Farm fair fact-finding funded

The Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions plans to put a $500,000 federal investment to work on a survey of farm fair-goers. In a federal government release Friday, CAFE said it will use the funding to conduct a Canada-wide survey of 16,800 fair and exhibition attendees. “Results from this study will help our agricultural societies […] Read more

Conservation tillage promoter, CFIA director honoured

A soil scientist who for years has advocated for conservation tillage and an executive director at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency among five federal civil servants earning awards for “exceptional service” to the country. Wayne Lindwall of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada was named Wednesday to receive the annual Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service […] Read more


Kickstart application deadline extended

Farmers’ deadline to apply for a share of $600 million in federal “Kickstart” funding for the new AgriInvest program has been extended from March 31 to April 14. “This extension will ensure farmers have enough time to learn about AgriInvest and the money available to kickstart their accounts,” Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said in a […] Read more

Ag product price index rises again on crops

Prices farmers received for their commodities increased in December 2007 from the same month a year earlier as crop prices continued to soar, offsetting the drop in cattle and hog products prices, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday. Prices for crops were up 19.3 per cent in December 2007 compared with December 2006, according to the farm product price index (FPPI), as only […] Read more


Alta. ag minister, critic re-elected

Alberta Agriculture Minister George Groeneveld kept his seat by a wide margin in the Progressive Conservatives’ first election under Premier Ed Stelmach. Stelmach, a former agriculture minister in the Ralph Klein government, led his party to capture 72 of 83 seats in Monday’s election, up from 60 when the election was called Feb. 4. Groeneveld, […] Read more

Farm equipment demand seen as highest in years

(Resource News International) — Farm equipment dealers in Canada are selling out for 2008-09 as producer demand for farm equipment rises to the highest levels seen in years, according to industry officials. “It’s so busy that manufacturers are out of equipment,” said Alex Loewen, general sales manager for Deere Country Equipment in Steinbach, Man. “We […] Read more


Feds’ budget “light” on ag growth: CFA

Tuesday’s federal budget contains some welcome measures for farmers but no commitment to promote investment and growth in the ag sector, according to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. The CFA, in the midst of its annual general meeting this week in Ottawa, said late Tuesday that the budget, on top of its reaffirmation of aid […] Read more

Tuesday’s budget cites Monday’s ag pledges

If farmers get a sense of deja vu from Tuesday’s federal budget, they won’t have to think back very far. The $72 million in new farm program spending cited in Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s budget goes to cover Monday’s announcement of proposed legislative changes to the federal advance payments program ($22.1 million in 2008-09) and […] Read more


Farm cash receipts at new high: StatsCan

Market cash receipts for farmers hit a record high in 2007, boosted primarily by a surge in grain and oilseed prices, Statistics Canada reported Monday. Dairy, poultry and egg producers received higher revenues. Meanwhile, cattle and hog farmers were squeezed by a combination of lower prices, higher feed costs, and the higher Canadian dollar. Canadian […] Read more

Canada, Jordan start free trade talks

Canada and Jordan on Wednesday officially launched negotiations toward a free trade agreement (FTA) that could boost ag trade between the two countries. A first full round of negotiations between the two nations is planned for April in Amman, Jordan, the federal government said in a release Wednesday. “Negotiations will cover a wide range of […] Read more