Ag News

Some of the highlights for today include the Commercial Cattle Show, the Ranch Horse Competition, and the Agribition Ranch Rodeo.

In the show ring today there's a sheep show and a sheep shearing event, while in the cattle ring it's the Polled and Horned Hereford, Shorthorn and Charolais Shows.

You can check out the results page for all the show and sale highlights throughout the week.

Tonight at 7 it's the Angus Sale and the Maple Leafs Finals Rodeo.

The first-ever Canadian Animal AgTech Awards were handed out Thursday at Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) presented by Deloitte.

Agribition's CEO Shaun Kindopp says these awards are the first of their kind, honouring the innovators in animal agricultural technology.

"Not only do these solutions make farmers' lives easier, but they also contribute to the growth and progress of the entire agricultural industry." 

Farmer investors are getting an update this week on the progress being made with Genesis Fertilizers proposed $1.7 Billion Urea Fertilizer Plant for Western Canada.

Genesis Fertilizer and Grain already has a fertilizer distribution centre at Belle Plaine, which will also be the future site for the 700 thousand metric tonne urea fertilizer facility.

Over the last few years farmers have seen an increase in fertilizer prices and now are looking at Ottawa's proposed 30 per cent fertilizer emissions reduction target.

Bill C -234 still awaits third and final reading in the Senate.

The bill would remove the carbon tax on natural gas and propane used for on-farm use for grain drying, irrigation, heating, and cooling livestock 
barns and greenhouses

There has been some heated discussion around the bill in the Senate 

The National Farmer's Union is holding its Annual Convention in Ottawa.

This year's theme is " The Future of Farming: In Our Hands."

Organizers say the 54th annual convention will cover a lot of ground on how to organize effectively and counter entrenched powers in order to build the future farmers and other Canadians want and need.

Some of the panel discussions focus on Confronting Power, Organizing for Change, Creating the Future we Want - Land, Seed, Labour 

Delegates will also vote on resolutions and the executive for 2024.

A protest on Parliament Hill on Wednesday focused on two key areas of concern for producers the carbon tax and investor ownership of farmland. 

Producers have been pushing for the Senate to pass Bill C-234 without amendments. 

A small group of farmers from across Canada were on site with signs calling on the Senate to pass the Bill.

Bill C-234 would remove the carbon tax on natural gas and propane used for on-farm use for grain drying, irrigation, heating and cooling livestock barns and greenhouses.

The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) celebrate the incorporation of the Competition Act amendment in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, a move aimed at bolstering the right to repair for grain farmers.

“Enabling growers to access essential tools and software for maintaining their equipment, such as tractors and combines, will foster a more equitable landscape between manufacturers and consumers," states Kyle Larkin, executive director of GGC. 

Canadian farmers brought in another top-quality wheat crop this year despite the challenging growing conditions.

Cereals Canada CEO Dean Dias (dye-as) says the 2023 New Wheat Crop Report shows the majority of the crop is grading No. 2 or better, 
 with average to higher than average protein content. 

Dias says representatives of the value chain will be talking about the results with customers domestically and globally via webinars this week, 
before leaving for the trade and technical missions.

There's still a lot on the agenda for Day 2 of Canadian Western Agribition.

It's Bison Day at the show with participants in this week's 40th annual Bison Convention move over to the show for the final day of activities in the John Deere Sales Arena.

The highlight for the Bison today is the video sale at 5 o'clock.

Agribition CEO Shaun Kindopp says another key highlight for today is going to be the new Bull Fighters Only freestyle bullfighting event  7 o'clock  tonight in the Brandt Centre:

Conservative MP John Barlow, the Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Food Security was joined by a group of independent farmers from across Canada this morning at a press conference to address the games being played in the Senate to kill Bill C-234.