“In ag and agri-food, most businesses are small and medium-sized. We are talking about a sector where the impact of an attack could be getting out of the business completely.” – Ali Dehghantanha, Canada Research Chair in Cybersecurity and Threat Intelligence.

Ontario funds cybersecurity upgrades for agriculture organizations

Ontario’s Cybersecurity Preparedness Initiative will provide up to 50 per cent of costs

Qualified local agriculture associations and marketing boards could receive funds for cybersecurity upgrades. Ontario’s Cybersecurity Preparedness Initiative will provide up to 50 per cent of costs, up to a maximum of $50,000 for projects enhancing the cybersecurity of boards or associations under the Farm Products Marketing Act (FPMA) Section 12 of the FPMA, the Milk […] Read more

Tissue culture plants growing in a substrate for approximately three weeks at New Liskeard’s SPUD unit.

SPUD Unit to get $330,000 upgrade

Ontario fruit and vegetable growers to benefit

The provincial and federal governments are investing $330,000 in the Superior Plant Upgrading and Distribution (SPUD) unit in New Liskeard.

The provincial and federal governments are investing $330,000 in the Superior Plant Upgrading and Distribution (SPUD) Unit in New Liskeard. The financial boost from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership will enhance the SPUD Unit’s ability to provide farmers and the agriculture and food industry with increased plant disease testing and healthy plant stock for Ontario’s […] Read more

Lobbyist Dave Carey at Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon, Man., on Jan. 16, 2024. Photo: Jim Timlick

Share concerns, build relationships with MPs, lobbyist says

Stay informed and hold representatives to account regardless of affiliation, farmers hear

“Meet with your member of Parliament annually. That’s how you inform politicians. That’s where you can gain some real momentum and leverage. It only takes one MP to stand up at caucus and say I visited my constituents and this is the big issue,” said Dave Carey.

Efforts in order to adapt to climate change are important, but losing an emphasis on agricultural productivity could have dire human consequences.

Opinion: Keep balance in research funding

Many ingredients went into the mix that resulted in the extraordinary success of agriculture in feeding a growing population. There’s the ability of farmers to constantly learn and increase their management skills. There are also vast improvements in technology – mechanical, digital and biological – that have come from researchers in both private companies and […] Read more

Success of a sustainable agriculture strategy depends on government co-operation at all levels.

Collaboration key to Canada’s agricultural sustainability

Success of a sustainable agriculture strategy depends on government co-operation

Federal, provincial and territorial government collaboration is vital to the future of Canada’s agriculture sector, said panelists at a May 31 webinar. Organized by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, the webinar focused on a report by University of Toronto professor Grace Skogstad entitled Towards a Collaborative Sustainable Agriculture Strategy for Canada. Why it matters: Collaboration […] Read more


Waiting for governments to do stupid things and then complaining about them doesn't do much good, even if it's entertaining. Helping them do the right things and achieve dull competence should be something all farmers want, regardless of who's in charge. – Ed White.

Opinion: Farmers can play a role in staving off political stupidity

Glacier FarmMedia – When democracy works, politicians of all stripes have lots of opportunities to stave off stupidity. This is the sort of policy stupidity they might commit when in power if they weren’t clued in to the nightmarish consequences of their actions. To help with that, farm and other organizations work hard to provide […] Read more

Global leadership conference returns to Canada

Global leadership conference returns to Canada

For the first time in more than 20 years, the IAPAL conference was hosted in Canada

The Rural Ontario Institute recently hosted the International Association of Programs for Agricultural Leadership (IAPAL) conference in Ottawa, for the first time in two decades. Conference attendees toured the Senate, the Ottawa Smart Farm and GPS Ontario’s farm in North Gower. “I found it fascinating talking with them about how they handle political situations; how […] Read more