government is touting a recent funding announcement as a key to expanding markets for Western Canadian food processors in Asia Pacific countries. The feds, through the Western Economic Diversification fund, are providing close to $1 million in funding to “help increase the availability of Western Canadian value-added food product exports in Asia-Pacific markets,” […] Read more