Pretty much everyone living in rural Ontario has a story of someone they know who’s been hit with a farm theft in the past few years. It might be the pickup truck stolen from the edge of a field while someone was planting, visits to sheds at night picked up by motion-sensor cameras, or a […] Read more
Farm theft still a threat in rural areas
Basic precautions the best safeguard against theft
Forage fires an increased risk this harvest season
Forage specialist urges producers to be on alert
Hay and forage fires are a significant risk on farms throughout Ontario so prevention strategies are important. Many regions of the province had a particularly dry May, increasing vulnerability to fire. Why it matters: Dry conditions have increased fire risk, particularly for forages. Fires can start when heat builds up in high-moisture material, causing spontaneous […] Read more
Collaboration key to Canada’s agricultural sustainability
Success of a sustainable agriculture strategy depends on government co-operation
Federal, provincial and territorial government collaboration is vital to the future of Canada’s agriculture sector, said panelists at a May 31 webinar. Organized by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, the webinar focused on a report by University of Toronto professor Grace Skogstad entitled Towards a Collaborative Sustainable Agriculture Strategy for Canada. Why it matters: Collaboration […] Read more
Animal Health Canada hopes to reach more Canadians with updated transport training
New certification training more digitally accessible, says organization
Animal Health Canada has announced updates to its Canadian Livestock Training certification program for livestock transporters. In a May 29 news release, the organization said it has revamped core training materials to make the training program more engaging and user-friendly, with access to digital platforms and more Canadian context. Why it matters: The updated training […] Read more
New support not indicative of debt crisis: FCC
The agriculture lender has announced new credit lines with waived fees, but maintains there is no debt crisis on the horizon
Farm Credit Canada has new support for farmers facing financial difficulties. On May 23, the lender announced it will offer unsecured credit lines up to $500,000 to agricultural producers and will waive loan processing fees. A similar offer was extended to the hog sector. Why it matters: Unsustainable debt following interest rate spikes has wreaked […] Read more
Province halts lot severance policy after industry input
Extended consultation period will allow for further input on housing plans
The Ontario government has agreed to pause its proposed planning statement and Bill 97 pending further discussions. The announcement was made May 30 in a joint release by 14 Ontario agricultural organizations. Why it matters: If passed, the proposed plan would see farmland permanently lost in Ontario. The statement as proposed would allow up to […] Read more
Ford to keep AM radio, CEO says
Amid rising concerns, Canada's premier automaker will not drop AM
Ford Motor Co. has gone back on its plan to phase AM radio out of its vehicles. Ford CEO Jim Farley made the announcement Tuesday via Twitter, after company officials said last month that AM would be dropped from new non-commercial vehicles. “After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as […] Read more
Pre-election reports analyze Alberta’s ag issues
Three reports focus on party histories, ag sector concerns, current platforms
Alberta farmers’ concerns with provincial policy, and the two major parties’ stances on those concerns, are the subjects of a three-part analysis leading up to a provincial election on Monday. The Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy, a think tank operating out of the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, says its three […] Read more
New Provincial Planning Statement could lead to loss of farmland in Ontario
Experts say legislation which aims to create more homes could have devastating impacts on Ontario agriculture
Ontario’s new proposed Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) will have negative impacts on rural land use and farming operations, say planning experts and agricultural organizations. A joint statement released May 19 by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, National Farmers Union – Ontario and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario urges farmers to tell their local […] Read more
Potential loss of AM radio in vehicles a concern for farmers
Many farmers rely on AM range, signal; U.S. lawmakers launch legislation
Canadian farmers are expressing concern about the possibility of their access to AM radio disappearing. Ford, which has been Canada’s best-selling auto brand since 2009, has stated it plans to stop putting AM radios in non-commercial vehicles by 2024. The automaker’s decision follows those of companies such as Tesla, Mazda and Volkswagen, which have removed […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
