Ontario Federation of Agriculture Commentary By Peggy Brekveld, OFA Vice President Running a farm is a complex business. Laws and regulations from multiple ministries govern Ontario farms on issues ranging from transportation and environment to labour and finance. The passing of Bill 148, Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act in 2017 has added additional layers of complex regulations for Ontario farm … Read More

By OMAFRA Field Crops Team Field activity continues in full gear as soils become fit for fieldwork. Many areas received some rainfall over the weekend (May 12-13), with areas of Kent and Essex catching heavier bands of rain that left over 100 mm in a few locations. As it happens every year a few areas of the province have nearly … Read More

By Tracey Baute, OMAFRA Field Crops Entomologist, on fieldcropnews.com There have been many reports of cereal leaf beetle adult activity over the last few weeks. Adults do some feeding but also lay eggs that give rise to the real issue – cereal leaf beetle larvae. Eggs will be hatching within the next week or so. With daily growing degree days accumulating … Read More

From University of Guelph news Former Canadian astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar and Galen Weston, CEO of Loblaw Cos. Ltd., will be among some of the world’s most eminent thinkers in the future of food and agriculture at the inaugural Arrell Food Summit to be held by the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute this month. The event will explore transparency … Read More

Farmers in Chatham-Kent, Ont., say it can feel like the provincial government isn’t listening to them. Hydro costs, rural roads and the increased minimum wage are among concerns affecting some rural voters ahead of June’s provincial election. Watch video at The Globe and Mail, by clicking here.

The party pledges to pay farmers to protect water By Diego Flammini Staff Writer Farms.com If the Green Party of Ontario forms the next government in June, it will pay farmers to protect water and store carbon. That’s among the promises the party makes to farmers in its official party platform. Ontario loses 365 acres of farmland per day, the party says. … Read More

By Lisa McLean for AgInnovation Ontario Hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables grow in Ontario each year, but many Ontario residents still face barriers to accessing those foods. Now, an innovative food accessibility program in Guelph, Ont. is making it easier for its community members to buy fresh produce. The SEED – a community food project that delivers community … Read More

New regulations could mislead consumers’ thoughts on ag products By Kaitlynn Anderson Staff Writer Farms.com Canada’s ag community could face another hurdle in the government’s regulations aimed at encouraging healthier lifestyles. Health Canada released an update last Tuesday regarding Bill S-228: The Child Health Protection Act, which would restrict businesses from commercially marketing unhealthy food and beverages to children. The public has … Read More

The United States Department of Agriculture is calling for lower stockpiles of U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat for 2018-19. The USDA released its latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report on May 10. This report presents the agency’s first assessment of U.S. and world crop supply and demand prospects and U.S. prices for 2018/19. Corn The U.S. feed-grain outlook … Read More