

Rookie Nova Scotia MLA named agriculture minister
Greg Morrow sworn in Tuesday
A radio news director from eastern Nova Scotia has been tapped as the provincial agriculture minister for incoming Premier Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives. Greg Morrow, the new MLA for Guysborough-Tracadie, was sworn in Tuesday along with the other members of Houston’s 19-member cabinet. Houston’s Tories ousted Iain Rankin’s Liberal government in the Aug. 17 provincial […] Read more

StatsCan sees higher cattle, hog inventories at July 1
Full impacts of West's drought not yet counted
Nationwide head counts of livestock from the “early stages” of Western Canada’s ongoing drought won’t yet show the weather’s full impact, but showed slightly larger herds heading into this summer compared to last year. Statistics Canada on Monday reported the first year-over-year increase in the size of the country’s cattle herd as of July 1 […] Read more

Plans afoot to move hay from East to drought-hit West
CFA, BFO spearheading Hay West-style initiatives
Farm groups are spearheading new plans to get livestock feed from Eastern Canada to drought-damaged regions of the western provinces and northwestern Ontario. Details are still pending, but the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) announced Aug. 12 it has started work on a “Hay West” initiative to get surplus hay “to those struggling in the […] Read more

Sask grain terminal offering corn to feed-strapped livestock producers
North West Terminals wants to provide a feed source livestock producers can rely on.
North West Terminals, located in Unity, Sask., is shipping in feed for drought-stricken livestock producers in west-central Saskatchewan and beyond. Right now terminal staff are focusing on corn, which they’re bringing in from the U.S., says Nicole Squires, feed grains and pulse merchandisers with the terminal. “But we are working on finding some barley, rye, […] Read more

Emerging opportunities in dairy, livestock slated for Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show digital event
Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show on August 18 will offer information on the changes dairy and beef farmers continue to face in their sectors based on production pressures and influence from consumer trends. “At this digital event, we’ll talk about what’s impacting production today and look at strategies to help dairy and beef farmers in their […] Read more

Is the veterinarian shortage real or regional?
Mentoring and partnering with farm animal practices can increase vet student confidence
There was a time when a veterinary help-wanted ad, even for a large-animal practice, would receive a healthy number of applications. Not anymore. A perceived global shortage of veterinarians is creating an urban-rural, companion-large animal bidding war for salary, incentives and work-life balance to attract applicants. Why it matters: Rural and large animal practices are […] Read more

New B.C. youth work rules: Heavy lifting, ag chem handling out
New standards also lift province's 'general working age' to 16
“Light farm and yard work” are deemed appropriate for workers at ages 14 and 15 under new employment standards taking effect in British Columbia this fall. The province on Wednesday announced changes to its Employment Standards Act, which have been through the development and consultation stages since 2019, have now been finalized and will take […] Read more

Farm transfer tax treatment bill now law, feds say
Government to add amendments against tax loopholes
Despite a previous statement from her ministry, Canada’s finance minister says a bill standardizing the tax treatment of farm transfers is now officially on the books. However, while Bill C-208 is now in federal tax law, further amendments are en route to plug legal loopholes the bill may have opened. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on […] Read more

Industry-led code of conduct for food retailers on horizon
Fees create 'uncertainty' for producers, processors
A report from a federal-provincial working group says the retail sector has levied an increasing number of fees on suppliers, and is proposing the formation of a code of conduct as a potential solution. Canada’s agriculture ministers are now calling on industry to lead the process. They had formed the working group to study the […] Read more

Eichler back as Manitoba ag minister in shuffle
Pedersen not seeking re-election
Manitoba’s provincial agriculture files return to the desk of their former handler in a cabinet mini-shuffle Thursday. Premier Brian Pallister has named Ralph Eichler, MLA for the Interlake-area riding of Lakeside since 2003, as minister of agriculture and resource development, replacing Blaine Pedersen. Pedersen announced Thursday he will not seek re-election but will serve out […] Read more