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
News — page 371
Farm group wants climate at forefront of COVID-19 recovery
Farmers for Climate Solutions says farmers should lead the way in providing solutions
Agriculture Youth Council holds first meeting
Glacier FarmMedia – Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, hosted the inaugural meeting of the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council on Sept. 3. The 25-member council is sharing with the minister their aspirations for a sustainable and prosperous agriculture and agri-food sector. The council is expected to offer suggestions for the Liberal government recovery plan […] Read more
Provincial trespassing bills watched by federal minister
Farmers should not be threatened for feeding Canadians, says minister
Glacier FarmMedia – At least four provinces have strengthened or are looking to strengthen their trespassing legislation, but the federal government said it will look to support producers in other ways. “It has to be done at the provincial level, but I’m following it closely because this is something that I care about,” said Minister […] Read more
Letters: Stop the ‘neverendum’ on nuclear waste in South Bruce
Dear editor, I want to start by giving credit to Mr. Tony Zettel (a member of the South Bruce DGR-Willing to Listen organization). He is an eloquent writer and indeed seems very passionate about what he describes as a DGR (Deep Geological Reserve). He has argued in many letters that the DGR is an “opportunity” […] Read more
CEBA program extended to Oct. 31
The Canadian Emergency Business Account program (CEBA), which was due to wind up Aug. 31 has been extended to Oct. 31. The program has been helpful to some farmers, but not to many others who have expressed frustration with the reasons for rejection by the government agencies administering the program. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister […] Read more
Desiccant options continue to decline for dry beans
Use of chemicals on dry beans increasingly depends on requirements of end users
Ontario dry bean growers continue to search for alternatives to use as a desiccant after buyers rejected the further use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest burndown in 2019. Limitations on other chemicals are beginning to follow. Why it matters: Farmers need to be vigilant on weed control with dry and edible beans as desiccant restrictions […] Read more
Good quality grape harvest faces uncertain market
Ontario wineries have seen some rebound in local traffic
A hot, dry growing season that is producing higher -quality grapes isn’t completely good news for Ontario producers and winemakers. Those same conditions are also producing lower yields, and the market demand for wines made from premium quality grapes is declining as consumers quench their pandemic thirst by buying cheaper blended wines. Why it matters: […] Read more
Lewis’s success could be win for producers
The defeated but rising Conservative candidate had the most detailed agriculture platform
Glacier FarmMedia – The biggest win for Canadian producers arising from the Conservative party leadership race may come from one of the contest’s losers. Erin O’Toole won the leadership bid, beating out his chief rival, Peter MacKay. During the campaign, the two offered nearly identical and fairly mundane platforms for the agricultural sector. Why it […] Read more
More corn, less soy predicts Statistics Canada
Acreage is down, but there’s the potential for higher yields in Eastern Canada
Glacier FarmMedia – Statistics Canada’s latest round of expectations for the 2020 harvest calls for more corn and less soy than in 2019, with higher yields offsetting lower planted acres for both crops. Why it matters: Yield estimates can help farmers and markets plan for the coming harvest. In its production of principal field crops […] Read more
Editorial: Living in 2020’s tornado alley
We didn’t know we would be in one of Ontario’s tornado alleys when we moved a short 10-minute drive south of our previous home more than a decade ago. But two tornados within seven kilometres of our farm in the past three months has my family more vigilant during hot and sultry days when a […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
