Marc Carere acclaimed as Sheep Farmers of Ontario chair

Heather Little and John Hemsted are the new vice-chairs of the organization

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



Nate Caughill was the junior winner at the recent Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

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

Markus Haerle, chair of the Grain Farmers of Ontario board of directors.

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

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


Ambulance on rural road with warning lights

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

This year’s Ontario corn crop is showing higher levels of mycotoxins compared to previous years, and caution is advised.

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

Photo: @CanadaTrade Twitter

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


The top 15 winners in the World Dairy Expo Junior Showmanship category included Keaton Phoenix and Morgan Howard of Ontario, in first and second place.

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

A horse team pull a plow along with its operator as they toil through the soil at International Plowing Match and Rural Expo which ran Sept. 18-22, 2018.

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.