Food price inflation and labour market volatility remain the post-pandemic factors to watch, Farm Credit Canada finance specialists said during the agency’s annual economic outlook Jan. 24. Although challenges like supply chain disruptions and fluctuating input costs have eased somewhat, they will likely have an effect on farm costs and profitability in 2023. Held the […] Read more
News
Farm revenues should rise in 2023, but so will costs
Annual FCC Economic Outlook focuses on predicted global economic slowdown
Increasing interest rates put pressure on national debt obligations
Shifts continue in global policies and politics, says commodities economist
Trying to predict the course of commodity prices from one year to the next is a complex task. It requires a broad understanding of global monetary and geopolitical influences that can be confusing and contradictory. Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist with StoneX Group, gave attendees at the recent Ontario Agricultural Conference a robust overview of […] Read more
Editorial: Shaping a new green revolution
The term ‘green revolution’ was first coined in 1968 by William S. Gaud, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, to reflect the technology transfer initiatives that led to increased crop yields and production after the Second World War. By the late 1960s, farmers in developed countries had adopted and incorporated high-yielding varieties of […] Read more
Lowering emissions without sacrificing profits
Nitrogen strategies that meet grower and government needs
Nitrogen fertilizer is a cornerstone of crop production. It’s also become a hot political topic, with market volatility, emission reduction demands, geopolitics and a slew of other factors keeping it in the headlines. While nitrogen prices remain high, there are strategies growers can employ to reduce nitrogen use without sacrificing profits or yields. Several researchers […] Read more
DFO acknowledges Christmas milk pickup communication errors at annual meeting
Organization optimistic for future and focused on growing consumption amongst younger generation
It was “quite a year” for Ontario dairy farmers, Dairy Farmers of Ontario chair Murray Sherk said Jan. 18 in his address to delegates at the organizations’ annual meeting in Toronto. As the industry emerges from the pandemic, supply chains remain challenged and the war in Ukraine and global instability have caused higher fuel and […] Read more
Ontario colleges serve as ‘surrogate R&D departments’ for agriculture industry
While universities are significant research partners, many colleges provide specialized services
Universities are well-known as centres for research and innovation, attracting both faculty and students based on the depth, breadth and qualities of their research enterprises. In Ontario, the University of Guelph is a particularly significant research partner for the agriculture sector. Less well-known is that many of Ontario’s 24 colleges are also home to centres […] Read more
First-ever women elected to Grain Farmers of Ontario board
Julie Maw and Angela Zilke will represent two districts of grain farmers as provincial directors
Two grain farmers have become the first women elected to the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) board of directors, one of the only provincial commodity organizations that has never had female representation at the board level. Julie Maw of Courtright will represent barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers in Lambton county (GFO District 3) […] Read more
Spilled milk sparks DFO policy and emergency strategy review
Impacted producers will be compensated via cost-recovery plan
Dairy Farmers of Ontario is reassessing some of its policies and emergency preparedness strategies following the mass milk dumping caused by the Christmas blizzard. Mark Hamel, Region 11 board member, didn’t hesitate to accept responsibility for poor communication throughout the storm when he spoke to attendees at the Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week Dairy Day Jan. […] Read more
Eleven inductees to be inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame
The Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame (OAHF) will induct 11 individuals who have made significant impacts on Ontario agriculture and beyond in 2023. Their influences range from agronomy and crop consulting, soil health and water quality advancements, pesticide and crop research, the development of farm shows and farm co-operatives and leadership in the sectors of […] Read more
Unlocking markets in a time of uncertainty
Canada has opportunity to boost lagging exports in a world looking for more food
Canada needs a new agriculture and food strategy as political, pandemic and economic shocks to the global food system render the way Canada has thrived in the world no longer viable. That was the message at a conference in Ottawa Jan. 31, hosted by leading agriculture policy think tanks and attended by agriculture leaders in […] Read more
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