Bill C-18 passed by Parliament to the delight of Canadian grain growers

Mar 02, 2015

Could help Canada attract investment research in plant breeding

News out of Ottawa that Bill C-18, “An Act to Amend Certain Acts Relating to Agriculture and Agri-Food (the Canadian Agricultural Growth Act)” received Royal Assent and is now law in Canada has grain growers across the country applauding the decision.

Changes included are related to the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act (PBR). They will allow changes in conditions and protections of rights and will also provide exceptions for the applications of rights.

“Farmers need access to the latest plant breeding innovations in order to remain globally competitive,” said Gary Stanford, Grain Growers of Canada President. “At the same time, plant breeders need to know that their costly investments are protected. These changes to the PBR will provide this security - allowing grain growers to continue to work closely with our innovation partners.”

Other changes as a result of Bill C-18’s passing are:

Authorizes inspectors to deem unlawful imports to Canada be removed or destroyed
Authorizes the Minister of Food and Agriculture (Gerry Ritz) to issue certificates for any information he sees necessary for exports
The Farm Debt Mediation Act will be changed to clarify the processes for farm debt mediation
The Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act will be changed and could see the maximum penalty limits increased

The House of Commons read the bill for the first time on December 9, 2013. The Senate first read it on November 25, 2014 and officially received Royal Assent on February 25, 2015.

Join the discussion and tell us what you think of Bill C-18 and its passing. How will this affect your operation if at all?

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.