By: Barbara Duckworth Ontario farmers are being told they need to get back into hay production. “We want farmers to consider hay production as a complement to row crop and cash crop production to renew soil,” said Fritz Trauttmansdorff, a farmer and founding member of the Ontario Hay and Forage Co-operative. Why it matters: Soil health can be improved if … Read More

By Jackie ClarkFarms.com The Ontario government has introduced a solution to the labour shortages in rural areas of the province, particularly within the agricultural sector. The Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade introduced the Regional Immigration Pilot, which will target Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, and Belleville/Quinte West, in a Dec. 19 statement. “Through discussions with employers in the agricultural sector, (ministry officials … Read More

By Diego FlamminiStaff WriterFarms.com A U.S. farm organization hopes to further discussions about giving producers the right to repair their equipment. In December, the Nebraska Farm Bureau voted 176 to 1 in favor of a policy statement mandating the organization support right to repair legislation or similar agreements. Any law or agreement must guarantee that a farmer and independent technician has … Read More

By Diego Flammini A new year means legislation and regulation changes for members of Ontario’s ag community. Two bills under OMAFRA’s jurisdiction will have amendments take effect on Jan. 1. One affected piece of legislation is the Farm Products Payments Act (FPPA). The government’s amendments will provide the Livestock Financial Protection Board (LFPB) “with more flexibility around quorum and ensure the board … Read More

BY MAUREEN REVAIT The Independent Electricity System Operator is offering greenhouse owners in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent an incentive to switch to LED technology. The incentive will cover about 30 per cent of overall costs to retrofit the lighting or use LED technologies in new builds. That’s about three times the previous incentive that was offered. “The technology is really improving from … Read More

By: Regan Hasegawa CHILLIWACK, B.C. — Purchasing a Christmas tree may be a little more challenging this year. That’s because of a shortage across North America. The lack of supply appears to be hitting retail stores the hardest, with many already sold out. But Business was still booming at Pine Meadows Tree Farm in Chilliwack, B.C., Sunday morning. Former owner … Read More

End of CN strike means grain farmers can finally get propane needed to dry crops By: Darren Major Grain farmers in eastern Ontario and western Quebec say they’re relieved the week-long CN Rail strike has come to an end, and are hoping to resume the harvest as soon as they’re resupplied with the propane they need to dry their crops. “[It’s] an absolute great relief we’ll … Read More

By: Canadian Press OTTAWA — Canadian farmers and producers are descending on Ottawa to press the case for urgent action to end the Canadian National Railway Co. rail strike now entering its second week. This afternoon, grain growers will hold a press conference in the national capital to outline how the shutdown is impacting their industry, which is already struggling … Read More

The Canadian Press Staff LONGUEUIL — The early arrival of snow has added to a tough season for grain producers across the province who are now asking to sit down with the CAQ government to figure out how to cover their losses. Benoit Legault, General Manager of the Producteurs de grains du Québec (PGQ), which represents about 10,500 farmers, reported their … Read More

 by Robyn Garvey Local farmers are encouraged to consider participating in an OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Food and Rural Affairs) pilot project. The goal is to improve productivity and cut costs. Lean Process Improvements have been a dominant methodology in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries for years, successfully helping to identify forms of waste, increase productivity and efficiency as well to … Read More