CoCoRaHS’s map of precipitation over southern Ontario and Quebec for May 5, 2017. (Cocorahs.org)

Towns evacuated as heavy rains pelt Eastern Canada

Toronto/Ottawa | Reuters — Torrential rains lashed parts of central and Eastern Canada on Friday, causing flooding, flight delays and traffic disruptions, and the prime minister said the federal government was ready to provide help if necessary. The provinces of Ontario and Quebec have been dealing with the fallout of heavy spring rainfall this week, […] Read more

Quebec flooding forces hundreds from homes

Montreal | Reuters — Flooding in towns across Quebec has forced hundreds of residents from their homes, and public security officials fear water levels will rise further with forecasters expecting rain Friday, local media reported on Wednesday. Heavy rains early this week have flooded towns in several areas across the predominately French-language province, including two […] Read more

(Assnat.qc.ca)

Quebec names new deputy ag minister

A former deputy minister for Quebec’s ministry of agriculture, food and fisheries has returned to the post after a few years in the consulting business. Marc Dion, 67, was announced Tuesday as deputy minister effective March 1, replacing Fernand Archambault as the ministry’s lead bureaucrat. Dion, a consultant in private practice since 2011, had previously […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Federation des producteurs acericoles du Quebec.)

Quebec extends organic conversion funding plan

A support program for Quebec farmers to convert crop, livestock or maple syrup operations to organic production will get an extension. Provincial Agriculture Minister Laurent Lessard on Monday announced the three-year, $4 million organic agriculture conversion support program set up in June 2015 will now run to the end of March 2022. The program offers […] Read more

The UPA mounted a public campaign to put pressure on the provincial government to reconsider its plans for the farmland tax credit program. (UPA.qc.ca)

Quebec’s winter trails to remain open as tax reform halted

Snowmobile trails going through farmland owned by members of Quebec’s Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) will remain open as the province hits the brakes on changes to its farmland property tax credit plan. UPA members had recently pledged to revoke previously-permitted access to their land for snowmobile trails starting Monday (Feb. 6) in a dispute […] Read more


Quebec Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis. (MAPAQ.gouv.qc.ca)

Quebec agriculture minister temporarily sidelined

Quebec’s agriculture minister Pierre Paradis is off work temporarily with what’s reported to be a concussion. Premier Philippe Couillard announced Wednesday that Paradis’ responsibilities as minister of agriculture, food and fisheries would temporarily go to Transport Minister Laurent Lessard. News outlets in Quebec including Radio Canada, La Presse and TVA reported Wednesday that Paradis had […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Greig: Salmonella strain hard to treat in livestock

A strain of salmonella resistant to multiple antimicrobials is spreading in Ontario and Quebec cattle herds. There have been 23 cases of Salmonella Dublin in 15 herds reported in Ontario since 2012, but the numbers have been increasing each year. There were eight cases reported in 2015 and four in 2016 through August. Dr. Dave […] Read more

Quebec’s Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis announced funding for L’Arterre at winery Cassis Monna et Filles of St-Pierre-de-l’Ile-d’Orleans, Que., accompanied by (l-r) Catherine et Anne Monna and Land Bank agent Leslie Carbonneau and other dignitaries. (Groupe CNW/MAPAQ)

Quebec service to match farmland sellers, young buyers

The Quebec and federal governments are putting up funds for a different kind of online match site: one to connect aspiring young farmers with producers who are either retiring or wanting to sell or rent farmland. The two governments on Tuesday announced $300,000 for the Centre de reference en agriculture et agroalimentaire du Quebec (CRAAQ) […] Read more


ALUS Canada has launched its first program in Quebec, with support from a regional arm of UPA. (CNW Group/ALUS Canada)

ALUS program expands to Quebec

The Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program has made its move into a sixth province with a new project in Quebec’s Monteregie. ALUS Canada, working with the Monteregie branch of Quebec’s Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), formally launched the program Wednesday at its first Quebec location, a farm near St-Jean-Baptiste, south of St-Hyacinthe. ALUS, in […] Read more

Fourth of July celebrations at Vermont’s State House in Montpelier. (Legislature.vermont.gov)

Quebec again ponders mandatory GMO labelling

Quebec’s agriculture minister has telegraphed an interest in following the lead of a next-door neighbour to require mandatory labelling for foods made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The province’s governing Liberals previously called for such a system, making a GMO label law part of their election platform back in 2003, but have been quiet about their […] Read more