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U.S. farm groups welcome new NAFTA

U.S. farm groups welcome new NAFTA

Changes to dairy and wheat will benefit U.S. producers

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The American ag industry is pleased with the outcome of recent trade negotiations.

Yesterday, the Canadian and American federal governments released details of the bilateral trade agreement. Combined with Mexico, the new continental trade pact is called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The UMCA will replace NAFTA once all three governments ratify the deal.

Having an agreement in place is good news for producers.

“This agreement is a strong sign that we value our trading partners,” Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers, told Farms.com. “It’s a message to our wheat growers that better trade is on the way.”

Within the deal are sections that will benefit the U.S. wheat sector.

Prior to the agreement, some wheat varieties grown in the U.S. and imported back into Canada would automatically receive a feed grading.

“Feed grade is the lowest possible grade and would result in lower prices for American wheat growers,” Goule said. “That provision was also not compliant with World Trade Organization rules, so we are pleased that our negotiators and Canadian counterparts were able to include that in the deal.”

The USMCA will also have a profound impact on the U.S. dairy sector.

American dairy farmers will receive access to about 3.59 percent of the Canadian dairy market. Canada will also eliminate tariffs on whey and margarine, and provide new access for U.S. chicken, turkey and eggs.

Canada will eliminate its milk classes 6 and 7, which will help U.S. farmers market milk protein concentrates.

“This agreement, when implemented, should give us additional marketing opportunities that will allow us to provide high-quality American dairy products to Canada, which means we’ve made incremental progress,” Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, said in a statement yesterday.

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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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