November 12, 2014

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In this issue ...
Report on C-18
Alberta Farm Receives Pollinator Award
Panel Discusses Canadian Agriculture Policy
Pesticide Working Group Looks for Continued Cooperation
GROU Update
The Real Dirt on Farming

Upcoming Events
 

-November 18: Presentation to delegation from Peru, re: biodiversity and conservation in agriculture

-November 19: Chicken Farmers of Canada's Annual Reception, Ottawa

-November 19-21: Agricultural Excellence Conference, Winnipeg

-November 20: Canadian Association of Forest Owners

-November 24: Canada-Mexico Partnership Meeting, Ottawa

-November 24-25: National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Council, Ottawa 

-February 24-26: CFA Annual Meeting, Ottawa

-June 25-26: World Farmers' Organisation General Assembly, Milan


National Office Contacts
CFA in Action 

Dear Members,

 

If you have anything you would like to include in the CFA in Action, please let us know by noon the Friday before each update at communications@canadian-farmers.ca.

 

We ask that you further distribute these briefs to your membership.

Standing Committee Releases Report on C-18

 

Last week, the Standing Committee on Agriculture & Agri-Food concluded its review of Bill C-18 (the Agricultural Growth Act) and released its report on Nov. 4. The report outlines five different amendments to the bill. The majority represent minor clarifications in regards to the Advance Payments Program, reflecting clarifications or oversights in the legislative text. However, there was one substantive amendment agreed upon by the committee in reference to the plant breeders' rights portion of the bill. This amendment adds clear language to the farmers' privilege, ensuring farmers are able to store seed for the purposes of future propagation without infringing on plant breeders' rights.

 

This was an issue raised by CFA and several other witnesses who spoke to the committee, and provides important clarity to the farmers' privilege provision. Bill C-18 has now entered third reading, the final stage before receiving royal assent. No timeline is available as of yet, but many expect the bill will receive royal assent before Parliament adjourns for the holidays. CFA looks forward to participating in the regulatory discussions and consultations that will follow passage of this important piece of agricultural legislation.

 

The amendments included in the final committee report can be reviewed hereFor more information on Bill C-18, please contact Scott Ross at scott@canadian-farmers.ca.

 Alberta Farm Receives Pollinator Award

 

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture is proud to congratulate Michael, Laura and Takota Coen of Grass Roots Family Farm for being the 2014 recipients of the Canadian Farmer-Rancher Pollinator Award. The award, which is supported by the CFA, the Pollinator Partnership and the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, collects nominations from across Canada and is given annually to recognize the contributions Canadian farmers make towards protecting our country's pollinators and pollinator habitats.

 

The Coens have been practicing sustainable farming since the late 1980's, but son Takota recently started investing in agroforestry on the family's 250-acre farm near Ferintosh, Alberta. Takota has diversified several acres of farmland where livestock graze between rows of planted fruit, nut and timber trees. This approach provides immense benefits for local wildlife, most notably pollinators that gain increased habitat and food supply. To support the longevity of their "forest farm," the Coens have also sought to involve their local community by creating a unique community supported agriculture method, where people can purchase a share and over several years receive the value back in the form of nuts, fruit, honey, herbs, meat and more.

 

Canada is home to more than 1,000 species of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, bats and beetles, which are essential to the production of over $1 billion annually in Canadian produce such as apples, berries, squash, melons and much more. Recognizing the indispensable impact that these species have on our food system, Canadian farmers are constantly seeking long-term solutions to support the conservation of pollinators.

 

More information about the award can be found here.

IICA Dialogue on Canadian Agriculture Policy


CFA President Ron Bonnett recently took part in a panel discussion on Canadian agriculture policy as part of an online seminar series conducted by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) that explores agriculture policy in various countries throughout the Americas.

 

Ron provided a producer's perspective on the current agriculture policy in Canada and identified the need for partnership moving forward. Other panellists included Greg Meredith, Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Alfons Weersink, professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph; Shingo Kimura, from the Trade and Agriculture Directorate of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and Carla Hogan Rufelds, Director of the Strategic Analysis, Operations and Regional Programming Division in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.

 

The discussion explored Canada's current policy regime, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in relation to various types and levels of risk, and the need to collaborate as a value chain to leverage emerging trade opportunities. Panellists also discussed the changing demands of consumers, the increasingly heterogeneous agriculture sector in Canada, and the positive outlook many now have for Canadian agriculture.

 

For information on this seminar or other dialogues conducted by the IICA, click here.

Pesticide Working Group Makes Recommendations for Continued Cooperation 

 

Earlier this month, CFA participated in the NAFTA Technical Working Group on Pesticides to receive an update on the work that has been done and to make recommendations for continued cooperation between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. At issue is work underway to harmonize timelines and offer certainty and predictability to registrants to ensure that producers in Canada will receive access to new crop protection products at the same time as producers in other jurisdictions. Pollinator protection and honeybee health were also featured prominently in the discussions. 


For more information on the discussions that took place at this event, please contact Drew Black at drew@canadian-farmers.ca.

GROU Update 


 
The CFA, on behalf of the Nomination Committee for the Grower Request Own Use (GROU) Program, officially submitted a list of 16 products to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) for inclusion in the GROU program for 2015. PMRA will now gather additional data and the consent of the registrant of each product before conducting further analysis and subsequently registering the product on the list, thereby enabling Canadian producers to import the same product from the U.S. if this represents a cost savings to producers.

 

For more information on this matter, please contact Drew Black at drew@canadian-farmers.ca.

Get The Real Dirt on Farming 

Looking to read up on some of the interesting and unique happenings taking place in the agriculture and food industries? Then check out the latest The Real Dirt on Farming booklet -a publication that helps to explain the intricacies of Canadian food and farming.

 

The Real Dirt on Farming booklet is designed to connect readers with the food they eat, and introduce some of Canada's farm families. This booklet provides basic facts on topics such as the difference between growing crops conventionally and organically, pesticide use, animal housing and animal welfare, environmental sustainability, technology used in farming as well as many other subjects that you have indicated are important to you. The goal of this book is to help Canadians make informed decisions about the food being served to their family.

 

To celebrate the launch of The Real Dirt on Farming booklet for 2014, a Twitter party is being held on November 18 at 7 pm (EST) with some great prizes up for grabs. For more information and to register for this event, visit www.RealDirtonFarming.ca.