Reading Time: 3 minutes Tomato growers and processors need a clear solution to the marketing purgatory into which they’ve been plunged over the past couple of years. However, the province’s recent proposals fail to provide the needed stability. I’ve written numerous similar pieces over the past couple of years as the province tries to break the collective bargaining power […] Read more
Author Archives
Editorial: Convoluted solution is no solution
Pushing back against pot
The rapid expansion of cannabis production in rural areas has prompted residents, farmers and municipalities to call for a slowdown in growth
Reading Time: 5 minutes Ontario’s rapidly growing cannabis production sector is facing a backlash after the addition of many new growing facilities has resulted in interim control bylaws from municipalities and the formation of local protest groups unhappy with smell and traffic. Why it matters: Cannabis production in Canada has grown quickly since legalization a year ago last October. […] Read more
Bibeau working to build cases on AgriStability, carbon taxes
Not all governments have same ability to find money to increase BRM funding, she says
Reading Time: 4 minutes Canada’s minister of agriculture and agri-food says she is working on building business cases for improvements to AgriStability and relief from carbon taxes on grain drying. Marie-Claude Bibeau spoke to Farmtario in a year-end interview before Christmas. Why it matters: There are several significant issues being dealt with by Bibeau and the outcomes will have […] Read more
OPVG calls new marketing regulations a ‘sham’
The organization says the changes will put give more power to processors
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers (OPVG) calls new marketing regulations proposed for tomato and carrot growers a “sham process” that will put the balance of power in the hands of processors. The organization released a statement Dec. 18, the first comments made since Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s minister of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs announced the […] Read more
American trade policy remaking world economy
Many parts of it will be detrimental to American trade over the long term, says former negotiator
Reading Time: 2 minutes There are several ways the United States is losing by focusing on a nationalist trade agenda and balancing trade in every way, says a former U.S. chief agriculture trade negotiator. Darci Vetter, who is now vice chair, Agriculture, Food and Trade with Edelman, told the recent Arrell Food Summit that that’s borne out in the […] Read more
The fine line between protest and provocation
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Ontario Provincial Police says it has farmers’ backs when it comes to trespassing, but the right to peaceful protest also has its place. “You have the right to peaceful protest. That’s part of our key message: We live in a country with freedom of expression,” says Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, of the OPP. However, once […] Read more
Building the Canada brand
Better information, more diverse opinions and more flexible policy are key to gaining global advantage: report
Reading Time: 4 minutes There are three critical priorities for Canada to achieve a national food brand that’s built on food safety, trust and sustainability, says Canada 2020. The think tank recently released the results of a process that involved talking to 600 agriculture sector stakeholders about what was needed, said David McInnes, a senior fellow with Canada 2020. […] Read more
Editorial: Watching for the next great leap in agriculture
Reading Time: 3 minutes Agriculture has been the productivity star of the Canadian economy for the past 50 years, says John Stackhouse of the Royal Bank. But he also says that predictable productivity improvement seen almost every year is flagging and he’s not sure why. He told the Ontario Federation of Agriculture’s annual meeting that for agriculture to become […] Read more
How to make the most of the Southwest Ag Conference next month
Here are some session suggestions that may bump up your SWAC experience
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Southwest Ag Conference continues to be the leading crops-focused conference in the province, drawing farmers from across Ontario, but also, increasingly being viewed remotely online. The conference, which takes place at Ridgetown College, University of Guelph, Jan. 7 and 8, 2020 will be home to 44 different sessions sprinkled over the two days. Farmtario […] Read more
Direct negotiations coming to processing tomatoes and carrots
Growers can also vote to negotiate as a group by secret ballot with individual processors
Reading Time: 2 minutes Ontario is opening up the processing tomato and carrot market to direct negotiations with processors, but is also leaving open the possibility of collective negotiation with individual processors. Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs released a letter Dec. 11 informing growers of the decision. Why it matters: The decision will reduce […] Read more
