The global trade dispute between a protectionist United States and many of its trading partners, including Canada, the European Union and China has Ontario farmers struggling to deal with an […] Read more
Tarif-fying or not?
What does the escalating global tariff war mean for Ontario farmers?
Dairy farmers’ cross-Canada tractor tour ends in tragedy
Ontario dairy farmer Bettina Schuurmans dies in collision between tractor and semi truck
What started as a fun summer trip across Canada on a tractor spreading information about dairy farming has ended in tragedy. Henk and Bettina Schuurmans left their Elmira farm June […] Read more
Rural Ontario gets half of cabinet positions
Ernie Hardeman is Ontario’s new minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs. The agriculture ministry is a familiar role for Hardeman, who was agriculture minister in Mike Harris’ Conservative government […] Read more
Recruiting outside of ag schools
New-graduate program brings in aggies and non-aggies
A program that linked new graduates, many from non-agriculture programs, with agriculture companies, could provide lessons to the sector in how to recruit new employees. Why it matters: The agriculture […] Read more
Editorial: Politics and the markets
Trade jitters around the world haven’t moved agriculture markets much, but a recent market drop may be the start
The advent of the age of geopolitics based on whim and emotion has pressured agricultural commodities in ways I haven’t seen the like of in my career. Yet, commodity prices […] Read more
Soybean replants up
Variable weather across the province created perfect conditions for root rots and voracious insects
Ontario farmers are facing significant soybean replanting this year, a product of variable rainfall and a surprising amount of root rot issues. Why it matters: Reseeding parts of fields can […] Read more
Making bacon at the Ontario Pork Congress
There were a record 60-plus entries at the Bacon Maker Classic at the Ontario Pork Congress this year. The 4-H members showed their market pigs in showmanship and confirmation classes. […] Read more
Canadian pigs sold to China
Canadian swine genetics continue to compete well around the world and especially recently in China where the hog production sector is rapidly modernizing. Evidence of the trend was on display […] Read more
Cows, not just goats coming to prison farms
Prison farm advocates had lobbied for the return of the farm to include dairy cows
Animals are returning to Ontario prison farms, and it’s not just goats. The Trudeau government was elected on a promise to return farm operations to prisons, after they were closed […] Read more
More sensors for planters
A seed trench firmer with sensors takes readings every eighth of an inch across the field
As Wayne Vitek drove across a field near Mitchell’s Bay planting soybeans recently, a group of sensors took 200 readings per second at the soil level. A Smart Firmer was […] Read more