Canada's omnibus agriculture bill passes final reading and moves on to Senate for review Thursday, November 27, 2014 by SUSAN MANNCanada’s House of Commons passed legislation earlier this week aimed at modernizing the country’s agricultural industry and expanding markets.The Agricultural Growth Act (bill C-18) passed third reading Monday and was forwarded to the Senate for its review. Ron Bonnett, Canadian Federation of Agriculture president, says he doesn’t know yet if the Senate will hold hearings on it.Bonnett says once the Senate finally passes the Act they’ll be watching to ensure the regulations being developed reflect the intent of what’s in the Act.In its press release, the federal government says the Act will update and modernize existing legislation “to respond to the latest technology and international practices.” Under the Act, there are changes to a number of acts the Canadian Food Inspection Agency uses to regulate the sector, including ones dealing with seeds, feed, plant protection, fertilizer, animal health and monetary penalties. There are also changes to legislation under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - the Marketing Programs Act and the Farm Debt Mediation Act.One of the most controversial parts of the legislation has been the section on plant breeders’ rights. The government says the bill will “enshrine a farmer’s ability to save, store and clean their own seed of a protected variety” while at the same time enable Canada to adopt the 1991 International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, commonly called UPOV 91. Bonnett says they’re confident the legislation protects farmers’ rights to save and reuse seeds.One of the really positive parts of the Act is the inclusion of streamlined application procedures under the Advance Payment Program, Bonnett says.All of the major farm groups have supported the Act, he notes. BF Farmer, Agricorp resolve decade-old crop insurance dispute Monitoring program found most food samples meet Health Canada standards
Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight Friday, October 3, 2025 The University of Guelph welcomed two prominent federal representatives for a day of engagement and discovery on Friday, October 3rd. Dominique O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, hosted the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for a comprehensive tour... Read this article online
Downtown Diner Delivers a Taste of Canadian Farming to Ottawa Friday, October 3, 2025 This week, the heart of Canada’s capital was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Canadian agriculture as Sparks Street played host to the Downtown Diner, a pop-up event celebrating Canadian food and the farmers who make it possible. At the center of the conversation was... Read this article online
Poll Reveals Mixed Public Sentiment on BC Ostrich Cull Decision Thursday, October 2, 2025 Farms.com poll shows divided opinions among Canadian farmers on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull. A recent poll conducted on Farms.com's X account @OntAg aimed to capture Canadian farmers' views on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull in British... Read this article online
Effective Strategies for Corn Soybean and Wheat Thursday, October 2, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, effective crop residue management in corn, soybean, and wheat fields is key to profitability and long-term soil health. It begins at harvest, with combines and headers set correctly to size and spread residue evenly across the... Read this article online
New Ontario agrobotics challenge seeking high school submissions Thursday, October 2, 2025 A new competition for Ontario high school students is looking for innovative ways to solve challenges in the ag sector. The AgRobotics Ontario Challenge launched at the end of September. The competition is a collaboration between the Western Fair District, the Ontario Council for... Read this article online