Canada and Ontario release draft action plan to reduce phosphorous and algae in Lake Erie

Mar 10, 2017

Public can comment on the action plan until May 9

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

The Government of Canada and Province of Ontario released a draft action plan designed to protect the Canadian side of Lake Erie from high amounts of phosphorous and toxic algae.

The goal of the draft action plan, which will be part of Ontario’s Great Lakes Protection Act, is to reduce the amount of phosphorous and algae in Lake Erie by approximately 40 per cent.

Lake Erie is the shallowest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes. This lake receives high loads of phosphorous, making it highly sensitive to harmful blue-green and nuisance algal blooms.

And since phosphorous enters the lake from a variety of sources, the action plan is open to public comments, including members of the agricultural community, until May 9.

"Water connects us all. We intrinsically understand its importance, and we all have a reason to be invested in its protection,” Catherine McKenna, federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said in a release. “I encourage Canadians, especially those within the Great Lakes Basin, to participate in these consultations that will inform our collaborative actions to protect Lake Erie."

The plan suggests the next agriculture policy framework could encourage producers to implement multiple best management practices across the entire farm, and that the Province will continue to develop and implement Ontario’s 4-R program.

Through the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the U.S. are committed to finalizing domestic action plans for Lake Erie by February 2018.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.