There are signs that a number of potentially damaging disorders of pigs are either developing immunity to common drug treatments or becoming much more common as a result of well-established protocols, attendees at the recent Shakespeare Swine Seminar were warned by a Minnesota veterinary practitioner. Why it matters: When treatment for swine diseases are no […] Read more
Managing rapidly evolving swine diseases
A porcine respiratory disease is of particular concern because it can rapidly evolve
Dairy processors concerned about USMCA trade deal
Processors want compensation to be distributed differently than under CETA
The organization representing dairy processors says it is resolutely against the new United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal. The CEO of the lobby organization representing processors told Farmtario in early October that he “anxiously awaits the Canadian text to be published” containing the deal’s precise details. “Canada’s dairy processing industry is deeply disappointed […] Read more
Attention to details helps foreign worker application process
Producers must be aware of the myriad regulations they must comply with to be eligible to seek foreign labour
Three small-group meetings are planned in November for pork producers in southwestern Ontario to learn about applying to hire staff under the federally regulated Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Why it matters: Recruiting and maintaining good-quality staff has been an ongoing challenge in the hog sector. The TFWP is commonly used to help meet this […] Read more
Vets track down rare diseases in Ontario pig barns
Occasionally, swine health issues can leave producers and vets stumped
During a session of the recent Shakespeare Swine Seminar, two southwestern Ontario veterinarians described how they put on their Sherlock Holmes deerstalker caps to get to the bottom of three recent cases of disease outbreaks rarely seen in pigs. In the world of livestock health, a set of symptoms frequently points toward a common problem, […] Read more
Ontario hog sector prepares for African swine fever threat
The appearance of ASF in China has heightened concerns about the disease’s potential to spread to North America
The detection over the past four years of African swine fever (ASF) in Eastern Europe was met with muted concern by Ontario’s pork producers. But since the first confirmation of the virus in China on Aug. 1, the alarm is now being raised. Why it matters: AFS has potential to devastate Canadian swine herds if […] Read more
Report looks to connect the North’s new growth with consumers
More food is being grown and raised in Northern Ontario, but systems are still being developed to get it to local residents
Northern Ontario is a vast region that contains “many locales (that) can be considered a food deserts” despite growing production in the area, a new University of Guelph report says. The report was prepared by a team from the university’s School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, led by Dr. Wayne Caldwell. It was released […] Read more
Ontario axes Green Energy Act, leaving some wondering what’s next
South West Oxford mayor suggests that storage continues to be the biggest stumbling block to allowing the renewable energy sector to continue growing without government support
In a widely anticipated move, the Ontario government has repealed the province’s Green Energy Act. Why it matters: Since the Green Energy Act was introduced in 2009, thousands of Ontario farmers have added small-scale renewable energy generation projects to their properties. Most are used as an additional source of revenue. Sweaburg-area farmer and South West […] Read more
Program aims to kickstart funding for local ag projects
Socially responsible investing also aims to build communities
Funds designed to support the local food and farm sector in Ontario have been put together through a partnership of grassroots organizations from Sault Ste. Marie, a region not known for agriculture. Why it matters: Agriculture could find ways to capitalize on a global trend of investors who factor in ecological and social benefits along […] Read more
Principles still guide Ontario co-ops today
Co-operatives offer an alternative to for-profit business models and allow owner-members to focus more on community
The St-Albert Cheese Co-op on the South Nation River in eastern Ontario will mark its 125th anniversary next year, setting it out as an example of how co-operatives can find and sustain long-term success. For St-Albert and about 25 other farmer-owned co-ops active in Ontario, several factors rise to the top when looking at the […] Read more
Saudi human rights spat has repercussions for Ontario hay exports
Inquiries and visits from Saudi Arabia look to be drying up for Ontario hay growers
Other export opportunities exist for Ontario-grown forages, but the chair of the Ontario Hay and Forage Co-operative (OHFC) admits the trade-related fallout from the federal government’s recent spat with Saudi Arabia dealt a big blow. “We had tons of inquiries for massive amounts of hay from Saudi Arabia before this happened,” Fritz Trauttmansdorff told Farmtario […] Read more
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