A coalition of farm organizations, including several in Ontario, is calling for a Canada-wide recovery plan from the COVID-19 pandemic that puts a strong emphasis on agricultural resilience to climate change. A report released recently by Farmers for Climate Solutions (FCS) — members of which include the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO), National Farmers […] Read more
Farm group wants climate at forefront of COVID-19 recovery
Farmers for Climate Solutions says farmers should lead the way in providing solutions
University proposal among food system prize semifinalists
Researchers hope vision for 2020 will be worthy of $200,000
Two researchers from the University of Guelph have reached the semifinalist stage of a $2-million competition striving for a more environmentally conscious future of food. The proposal, submitted by a professor and a PhD student from University of Guelph’s School of the Environmental Sciences, calls for “truly integrative agricultural practices” throughout southwestern Ontario by 2050, […] Read more
Agricultural exemption dropped for boiler inspection
The change most affects greenhouse and mushroom growers and some syrup producers
Agricultural operations using boilers and pressure vessels have until March 1, 2021 to register their equipment with the arms-length provincial government agency the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), following the lifting of an exemption on July 17. The equipment will also now require TSSA inspections. Why it matters: TSSA registration and inspection adds another […] Read more
Province-wide bulk tank samples to track disease prevalence
Research project could help with individual farm and provincial disease management
Ontario bulk tank samples will be screened for diseases in a broad look aimed at determining disease prevalence in Ontario herds. The provincial government recently announced financial support for the Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DF)-led effort to establish annual testing of bulk tank samples for a roster of infectious diseases. Why it matters: Some diseases […] Read more
Finding farmland in Ontario’s north
It’s believed there are up to three million acres of Class 2, 3 and 4 land in the north that could be farmed
The economics of modern agriculture have rekindled interest in pushing long-abandoned farms in northeastern Ontario into production. Millions of acres considered part of the fertile Northern Clay Belt remain largely undeveloped in municipalities stretching north and west from New Liskeard since the region was first opened to farming in the 1950s. Alain Robichaud, economic development […] Read more
Trail cams installed as part of wild pig project
Government looks to designate wild pigs as an invasive species
Wild pigs are on the loose in Ontario, but staff at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) are confident they’re ahead of a wide-scale and potentially devastating invasion. As part of a pilot project initiated in January, trail cameras were installed at eight locations in southern and eastern Ontario in response to what […] Read more
Turning off the milk tap
Dairy farmers are learning to manage larger changes in demand due to COVID-19
Signs that dairy markets may be stabilizing will come as welcome news for the industry. The past three months since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have been a roller coaster ride for producers, who have worked to match frequent shifts in demand, and changes in how much they get paid for their milk, with […] Read more
OFA urges farm data requester be named
A Freedom of Information Act request targets anyone with a Farm Business Registration number
Members of the three General Farm Organizations in Ontario have been encouraged to tell the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to turn down a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request aimed at Ontario’s farmers. The request looks for names of individuals and businesses holding Farm Business Registration (FBR) numbers, a well […] Read more
Herd largely spared as tornado moves dairy barn
Family grateful for support of friends and neighbours as barn will have to be rebuilt
A potentially “overwhelming situation,” was eased significantly by an outpouring of community support, after a tornado ripped through a Belmont-area dairy farm on June 10. “The first couple days were full of phone calls, emails and texts from companies and individuals offering assistance,” said farm co-owner Suzanne Pettit. She said the response showed “the strength […] Read more
John Walker’s legacy stretches beyond well-known dairy sales
The dairy leader built export markets for Canadian genetics
Ontario’s dairy sector lost a giant on July 5, as Aylmer’s John Walker passed away at age 86. An inductee into both the Elgin County and Canadian Agricultural halls of fame, Walker is best known for his monthly dairy cattle sales starting in 1958 – first in the Aylmer sale barn, which he had bought […] Read more
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