Ontario Sheep Farmers elected its officers for 2018-19 and recognized the achievements of some of its members at its recent annual general meeting in Alliston. District 7 director Marc Carere was acclaimed as chair. Carere, his wife Helen and son Matt operate Ballinahistle Farms, a large commercial ewe flock and lamb feedlot. He replaces Rob […] Read more
Marc Carere acclaimed as Sheep Farmers of Ontario chair
Heather Little and John Hemsted are the new vice-chairs of the organization

Ontario ag data providers partner with Climate FieldView
Climate FieldView has added two more local partners. Farmers can now load information from SoilOptix and A&L Laboratories into Climate FieldView and use that information to deepen their analysis with the crop production management tool. “Our goal from a supporting farmer perspective and those who help them is about getting all their data in one […] Read more

Ontario boy wins Young Speaker for Ag junior title
Nate Caughill, of Melancthon, Ont. won the junior title at the recent Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition at the Royal Winter Fair. Casey Riddle, of Elmira, Ont., was the second runner-up in the senior category. The senior champion was Emmett Sawyer of Acme, Alta. The 34th edition of CYSA welcomed 29 competitors, aged 11 […] Read more

GFO letter addresses corn quality situation
Editor’s note: Grain Farmers of Ontario has issued an open letter to its members addressing some of the challenges with DON-infected corn in Ontario and frustrations boiling to the surface from some farmers. Here’s what it says: An open letter to our GFO farmer-members We are facing one of the most severe outbreaks of DON […] Read more

Plant breeders’ rights consultations started
The consultation phase on amendments to Plant Breeders’ Rights regulations has been launched. The consultation includes increasing Canadian investment in cereals research. “Everyone recognizes the need to invest in innovation in order to deliver new varieties,” said Todd Hyra, president of the Canadian Seed Trade Association. “In order to attract and retain the best plant […] Read more

More counties join Farm 911 project
The United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR) is encouraging farmers to join the Farm 911 Emily Project, which urges agricultural landowners to have civic addresses assigned to vacant land entrances. Farm accidents can occur in remote locations on a rural property, often kilometres away from the nearest residence, making it challenging for first responders […] Read more

Corn mycotoxin levels high this harvest season
The provincial agriculture department advises special care to limit the effects of various toxins and moulds in feed
It’s a corn crop mycotoxin year. The annual survey conducted by OMAFRA field crop staff in collaboration with the Grain Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Agri-Business Association has found that 60 per cent of samples tested low (less than two parts per million) for vomitoxin. The mycotoxins that are of concern are produced primarily […] Read more

CPTPP trade agreement ratified
Canada will be among the original six and will gain some benefit from moving early
The last domestic legislative hurdle to enacting the CPTPP trade deal with Pacific rim countries has been cleared. The deal was approved by senate and received Royal Assent the afternoon of Oct. 25. The moves makes Canada one of the first countries to ratify the 11 nation deal which comes into effect once the first […] Read more

Ontario youth clean up in World Dairy Expo showmanship
The competition drew 337 young people to Madison, Wisc. for the competition
Ontario young people won the top two placings in each category in the youth showmanship competition at the World Dairy Expo. The competition brings together youth from across North America to compete in dairy showmanship. In the Junior Division (ages 9-12), Junior (Ages 9-12), Keaton Phoenix, of Greenbank, Ont. placed first, with Morgan Howard, of […] Read more

PHOTOS: International Plowing Match
The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo was held this year at Pain Court. It saw the usual large number of visitors, many displays of rural life and services, an influx of provincial politicians and lots of plowing competitions.