Federal government invites comments on TPP environmental impacts Tuesday, January 15, 2013 by SUSAN MANNPeople with opinions on significant environmental impacts in Canada of the Canada-Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement are invited to submit their comments to the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.The closing date for submissions is Jan. 30.Canada and Mexico entered the negotiations last fall. The other countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership are: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. Together these countries represent a market of almost 658 million people and a combined GDP of $20.7 trillion, according to a background document on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade website.Canadian companies exported $340.8 billion worth of goods to Trans-Pacific member countries in 2011. That’s equivalent to more than 76 per cent of Canada’s global total.Canada is seeking to increase these numbers by “building on our existing partnerships and enhancing conditions for trade and investment in the region as a whole,” the document says.The Canadian government announced on Canada Gazette last month that it intends to do a strategic environmental assessment of the free trade agreement. Submissions to identify likely and significant environmental impacts in Canada of the trade agreement should be directed to the trade policy and negotiations division (Trans-Pacific Partnership) of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.The latest of 15 rounds of negotiations took place in Auckland, New Zealand last month. The goal is to conclude the agreement this year. The next negotiating round is scheduled for March 4-13 in Singapore. BF Fruit and vegetable growers recognize seasonal workers' management service Commercial feed costs inflate index
Ontario Farm Leaders Drew and Heather Spoelstra Named 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers Friday, April 10, 2026 Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) Program has announced Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Binbrook, Ontario, as the Ontario regional winners for 2026. The announcement was made following the Ontario regional competition held April 7 through 9 in St. Jacobs, Ontario. As provincial... Read this article online
Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre designs revealed Thursday, April 9, 2026 Attendees of the Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre’s (OAFDC) AGM last month received a first look at building design concepts. The planned 34,000-square-foot science centre in Listowel, Ont., designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects, the same firm responsible for the looks of buildings... Read this article online
Proposed USDA budget cuts could shift the North American ag landscape Thursday, April 9, 2026 Image by Konyvesotto from Pixabay The US administration’s latest budget proposal includes a significant reduction to the US Department of Agriculture’s discretionary spending, a move that could have ripple effects across North American agriculture. According to Farms.com reporting... Read this article online
Corn and Soy Products Cleared for Global Market Access Thursday, April 9, 2026 The Market Access Committee for corn and soybeans has completed its 2026 review of new crop protection products, confirming no export concerns for four corn products and six soybean products. Approved corn products includeCovintroCorn,TelaroneDC,ZiduaSC Herbicide, and Storen Herbicide.... Read this article online
What Distributed Energy Resources Mean for Canadian Producers Tuesday, April 7, 2026 As energy costs rise, many Canadian farms are looking for ways to take greater control of their electricity use. One term that farmers are hearing more often is distributed energy resources, often shortened to DERs. While the phrase may sound technical, the concept is highly practical, and... Read this article online