Canada's economy added far fewer jobs than expected in December and the jobless rate remained at 5.8 per cent, but permanent employees' wages increased at the fastest pace in three years, data showed on Friday.
General
Canada’s jobs growth stalls in December as wages accelerate
Declines in goods sector driven by job losses in manufacturing, construction and agriculture
World food price index ends 2023 some ten per cent below 2022 levels
Cereal prices, vegetable oils slumped most over the year, FAO says
The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 118.5 points in December, down 1.5 per cent from November and 10.1 per cent below December 2022 levels.
German government dilutes 2024 subsidy cuts after farmer backlash
Farmers protested in Berlin's streets after the announced end of tax breaks last month
Germany's coalition government has agreed to change its 2024 budget plans, a government spokesperson said on Thursday, after subsidy cuts proposed to bring spending in line with debt rules angered farmers.
Updated Certified Sustainable Beef Framework released
The program, launched in 2017, came up for its five-year review in 2022
A new and improved Certified Sustainable Beef Framework has been released following its first, five-year review announced the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) today.
Sask. union serves Viterra strike notice
Grain handling giant says its committed to negotiation, but has contingency plans in place
Yesterday, the union issued Viterra a 72-hour notice that they intend to strike as early as 2:00 pm on Jan. 5.
GSU members from Viterra Country Operations and Maintenance and Viterra's Regina head office have been negotiating for "fair wages, improved work-life balance, and workplace respect," for more than a year, the union said.
Warmer winter likely across Canada
High probability of warm spring to follow, long-range forecast shows
Warmer than normal temperatures are expected across all of Canada through the winter months, with average precipitation for most of the agricultural areas of the Prairies, according to the latest long-range seasonal forecast from Environment and Climate Change Canada, released Dec. 31.
Hepworth honoured for agricultural achievements
The London, Ont. resident started as a Sask. farmer and vet before moving to politics, then research
Lorne Hepworth, former Saskatchewan agriculture minister and current chair of the Agriculture Research Institute of Ontario, has been named a member of the Order of Canada.
Commodity prices to remain high in 2024, drop in 2025 – HSBC
Most agricultural products expected to outperform energy, industrial metals amid supply constraints, dry weather
Squeezed supply, improved Chinese demand and the global energy transition will keep commodity prices elevated in 2024, before falling the following year, forecasted British banking group HSBC today.
Smaller U.S. swine herd likely as Prop 12 takes effect, think tank says
Canadian pork sector concerned the animal welfare law will act as a non-tariff trade barrier
The cost of compliance with a California animal welfare law, which takes full effect on New Year’s Day, will likely shrink the U.S. national hog herd and lead to further consolidation, a Washington State think tank says. “No one will be spared the change in market pressures,” wrote Pam Lewison, director for the Washington Policy […] Read more
Feds ask for public input on standards for municipal waste to be used for fertilizer
Municipal biosolids contain chemicals that don’t degrade, are toxic to humans, environment
The federal government is asking for public input as it prepares to implement interim rules for municipal wastes imported into Canada or sold as fertilizer.
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