Corn - 4th of July

Commentary: Integrity key for grain export system

The Canada Grain Act and the Canadian Grain Commission are pillars established to serve grain producers. It’s our collective responsibility to ensure that the framework governing grain regulation and oversight prioritizes the interests of the backbone of our industry — farmers. Established in 1912, the Canada Grain Act sets standards for Canada’s grain industry, ensuring quality, safety and fairness in grain trading. Under its purview, the grain commission operates critical programs that ensure quality standards, information access and protection from payment default. This spring’s Canada Grain Act Summit in Saskatoon provided a crucial platform for producer groups to address critical issues concerning the legislation and the commission, sparking discussions vital for our agricultural sector’s future. Throughout the summit, participants engaged in discussions pivotal to the Canadian grain industry’s competitiveness and prosperity. Understanding the grain commission’s role and mandat

Canada struggles in Korean beef market

South Korea is the most important market for American beef. In 2022, the U.S. exported US$2.7 billion worth of beef to Korea, according to data from the U.S. Meat Export Federation. That figure was $2.1 billion in 2023. In both years, U.S. exports to South Korea exceeded American beef sales to Japan. Canada has captured a tiny share of Korea’s beef imports, valued at US$4.5 billion in 2022. “U.S. beef accounted for 55.3 percent of South Korea’s total imports of the meat last year (2022), followed by Australian beef with 34 percent and beef from New Zealand with 4.8 percent and from Canada with 4.1 percent,” said Yonhap, a Korean news service, in 2023. Canada has had a free trade agreement with South Korea since 2015 and so do Australia and America. But South Korea imposes a 16 percent tariff on Canadian beef, much higher than the eight percent tariff on U.S. beef, said Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattle Association. “The main reason we’re behind (in

Cereals Canada Launches its 2024 Growing Season Progress Report

With this year's wheat crop underway, Cereals Canada has resumed regular updates to its Growing Season Progress Report. Canadians, global customers of Canadian wheat, and members of the value chain are encouraged to visit the report for timely updates on the 2024 Prairie wheat crop as it develops.  "The Growing Season Progress Report includes information about Western Canadian wheat, including environmental factors that could impact crop quality or development," says Leif Carlson, director of market intelligence and trade policy. "With most wheat acres located in this region, the report provides global buyers with a glimpse into how the Canadian wheat crop is progressing, from seeding to harvest."  Throughout the growing season, Cereals Canada works with provincial departments of agriculture in in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to provide timely updates on seeding, crop conditions and quality, and harvest progress for wheat. The information is presented in an interactive, user-f

Innovators looking to get their ideas off the ground were in abundance in Regina this week during Canada’s Farm Show.

Some of those innovators in search of funding got a boost this week at the AgTech Accelerator Demo Day at the Farm Show. Technology companies from Canada and around the world were there Wednesday, where they pitched their startups to potential investors in the audience. But it hasn’t always been easy for budding entrepreneurs looking to turn innovative ideas into viable businesses that can stay in Saskatchewan over the long term. Cultivator, powered by Conexus, is involved in backing the AgTech Accelerator program. They group describes itself as Canada’s first credit union-led business incubator. Laura Mock, Cultivator’s director, joined guest host Tamara Cherry on The Evan Bray show Thursday to explain Cultivator’s role in helping startups in the province. Mock said there are two sides to the business. The first is as a tech incubator, “with a mandate to grow the tech ecosystem in the province.” The other side is the AgTech Accelerator. “Through the AgTech Accelerator we work w

Ontario Recognizes Retailers Who Promote Locally Grown Food

The Government of Ontario is recognizing 60 grocery stores across the province with Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards for their creativity in promoting locally grown fruits and vegetables.