The threat of retaliation from Canada and Mexico is forcing American lawmakers and farm groups to weigh whether it's worth maintaining the mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) rules for meat. The American Farm Bureau Federation, which describes itself as the largest general farm organization in the U.S., announced Wednesday it has decided to back... Read More
Category: News
From frost in Ontario to flea beetles in the West, and just a few things in-between, here’s TWORA for May 28th, 2015: Subscribe: iTunes | Android | RSS
If you were impacted by extreme drought or moisture in 2014, there may be some good news coming your way, as the Government of Canada has finalized a list of regions eligible for tax deferral for 2014. The changes mean that eligible producers will be able to defer a portion of their income from sales... Read More
The Senate's Standing Committee on Agriculture released its much-anticipated report on bee health today. Entitled The Importance of Bee Health to Sustainable Food Production in Canada, the document highlights the complexity of bee health, and the many factors influencing it, while providing a list of recommendations the committee believes are necessary for improving bee health.... Read More
Big changes are underway inside the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, but the province’s new NDP agriculture minister says he doesn’t foresee any major shifts in Alberta’s agriculture policies. Oneil Carlier grew up on a family farm near Val Marie, Saskatchewan, a fourth-generation beef and grain operation now run by his brother. As a teen, he... Read More
SaskCanola has announced it is more than doubling its financial support for Saskatchewan's Agriculture in the Classroom program. The grower organization has decided to contribute $50,000 annually to AITC-SK, up from $20,000 previously. "Agriculture education is more important than ever as social licence is a growing issue. As the consuming public becomes increasingly skeptical, the... Read More
Next week, June 1 to 7, 2015, marks the second annual local food week here in Ontario. What's local food week? Announced as part of the "Local Food Act" passed in 2013, the first week of June is a time to shine the light on all things locally grown for Ontario. While this might bring... Read More
New appointments to the province's Ontario Pesticide Advisory Committee (OPAC) have got at least one farm group calling foul — yet again — on Ontario's government. The committee's purpose is to "annually reviews the content and operation of the Pesticides Act and its regulations and recommends changes or amendments" to the minister of environment and... Read More
A former Agriculture Canada employee with more than 20 years of experience in the labour movement was sworn in as Alberta's new minister of agriculture, forestry and rural development on Sunday. Oneil Carlier, who lives in Darwell and is the new MLA for Whitecourt-Ste. Anne, was chosen by Premier Rachel Notley to look after the... Read More
North America's largest food retailer, Walmart, unveiled its positions on animal welfare and the use of antibiotics in farm animals on Friday. Strangely enough, farm groups and animal rights organizations alike applauded the company's animal care guidelines. While both sides are welcoming Walmart's positions, if you dig a bit deeper, there are conflicting views on... Read More