The funding model for plant breeding in Canada is at a crossroads. The impending withdrawal of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) from commercializing field-ready cultivars has sparked a conversation about how to fill the resulting gap without losing decades of investment in infrastructure and expertise. That was the premise of a panel discussion held today at the CrossRoads Crop Conference in Edmonton and facilitated by Alberta Seed Guide editor Marc Zienkiewicz. Panelists were Todd Hyra, western business manager for SeCan; Stuart Smyth, agricultural economist at the University of Saskatchewan; Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) chair and farmer Dean Hubbard; and SeedNet science advisor and retired AAFC wheat breeder Rob Graf. Key points included AAFC’s shift towards upstream research, the need for collaboration with universities and private sectors, and the importance of maintaining a robust innovation pipeline. Metrics showed that 75% of wheat varieties come from AAFC,
Today, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that tariffs of 25 per cent will be applied to imports of a broad range of Canadian goods, including canola seed, oil and meal, effective February 4, 2025. “The application of these tariffs on Canadian-grown canola and canola products will be felt across the canola value chain,” says Chris Davison, Canola Council of Canada (CCC) President & CEO. “Tariffs will have devastating impacts on farmers, input providers, canola crushing activities and exports of canola seed, oil and meal.” The U.S. is Canada’s number one market for canola exports and also a market that is highly integrated with the Canadian canola industry. Total export value in 2023 was $8.6 billion, including almost 3 million metric tonnes (MMT) of canola oil valued at $6.3 billion and more than 3.5 MMT of canola meal valued at $2.0 billion. Canola is the single largest contributor to farm crop cash receipts – grown by nearly 40,000 farmers across the country. “The damaging blo
The Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing (CCAW) is proud to announce the launch of the National Farmer Wellness Network (NFWN) Crisis Line, 1-866-FARMS01 (1-866-327-6701), a transformative initiative designed to address the unique mental health challenges faced by Canada’s farmers, farm families, and agricultural workers. This program, made possible through an investment of $1.5 million over three years from Farm Credit Canada (FCC), provides tailored mental health support delivered by licensed professionals trained in the Canadian Agricultural Literacy Program (CALP). Farming is one of the most demanding and high-stress occupations. The financial pressures, isolation, and emotional demands of caring for livestock and crops can take a toll on mental health. The National Farmer Wellness Network Crisis Line bridges the gap by offering accessible, culturally informed, and confidential crisis services, ensuring farmers receive care tailored to their needs in moments of crisis. Quot
The Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing launched the National Farmer Wellness Network Crisis Line
David Wiens, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada, issued the following statement regarding the announcement of tariffs on Canadian goods entering the United States:
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Kevin Robson
