Canadian wheat producers will have more export destinations within Colombia

May 06, 2015

Colombia is Canada’s 7th largest market for wheat

In an effort to expand the reach of Canada’s wheat in foreign countries, Prime Minister Harper has developed a better wheat trade relationship with Colombia.

As a result of consistent communication between Canada and the South American country, Colombia has eased their phytosanitary (measures for the control of plant diseases, especially in agricultural crops) import requirements.

Not only will Colombia benefit from the high-quality and safe grains coming from Canada, but farmers and others working in the grain industry could benefit too.

"Our Government is creating new economic opportunities for Canadian grain producers by opening and expanding our access to markets around the world,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “By increasing trade and ensuring producers can earn their living from the marketplace, we are creating more jobs, growth and prosperity for all Canadians."

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz

Colombia is Canada’s 7^th largest market when it comes to wheat exports. In 2014, Canada’s total exports to the South American country totalled about $348 million – up from only $133 million in 2013. The Canada-Colombia Free-Trade Agreement assisted with the increase.

"Colombia is a growing market in a region of growing potential for Canadian wheat,” said Cam Dahl, President of Cereals Canada. “Colombia is an important market and the resolution of concerns with Canadian exports to Colombia is important to increasing exports to the entire region.”

Join the conversation and tell us what you think about these new export opportunities for wheat farmers to market their products in Colombia. Would you consider increasing your wheat production as a result?

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.