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(Alice McFarlane/farmnewsNOW Staff)
Agriculture Roundup

Agriculture Roundup Thursday September 5, 2019

Sep 5, 2019 | 9:45 AM

Groups that represent oilseed and grain growers say Canada’s new ambassador to China should get right to work reopening that countries markets to Canadian products.

Dominic Barton was appointed to the position yesterday.

The Grain Growers of Canada Chair Jeff Nielsen said Canadian farmers rely on export markets and have already suffered for too long from the dispute between the two countries.

Canadian Canola Growers Association President Bernie McClean says Barton’s extensive business experience in Asia makes him well-suited to move Canada-China trade relations in a positive direction.

China has been an important export market for Canadian canola. In 2018, seed exports were valued at $2.7 billion.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is looking for ways to stop the spread of foot and mouth disease in livestock.

CFIA is challenging small businesses to develop a computer model that will help determine which vaccination strain would be most successful at preventing and controlling outbreaks.

Through the Innovative Solutions Canada program government departments are inviting small businesses to propose a new innovative solution that addresses a specific challenge they face.

Successful small businesses may receive up to $150,000 to refine their research and development and could receive up to $1 million to develop a working prototype.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a severe viral disease of cattle, sheep and swine that poses a serious threat to the agricultural sector due to its highly contagious nature.

A retired Manitoba farmer is hoping to lead a class action lawsuit against Roundup alleging he developed cancer after using the herbicide.

The suit says the farmer used Roundup on a weekly basis as directed.

He was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1996 and the cancer returned in May, despite treatment.

The proposed class action against Bayer, the German multinational company that now owns Monsanto, has yet to be certified by a Manitoba court.

Health Canada released a report in May 2017 that said glyphosate is not a concern to human health or the environment when used according to the label.

The findings were published in the agency’s final re-evaluation on the product.

Glyphosate is a common herbicide that is used to control weeds.

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF

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