Another step taken in pullet growers' bid for marketing agency Tuesday, April 30, 2013 by SUSAN MANN The panel appointed by the Farm Products Council of Canada held the first of two days of hearings last week studying the request of Pullet Growers of Canada to establish a marketing agency. The hearing was held April 23 in Ottawa. Andy DeWeerd, chair of Pullet Growers of Canada, says they faced some tough questions “but we were able to give the answers.” He characterized the hearing as a “good day overall.” DeWeerd says Pullet Growers was one of 10 presenters at the hearing. All of the submissions “were in favour so it was very positive that way. The council took a very active role and asked good questions of us.” The next hearing will be in Winnipeg on May 22. After that the panel will make a recommendation to the Farm Products Council of Canada and “if it’s favourable” the council will make a recommendation to federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, who takes it to Cabinet, DeWeerd says. The minister makes the decision based on the council’s recommendation. There are 550 pullet growers in Canada. Pullets, young chickens raised to become egg layers, are currently the only part of the feather industry not under supply management. The pullet growers’ organization is pursing agency status to give it the required legal powers to represent and make decisions on behalf of members. Having a national marketing agency means pullet farmers will have their own voice in the poultry industry. BF Contest's goal is to help put a face to farming Federal reforms tread lightly on seasonal ag worker program
Farmland Rents Lag Land Values Thursday, May 7, 2026 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has released a new economic analysis highlighting a growing gap between farmland values and rental rates across the country, a trend that will likely reshape expansion decisions for Canadian producers. According to the analysis, Canada’s average farmland... Read this article online
How to Keep Your Groundwater Safe and Clean Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Groundwater plays a vital role for families and businesses in rural and agricultural settings. It supports essential activities such as livestock care, irrigation, and cleaning processes, and in many areas, it's the sole source of drinking water. For this reason, it's critical for rural... Read this article online
Rising Waters on the Canadian Prairies and Beyond Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Spring flooding is intensifying across large portions of Canada, placing farms under growing pressure during one of the most important windows of the agricultural year. From the Prairies to Central Canada and into Atlantic regions, saturated soils, elevated rivers, and damaged rural... Read this article online
Spring Economic Update Sets the Stage for a Challenging Year on the Farm Friday, May 1, 2026 The Federal Government released its 2026 Spring Economic Update on April 28, outlining the country’s current economic position and federal priorities for the months ahead. While the update does not contain new direct funding announcements for agriculture, it offers important signals for... Read this article online
When Grain Stops Moving Rail and Port Delays Cost Canada Up to $540 Million Friday, May 1, 2026 A new economic analysis commissioned by the Agriculture Transport Coalition has found that just one week of rail and port disruptions during peak export season can cost Canada’s grain sector up to $540 million. The majority of these losses stem from missed export sales that cannot be... Read this article online