Today, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced a $1 million investment in a four-year surveillance project to be initiated by the Beekeepers Commission of Alberta. The project will span the country, and will document the health profile of Canadian bee colonies. The project, which will support Canada's position for international honey bee stock trade, will record... Read More

The World Trade Organization's (WTO) compliance panel has issued a preliminary ruling on the complaint sent forward by Canada and Mexico on the United States' Country of Origin Labelling rules. The ruling, sent to all three countries, remains confidential. "In the past, these confidential rulings have been leaked, so they're usually pretty poorly kept secrets,... Read More

Ontario's agriculture minister recently announced a move to increased rules and regulation regarding use of neonicotinoid seed treatments on corn and soybeans. As noted, there are no new set regulations on the product's use at this time, however the government is set to begin a consultation process ahead of rolling out changes to the insecticide's... Read More

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has announced a Stay of Default for the 2013-14 Advance Payments Program (APP) affecting grain farmers in Western Canada. The Stay extends the current repayment deadline of September 30, 2014 to March 31, 2015 for cash advances issued by the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). “Many farmers have faced challenges selling... Read More

This morning, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification Michelle Rempel announced $3,844,800 in funding to support the establishment of the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence in Calgary, Alberta. “Our Government is committed to finding ways to promote Canadian beef locally and internationally while generating jobs and economic growth," said... Read More