Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office industry meeting

Feb 01, 2023

OTTAWA, ON- The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, met with representatives from 22 industry associations on January 30, 2023, to discuss the creation of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO).

The IPAAO represents a $31.8 million investment under the federal government's new Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS). During the meeting, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) discussed the office's goals of increasing and diversifying Canada's agriculture and agri-food exports, positioning Canada as a preferred supplier to the region, and strengthening trade on both sides of the Pacific.

The industry representatives shared their perspectives on market priorities for the region, their international trade goals, and their input on how the new office can successfully support their businesses. Feedback gathered will help inform the early-stage planning and implementation of the IPAAO initiative.

The stakeholders reacted positively to AAFC's announcement of the IPS and the IPAAO, reiterating that the move is in lockstep with the agriculture industry's longstanding requests for a dedicated agriculture and agri-food office in the Indo-Pacific region.

Monday's meeting builds upon the broader IPS announcement and the Minister's previous engagement in December 2022. AAFC and the CFIA will continue to engage with key stakeholders to advance Canada's interests in this dynamic region. In addition to Monday's engagement, the Minister participated in a national global food security conference on January 31, where she gathered further feedback from stakeholders.

Source : Newswire.ca

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.