Former police officer will target non-payment of veal checkoff fee
Veal Farmers of Ontario (VFO) has hired a veteran of both municipal policing and border services for a newly-created position of inspection and compliance officer. The organization is acting on a recommendation to bring in expertise in auditing and compliance. Geoff Holwell will join the producer organization on a part-time basis, with his primary responsibilities […] Read moreNews — page 359
VFO takes ‘next step’ by hiring compliance officer
Former police officer will target non-payment of veal checkoff fee
Return home stalled for some foreign workers
Seasonal foreign workers face uncertain timeline to return home due to pandemic-related border crossing restrictions
Seasonal foreign workers face uncertain timeline to return home due to pandemic-related border crossing restrictions
In the spring Ontario farmers were concerned COVID-19 border closures would stymie efforts to get the much-needed foreign workers into Ontario. Now it appears the pandemic might be hindering efforts to get those same workers back home to their families. Why it matters: Smooth operation of the seasonal foreign worker program is critical to the […] Read more
Canada could be good place for cellular agriculture production, panel says
Research capacity and abundant supply of feedstocks would be advantages
Research capacity and abundant supply of feedstocks would be advantages
Dairy products created through cellular agriculture and fermentation will be the first products of their type to reach the market. Meat proteins created from cellular cultures has to look and perform like meat from animals so consumer adoption will be more challenging, a recent seminar put on by Ontario Genomics, the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute […] Read more
Agriculture education evolves to fit modern needs
Colleges are offering shorter courses in regional settings to help fill the need for practical skills
Colleges are offering shorter courses in regional settings to help fill the need for practical skills
Post-secondary agriculture education in Ontario is diversifying to meet the labour and skill needs of the industry. Shorter, concentrated offerings are expected to help fill the need for more employees in agriculture. Why it matters: Agriculture education options for practical training have been limited, especially in the regions where potential farm workers live. Much has […] Read more
Editorial: Hitting the top of the government handout cycle again
We are several years into a crop price downturn and, inevitably, farmers who are increasing financially squeezed are asking for help from the government. Once again, the federal and provincial governments appear to have been able to drag out any changes to business risk management programs until the point when crop prices have started to […] Read more
China, COVID ruined pork party
Canadian pork exports were surging from December 2018 to May 2019, but then trade disputes and packer slowdowns got in the way
Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian hog producers were on the path to good times before Chinese complications and COVID-19 derailed producers, Statistics Canada analysis shows. However, the recovery of the North American packing industry since the pandemic shock and the return of China to buying Canadian pork have reversed some of the damage. Why it matters: […] Read more
Telus turns its gaze to farm country
Company moves to establish better connectivity for free-flowing data – from the farm to consumer plates
Tech giant Telus now has an agriculture division focused on increasing food security, safety, and productivity. According to company representatives, part of achieving these overarching goals involves establishing better connectivity and promoting tech adoption on the farm. Why it matters: Rural internet access and the inability to efficiently share data between technologies continue to be […] Read more
Genomics research moving Ontario hazelnuts closer to production
Researchers continue to learn how to adapt hazelnuts to Ontario’s climate
A genomics-based research project at the University of Guelph is moving the establishment of an Ontario hazelnut industry one step closer to reality. Hazelnut development work has been underway in the province for about a decade, driven by farmers seeking new crops to grow and a large confectionary company keen to source their key ingredient […] Read more
Farmtario writer wins award
The Canadian Farm Writers Federation held its annual awards ceremony recently, but like most events this year, it was held virtu- ally instead of the gala event usually coinciding with the organization’s national conference. Congratulations to Farmtario contributor Matt McIntosh whose story “Bee-based disease prevention” from May, 2019 won a silver in the weekly press […] Read more
Request for Ontario farm names withdrawn
Freedom of Information request had drawn significant farmer concern
The agriculture community is celebrating a win after a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for all Farm Business Registrants was withdrawn. “Together, our farm organizations strongly opposed the release of this information as it has the potential to greatly impact the health, safety and security of our farm operations,” said Keith Currie, Ontario Federation of […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
