Corn seedlings in southern Ontario in 2021. (Farmtario photo by John Greig)

Spring planting well underway in Ontario

MarketsFarm — Farmers are well into seeding their crops for 2022, according to Wednesday’s crop report from Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). The report noted planting of corn, soybeans and spring cereals started late last week — the exception being where there are heavier soils. OMAFRA projected planting could be 80 […] Read more

File photo of a Salford 5200 Enforcer tillage unit operating in corn stubble. (Salford.com)

MacDon owner Linamar to buy Salford

Linamar to pay $260M for Ontario tillage, fertilizer equipment maker

Canadian industrial equipment and parts maker Linamar, the owner of MacDon Industries, is set to further expand its reach in the ag equipment sector by buying the Salford Group. Guelph-based Linamar announced Wednesday it has an agreement in place worth $260 million to buy 100 per cent of the equity in Salford, which makes fertilizer […] Read more

(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

High-path avian flu arrives in Manitoba poultry

More farms also hit in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario, bringing total to 40 across Canada

Federal and provincial animal health officials have confirmed the arrival of highly pathogenic avian influenza on a commercial poultry operation in Manitoba, making it the seventh province so affected. The provincial ag ministry said Sunday that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency had confirmed high-path H5N1 avian flu in a commercial flock in the RM of […] Read more

File photo of a small flock of tundra swans taking off from a grain field in early spring. (WWing/iStock/Getty Images)

Spring planting work can kick up avian flu, feather sector warns

Three more poultry outbreaks confirmed in Canada so far this week

Spring planting work could soon start to bring unintended gifts left by wild birds from fields into farmyards, Ontario’s poultry and egg sectors warn, as more cases of avian flu are confirmed at poultry farms across the country. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Thursday reported three additional outbreaks of H5 avian influenza in commercial […] Read more

Emerging winter wheat plants. (File photo by Laura Rance)

Not warm enough yet for accurate read on Ontario winter crops

MarketsFarm –– The crop report on Wednesday from Ontario’s ministry of agriculture, food and rural affairs (OMAFRA) notes a lack of temperatures warm enough to accurately assess winter crops and/or to begin spring planting. OMAFRA determined winter wheat that was seeded on time looks healthier than what was planted later in the fall. Also, water […] Read more


File photo of chicks on a genetic map of a chicken. (Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Avian flu arrives in Saskatchewan poultry

More outbreaks also confirmed in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in a poultry flock and a non-commercial flock in separate areas of Saskatchewan. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it confirmed high-path avian flu on Thursday in a small non-commercial flock in the RM of Moose Mountain, near Carlyle in the province’s southeast, and on Saturday in a […] Read more

(Thinkstock photo)

Avian flu hits flocks in Quebec, another in Ontario

Eleven control zones now in place in Ontario, six in Alberta

Avian influenza has been confirmed at two sites in Quebec and another in Ontario, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Wednesday. CFIA said it had quarantined two premises in Quebec after confirming an H5 type of avian flu in birds on a commercial poultry farm on Tuesday in the regional municipality (RCM) of Val-Saint-Francois, just […] Read more

(Sansubba/iStock/Getty Images)

Alberta, Ontario see more avian flu in flocks

One more outbreak confirmed in each province

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in one more commercial poultry flock each in central Alberta and eastern Ontario, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Tuesday. The agency said it had confirmed on Monday that high-path H5N1 avian flu had infected a poultry flock in Camrose County, southeast of Edmonton, and on Tuesday also […] Read more


(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Avian flu hits more Alberta, Ontario poultry flocks

Alberta cases spread north, east

Three additional poultry flocks in central Alberta and one in eastern Ontario were confirmed over the weekend to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday it had confirmed high-path H5N1 avian flu on Friday in a commercial poultry flock in Kneehill County, between Calgary and Red Deer, and […] Read more

File photo of a flock of snow geese on Buffalo Pound Lake in south-central Saskatchewan. (Bobloblaw/iStock/Getty Images)

Ontario bans birds at events as avian flu spreads

Infected snow goose found in western Saskatchewan; two backyard flocks in Montana also confirmed infected

Up against several outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu in commercial poultry flocks, Ontario is temporarily banning birds from appearing at shows and other such events. Provincial Agriculture Minister Lisa Thompson on Friday announced a ministerial order taking effect just after midnight Saturday (April 9), in which “the movement to and participation of birds in […] Read more