As people were forced to cook at home, many reached for the tomato sauce. Demand for processed tomato products jumped globally in 2020, lowering product inventories and peaking interest from both growers and processors. Whether higher demands will outlast the pandemic remains uncertain. But in the meantime, Ontario’s processing tomato sector is gearing up for […] Read more
News — page 341
Demand surges for processing tomatoes
Ontario producers will need to grow more tomatoes to meet 2021 demand
Van Eerd, Denotter honoured with OSCIA Soil Champion Award
Roger and David Buurma recognized for on-farm ingenuity with Don Hill Legacy Award
Two soil health contributors were honoured with Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) 2021 Soil Champion Awards. “This year we are lucky enough to be able to award two worthy nominees,” said Chad Anderson, OSCIA president. “One in the producer category and one in the extension category.” Dr. Laura Van Eerd, a professor of […] Read more
Cage-free egg-laying hen mortality declines over time
Science Notes: There’s greater survival as managers gain experience and knowledge
New research published recently in the journal Scientific Reports based on the largest-to-date analysis of commercial data on egg-laying hen mortality finds that mortality in higher-welfare cage-free housing systems decreases over time as management experience increases and knowledge accrues. Societal concern over the welfare of animals used in food production is rising, particularly with regard […] Read more
Vilsack willing to help with WTO-compliant COOL
Former, and future, ag secretary gets bi-partisan support
Tom Vilsack, who at the time of this writing appeared close to becoming United States secretary of agriculture once again, said he will be happy to advance country-of-origin labelling policies, if they comply with international trade rules. During his Feb. 2 confirmation hearing of the Senate agricultural committee, Vilsack, who held the post during the […] Read more
Worker travel groups win award
The two organizations that share administrative and air travel responsibilities for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) have been honoured for their efforts in ensuring temporary foreign workers were able to work on Canadian fruit and vegetable farms in 2020. The Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Service – commonly known as F.A.R.M.S. – and CanAg Travel […] Read more
Opinion: Agriculture needs a social contract with consumers
A conversation with consumers should be a reality for many agriculture markets
I had several interactions recently that raised the issue of trust or social licence for agriculture to me again. I continue to be struck by the fact that many in agriculture think that if we just tell the public how good we are, they will trust and like us and give us the “licence,” or […] Read more
Seed company names new varieties for soldiers
FP Genetics Inc. and The Royal Canadian Legion recently announced a new collaboration that will honour veterans and highlight the sacrifices they have made in service of community and country. As part of this collaboration, The Legion’s Saskatchewan Command will accept and review applications from military and RCMP veterans and their families, and make recommendations […] Read more
Carbon tax exemption: $235 million over five years
Government says Climate Action fund will pay for $11.9 million in projects
A report from Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Office says the cost of exempting more farm fuels from carbon pricing will cost $235 million over the next five years. Why it matters: Ottawa’s carbon tax will increase farmer expenses but by how much is still in question. If certain activities are granted exemptions from the carbon pricing […] Read more
Letters: Time for a referendum on nuclear waste
Dear editor, A year has passed since the land acquisition by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) in South Bruce. As a long-time resident, I am just as concerned and just as opposed to the possibility of high level irradiated used nuclear fuel waste being located in our municipality. Research of the project has not […] Read more
In the Know addresses gap in agriculture-based mental health training
Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Federation of Agriculture teaming up to deliver the training program provincially
A farmer often goes about their day in relative isolation, especially this last year. Many will tell you there is reassuring sameness found on the farm when the outside world appears to be falling apart. However, when mental health issues edge in and you begin to crumble, that isolation can be a prison unless you […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
