The weather models have been remarkably accurate for this time of the year. The big weather picture remains the same. There is a large, persistent ridge of high pressure over far Western Canada with an equally persistent trough of low pressure over Eastern Canada. This means western regions will continue to see sunny, dry and […] Read more
Tag Archives Other — page 11
Prairie Forecast Update: Forecast on track
Forecast issued May 14, 2023, covering the half-week stretch from May 14 to 17, 2023
How will municipalities handle housing?
Confusion reigns as province pushes flurry of development policy changes
The Ontario government has made a series of policies over the past year that will alter the trajectory of development. By opening the Greenbelt and other farmland, reclassifying wetlands, reducing density targets and allowing municipalities to expand beyond established urban limits, Doug Ford’s government says it aims to encourage speedy housing construction. Some say these […] Read more
Fire and floods across Western Canada force evacuations
Western Alberta towns of Edson, Drayton Valley ordered to evacuate
Reuters — A week of record-hot weather in Western Canada has forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes, as wildfires rage in parts of Alberta and rapid snow melt triggers flooding across interior British Columbia. By Friday, more than 13,000 people were under evacuation orders in Alberta. As of late Friday afternoon, 91 fires […] Read more
Editorial: Farming knowledge can help form future habits
As I previously wrote in a column for Farmtario in November last year, one of the most endearing memories I have from elementary school is when a classmate brought in a dairy calf for “show and tell.” I still remember that day vividly nearly 40 years later; how the calf’s tongue felt on my fingers […] Read more
Buy or rent? Land rent-to-price ratio can help farmers decide
FCC sees current ratios on farmland as (roughly) stable
Higher interest rates don’t seem to be affecting the ratio between land values and land rental costs — at least, not yet. Farm Credit Canada’s latest analysis of farmland rental prices says they’re roughly maintaining their traditional linkage, says J.P Gervais, the organization’s chief economist. “We were curious to see whether that would bring up […] Read more
Net-zero farming requires wide social buy-in
A systemic re-think of farming is needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050, but impetus and support must come from inside and outside the sector
Glacier FarmMedia – A “durable” net zero farming system may be unattainable without a broad re-think of the sector, and that will require broad social buy-in, says an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher. “This is a much bigger question than simply developing practices and encouraging adoption,” says Henry Janzen. “This involves the rest of us.” […] Read more
Thompson returns as P.E.I. ag minister
Ag and land ministry split; Compton not returning to cabinet
Prince Edward Island’s former agriculture minister is again its current ag minister, in a post-election cabinet shuffle by returning Premier Dennis King. Bloyce Thompson, MLA for the district of Stanhope-Marshfield since 2019 and ag minister from 2019 until last summer, was again appointed April 14 as King’s minister of agriculture, justice and public safety and […] Read more
Understanding the Underused Housing Tax
Many farm partnerships and corporations are obligated to file this new return, even if they don’t owe
The government’s Canadian Underused Housing Tax (UHT) Act could impact 2022 farm taxes. “The intent is to impose an annual one per cent tax on vacant or underused housing in Canada that’s owned directly or indirectly by persons who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents,” said Kurt Oelschlagel, BDO partner and national agriculture tax […] Read more
Editorial: Budgets lacking for farmers
There is always a sense of trepidation when a government announces it will table its annual budget. Many industries, agriculture included, hold their collective breath in anticipation of seeing whether their lobby efforts come to fruition. The Ontario government released its 2023 budget on March 23. Overall, public spending will increase a little over two […] Read more
Commercial grain elevators lobby for Bill C-234 inclusion
Private member’s bill offers carbon tax exemption for on-farm use of propane and natural gas
There is quiet optimism across Canada’s agriculture industry as Bill C-234 begins review by the Senate. The bill is seen as potentially providing carbon pricing relief for a vast number of farmers but many Ontario grain farmers will shoulder the burden of exclusion. “People think that because we’re supporting the bill, that GFO put the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
