Better Pork

nsition for Ro-Main, Jacquelin Labrecque has been appointed as the new CEO of the company, succeeding Serge Labrecque who served as CEO for 25 years. The announcement was made during a private event attended by family and staff members. Serge Labrecque, co-founder and outgoing CEO of Ro-Main, passes on the torch to Jacquelin Labrecque, a second-generation member of the family. With 13 years of experience within the company, Jacquelin Labrecque brings a fresh and innovative perspective to the role. Having served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Product Officer (CPO) prior to his appointment, Jacquelin Labrecque’s strategic vision and technological expertise are poised to drive Ro-Main forward in the realm of precision livestock farming. Under Serge Labrecque’s leadership, Ro-Main flourished into an industry leader renowned for its innovative solutions in swine and poultry farming. His decision to transition to the role of Executive Vice President coincides with the company’s 25th anniversary, marking a pivotal moment for Ro-Main as it embraces a new era of leadership and technological advancement. Expressing confidence in Jacquelin’s capabilities, Serge Labrecque remarked, “I am proud of what we have accomplished at Ro-Main over the years. I am convinced that Jacquelin is the best person to guide the company to new heights.”

Contraction in the Canadian swine herd continues in 2024,according to a recent US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report. Higher than anticipated sow productivity in 2023 partially offset larger slaughter and export numbers with the beginning hog inventory down 140,000 head compared to 2023; comparatively, the Canadian herd contracted by 265,000 head from January 2022 to January 2023. Beginning sow stocks show a 2% reduction in the sow herd to begin 2024, representing the smallest January 1 sow numbers since 2015. The number of farms reporting hogs declined 2% compared to January 1, 2023, indicating that producers continue to exit the industry. As a signal of ongoing industry consolidation, the average number of animals on remaining operations increased slightly. The fall in sow inventories is not equal across Canada for 2024. Canadian sow herd reduction has beendriven by reductions in Eastern Canada, largely as a result of processing reductions, while Western Canada saw a slight increase to their sow herd beginning in 2024. This occurred despite the fact thatOlymel idled five sow barns located in Western Canada, removing an estimated 16,000 head from production. Olymel’s restructuring has also impacted processing capacity in Eastern Canada where atthe end of 2023, Olymel closed its Vallée-Jonction plant in Quebec. Despite the Olymel closure and signalled reductions in purchasing, it appears that producers in Eastern Canada, especially Quebec, havebeen slower to reduce production, reportedly resulting in a backlog of market-ready hogs. Sow productivity has likely also played a factor. Sow productivity reached a new high in 2023 based onthe Statistics Canada pig crop data. Fewer disease issues likely factored strongly in this improved productivity as PEDv control appears much improved. Sources indicate that strong productivity is alsoanticipated for 2024. As a result, FAS/Ottawa is raising the 2024 pig crop forecast to 29.4 million. This would represent a two percent reduction compared to 2023. However, Quebec producers will remainunder pressure to reduce production further. It is estimated that production in Quebec needs to be cut by 15% to adjust to reduced processing capacity. The Quebec herd in total was down 5% tobegin 2024. Quebec and Ontario market hogs have been finding shackle space in the United States and ifproducers continue to see value in this trade flow, reduction efforts may be mitigated.

The BC/Yukon region has its national representatives in this year’s Outstanding Young Farmers competition. Tristan and Aubyn Banwell of Spray Creek Ranch near Lillooet won their regional event in March and move on to the national competition in November. Since they started the farm in 2014, the Banwells have transitioned about 500 acres into organic certification. Spray Creek Ranch is now “a certified organic and diversified regenerative farm using ecological principles to produce wholesome, delicious, pastured meats,” the farm’s website says. The Banwells raise beef cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. In addition, they are in the process of developing an on-farm abattoir and meat shop. “As we complete our licensing in 2024, our shop will allow us to process all our own livestock, as well as offer custom slaughter and butchery services to other farms in our region,” the farm’s site says. Tristan and Aubyn also operate a side business called Grounded Grazing. Grounded Grazing helps peers implement rotational grazing practices, and they a

The Executive Director of the Swine Health Information Center reports 43 research proposals submitted in response to its 2024 Plan of Work Competitive Call for proposals are now under review. In January the Swine Health Information Center issued a formal request for research proposals to address 11 of 36 research priorities and topics outlined in its 2024 Plan of Work. SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder says the call received an outstanding response. Quote-Dr. Megan Niederwerder-Swine Health Information Center: We received a total of 43 proposals across 21 different institutions both in the U.S. and in Canada.These included academic institutions, government institutions as well as private institutions.We received a great proposal response and a lot of diversity and breadth of topics that are being covered. Most of these topics and proposals have a timeline of between six to twelve months and a budget between 50 thousand to 150 thousand. The proposals are currently undergoing review for aspects of the proposals such as the value to pork producers, the cost effectiveness of the technology that's being investigated, the chance of success as well as the experimental design or methodology regarding the conclusions of the proposals.We're also looking at cost budget justification as the time frame being justified. Dr. Niederwerder says the proposals are now being evaluated by a task force made up of Swine Health Information Center Working Group members, other swine sector stakeholders such as pork producers, swine veterinarians, academic faculty members, allied industries and private company representatives.She expects that evaluation to be completed by the end of this month.Full details can be found at swinehealth.org.

Information being collected by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine from pork producers and their veterinarians will be used to create a new tool to assist in making business management decisions related to animal welfare. The Western College of Veterinary Medicine has launched a study under which pork producers and veterinarians are being interviewed about management decisions that influence animal welfare and how that relates to business sustainability. Dr. Yolande Seddon, an Associate Professor Swine Welfare and Behavior with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare, says respondents are being asked about how various aspects of animal management relate to animal welfare, production and other business sustainability goals, including how this impacts staff well being. Quote-Dr. Yolande Seddon-Western College of Veterinary Medicine: We are taking the information that we learn from interviews and we are combining it with information that we have already collected from published literature in order to evaluate the relationships between management practices and their impact on animal welfare and how it impacts other business metrics of production and sustainability. Together this information from the interviews and the literature will be used to develop a decision-making tool that will be used by the industry to understand the relationships between animal management business decisions on animal welfare and how it can impact performance and wider sustainability goals such as environmental impacts. An additional benefit of these interviews is that it is enabling us to actually capture the first-hand experiences of the industry in managing and making decisions over animal welfare, including a number of things that are quite challenging to put in practice.This is simply not being captured in scientific literature and it's really valuable to hear the industry's side of the story on this because its typically not heard. Dr. Seddon says the focus is to learn about what producers and their veterinarians are seeing in practice when making management decisions and how it influences the overall business model.

The Chair of the Canadian Pork Council says pig farmers on both sides of the Canada U.S. border are equally disappointed with the restrictive nature and lack of flexibility of labelling guidelines being introduced under U.S. voluntary country of origin labelling. On March 11 U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced voluntary country of origin labelling or V-COOL will come into effect by January 1, 2026. Under the new U.S. voluntary country of origin labelling "Product of USA" or "Made in the USA" may only appear on the labels of meat, poultry and egg products when they are derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States. Canadian Pork Council Chair René Roy says the only difference between the new labelling protocol and mandatory U.S. country of origin labelling, which was ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization and abandoned by the U.S., is that the name has changed. Quote-René Roy-Canadian Pork Council: We are disappointed as an organization that the United States or the USDA has not accepted our position that more flexibility would have been allowed in the V-COOL.What would change with the new system is that, if somebody wants to have the "Product of USA" on their label they would have to not only have a product that has been made in the USA but also all the other components of it must be included so it has to be raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States if we speak about pork. So, it's quite a restrictive label and not realistic considering how great is the trade between Canada and the United States as we speak about pork.This is not only our position but also the U.S. industry position and the Government of Canada so that's a disappointment for us.The position that the United States has taken on this file is disappointing. Roy says the Canadian Pork Council will be monitoring the impact of V-COOL on the movement of both meat and live animals and working with the Canadian government to ensure any disruptions are addressed.

A new tool being developed by the University of Saskatchewan is using artificial intelligence to assess indicators of on farm animal welfare at the abattoir. The University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, with funding provided through the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Swine Welfare research program, have developed an automated swine welfare assessment system consisting of a digital security camera linked to an artificial intelligence processor and placed in the abattoir. Dr. Seokbum Ko, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, explains the camera records pigs as they move along the processing line and condensed AI models extract and assess images indicative of animal welfare. Quote-Dr. Seokbum Ko-University of Saskatchewan: Our goal is autonomous detection of lesions categorizing them by type and severity and generating individual lesion reports.Data will produce the reports for both abattoirs and farms showing lesion prevalence in pig shipments.Regarding the technology's capability to evaluate lesions, we are witnessing increasing progress. The AI models are displaying improved accuracy in identifying and categorizing lesions on pig carcasses.Yet several factors impact this ability.Firstly, the quality and quantity of data utilized for training significantly influences performance.A diverse dataset with ample images representing various lesion types and severity is crucial for effective training. Secondly the complexity of lesions can pose challenges for accurate detection, especially subtle or irregularly shaped ones.More over environmental factors like lighting conditions in the abattoir can affect image quality and consequently lesion detection accuracy.Optimizing camera placement and lighting is essential to ensure clear and consistent images for analysis. Dr. Ko says the next step is to refine the computer models to ensure the delivery of more precise results.

Research conducted by the Western College of veterinary Medicine is expected to lead to the development of new approaches to prevent or treat ear tip necrosis. A study conducted by the Western College of Veterinary Medicine has shown ear tip necrosis, a condition where the tip of the ear turns necrotic leading to partial or complete loss of the ear, is caused by a bacterium introduced when the skin is broken. Dr. Matheus Costa, an Assistant Professor with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and an adjunct professor with Utrecht University, says virtually all pigs carry this bacterium and, if one pig chews on another other pig's ear, that will inoculate the ear. Quote-Dr. Matheus Costa-Western College of Veterinary Medicine: It usually begins with some reddening on the ear tip but it moves to necrosis so the tissue starts to rot and die to the point that sometimes pigs become mutilated and they completely lose their ear.That is a very severe case.It's not always like that.Sometimes it's just the ear tip that may necrotise, sometimes it's the whole ear and obviously that is a big animal welfare and heath issue. From an animal health perspective, whenever necrosis starts there is an open wound and that breaks the defence barriers in the skin so the moment the skin is no longer protecting the body anything on the environment can jump in and invade the host so animals are susceptible to infection.Something as simple as Strep suis can come in and cause disease just because there's an open door.Studies have shown that productivity may not be directly affected by ear necrosis, so simply having ear necrosis does not mean that a pig will not gain weight as fast. It's not the primary cause of poor weight gain and performance but it does open the door to other infections and those infections are the ones that will come in and essentially make them not perform as well, lower growth, have other infections or may even require further treatment or something else. Dr. Costa says now that we know this condition is caused by a bacterium we can potentially develop antibiotic therapies to treat the condition or even vaccines to prevent it.

Byline: Braxten Breen, Farms.com Intern As anyone with trees on their property knows, pruning trees can be a difficult task. Pruning is about the removal of diseased or damaged branches, encourages airflow and healthy growth of the trees. It also shapes unruly trees to help improve their overall health. If you have a few fruit trees located around your farm, pruning those trees can affect the overall size and shape, quality and quantity, health, and safety of those trees. Experts advise that you should prune edibles in early summer for larger, healthier fruit. Keep in mind that dormant pruning invigorates a fruit tree, while summer upkeep allows for better airflow and light penetration. Pruning is both a science and an art, but it is important to ensure you have the right pruning tools. Loppers are ideal for trees, climbing vines and large shrubs. Better Garden Tools has your farm covered with the Heavy-Duty Ratchet looper and Sharpener. Ideally there is no need to use a chainsaw for a limb under a 3-inch (7.5 cm) diameter. The Better Garden Heavy-Duty Ratchet is perfect for this type of task as it can cut a limb up to a 2-inch (5 cm) diameter. All cuts should be made on the branch side of the stem collar, which grows out from the stem at the base of the branch. This protects the stem and other branches that might be growing and allows the tree to heal more effectively. The Heavy-Duty Ratchet looper has a 30-inch (75 cm) handle of tubular steel that requires yet to no strength to make a proper cut. High carbon steel blade that can be resharpened or even replaced. To help resharpen your looper, Better Garden Tools also offers a Sharpener for Ratchet Pruners and Loopers. It is lightweight, small, and above all easy to use; no angles are skill needed, just run the blade of your pruner/looper through the carbide “V” 5-10 times and your set! If you are a farmer with orchard trees around the farm or like to prune your farm sometimes, this is a great duo of tools for the job by Better Garden Tools.

Guelph, Ont.– The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) is pleased to hear that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has upheld the legislation and intent of the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act (2020), which has been under a court challenge since 2021. We understand that while the Act has been upheld, a ruling on sections of the underlying Regulation has been suspended. We will be actively monitoring further developments regarding this case. The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act is a critical safeguard to protect farm animals, the food supply, farmers and others from risks that are created when trespassers enter places where farm animals live or when persons engage in unauthorized interactions with farm animals. The repercussions include the risk of exposing farm animals to disease and stress, as well as the risk of introducing contaminants into the food supply. Animal neglect, abuse and cruelty is never acceptable, and animal welfare is of the utmost importance to BFO and its members. BFO respects the right of individuals to peacefully protest. The Act does not interfere with the right of people to participate in legal protests on public property – but these individuals do not have the right to trespass on private property or to threaten farmers, their animals, or their livelihood. Trespassing, and even the threat of trespassing, on farms is detrimental to the mental health and well-being of our farmers. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their homes and their places of work. The Beef Farmers of Ontario represents 19,000 beef farmers in Ontario by advocating in the areas of sustainability, animal health and care, environment, food safety, and domestic and export market development. BFO’s vision is help foster a sustainable and profitable beef industry, and have Ontario beef recognized as an outstanding product by our consumers.

The Keep it Clean Product Advisory Webinar will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The webinar will provide an overview of why crop protection products registered in Canada may cause marketing concerns for export markets, and how the Canadian grain industry is working together to mitigate these risks. The webinar will also provide an overview of the 2024 Keep it Clean Product Advisory, covering the product and crop combinations that may cause market risks for cereals and pulses. The presentation will wrap up with a discussion covering the importance of best practices for pesticide application throughout the growing season. The following experts will be on hand to share more about the 2024 Product Advisory: Krista Zuzak, Director of Crop Protection and Production, Cereals Canada; Greg Bartley, Director of Crop Protection & Crop Quality, Pulse Canada;  Ian Epp, Agronomy Specialist, Canola Council of Canada.  Keep it Cleanrecommends to growers that you alwaysconsult with your grain buyers before applying any products on the Product Advisory to keep yourcrops market-ready and export-friendly throughout the growing season. Click here to learn more or to register for the event.

As spring arrives, Ontario's farmers are encouraged to adopt new stewardship practices to protect their crops and the environment. The Be Drift Aware campaign provides essential resources aimed at combating the issue of spray drift - the unwanted aerial movement of plant protection products. The Be Drift Aware campaign is a collaborative effort by the following leading farm organizations: Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and CropLife Canada. Spray drift is a significant concern for farmers, affecting crop yield, quality, and increasing input costs. It also poses a risk to neighboring fields, residences, livestock, and sensitive natural areas, potentially leading to disputes with neighbors. Recognizing the importance of addressing this issue, organizations like the Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and CropLife Canada have come together to create a central hub for information and best practices. The campaign's website serves as a one-stop resource for growers and spray operators. It features an online quiz and materials focused on three critical areas: understanding the importance of droplet size, spray height, and wind conditions. By adhering to these best practices, farmers can significantly reduce the risk of drifting and its associated problems. Marty Vermey, a Senior Agronomist, highlights the collective effort to pool information into a single, easily accessible location. This initiative represents a crucial step towards educating growers on everything from the basics of spray drift to advanced techniques in sprayer settings and nozzle selection. The Be Drift Aware campaign aims to reduce spray drift across Ontario by making information readily available to those who need it, when and where they need it. Visit the Be Drift Aware website for more information.

By Farms.com Ontario Farmers within the path of totality are gearing up for the forthcoming solar eclipse event, which is anticipated to bring a notable influx of visitors to rural areas. To aid farmers in protecting their property and addressing potential risks associated with increased visitor activity, here are key steps farm owners can take: Secure Your Property: Give top priority to farm security by identifying and addressing potential hazards that might attract unwanted guests. Secure equipment, hazardous materials, and prominently display "No Trespassing" signs. Keep records of security measures implemented for future reference. Understand Trespass Laws: Get acquainted with trespass laws in your area to ensure compliance and mitigate liability risks. Take reasonable steps to warn trespassers about potential dangers. Manage Guest Responsibilities: For farmers considering hosting eclipse-related activities or inviting guests onto their property, understand liability issues, insurance coverage, and permit requirements. Take necessary precautions to ensure guest safety and compliance with legal regulations.

By: Farms.com Manitoba's Finance Minister, Adrien Sala, unveiled the 2024 budget, emphasizing sustained support for the agricultural sector and enhancing rural community services. The budget has been applauded by Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) for maintaining a 50% tax rebate on farm properties and making strides towards its complete removal. Efforts to tackle labor challenges have seen the restoration of the rural doctor recruitment fund and an increased investment in apprenticeship training. Notably, $135,000 will support a new veterinary strategy, showing the government's commitment to agricultural health. Budget 2024 also includes $146.9 million for Business Risk Management (BRM) program funding and introduces measures to support young farmers, such as increased loan amounts and rebates through the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC). Rural healthcare and safety received a boost with a $13.7 million increase in policing grants and initiatives like a $300 security camera rebate for farmers. The commitment to hire 1,000 new healthcare workers and a 13.5% increase in health-related funding marks a substantial investment in Manitoba's long-term care and senior services. Additional highlights feature $30 million for the repair and upgrade of the railroad and Port of Churchill, developments in CentrePort Canada, and strategies aimed at enhancing Manitoba's agricultural trade and value-added sectors. This budget represents a comprehensive approach to supporting Manitoba's agricultural community, ensuring the sustainability of farming practices, and enhancing rural living standards.

An Alberta attraction dedicated to farm equipment and rural life celebrates a milestone this year. The Canadian Tractor Museum in Westlock, Alta., turns 20 in 2024. “June 1 will be 20 years to the day the doors opened,” Steven Miller, a retired farmer and president of the museum’s board, told Farms.com. “It’s a testament to everyone in the community who saw a need for this all those years ago and have continued to support it since.” The doors to the 20,000-square-foot facility opened in 2004, but members of the community started laying the foundation for the museum in 1999. Local farmers and members of the Vintage Tractor Club attended a farm sale and didn’t like what they saw. “My neighbour was appalled that tractors were being shipped to the U.S. and elsewhere,” Brent Sterling, a retired farmer and original director on the museum’s board, told Farms.com. “He approached me about getting something going to have somewhere where we could display our equipment.” With the idea manifested, the work began to secure a site and get the necessary approvals and support to make it a reality. &

Ontario farmers intend to plant 3.137 million soybean acres -- a new record high, according to the 2024 Farms.com Risk Management Ontario farmer survey, conducted January 6th - March 16th, 2024, with a total of 412 respondents. The survey is projecting that Ontario farmers intend to plant 6.380 million acres of corn, soybeans and all wheat combined this year, slightly lower than last year. This is in line with the average at 6.3 million acres but slightly lower than 2019 at 6.415 million acres. Intended Ontario corn acres in 2024 are expected to fall 2.26% to 2.210 million acres slightly below the 5-year average vs. 2024 but soybean acres are up 7.7% at 3.137 million acres to a new record high! Lower inputs in soybeans with an IP premium of $5 - $6/bu is attracting more acres in 2024. Wheat acres are down 13.53%. Wheat acres are down due to a challenging 2023 soybean harvest, lower economics and it was a wet fall. The Farms.com Risk Management survey is projecting more corn, soybean and less wheat acres than Statistics Canada. “Corn acres in Ontario are holding despite being forecasted lower following a record yield in 2023, the second in three years with above average yields," says Moe Agostino, Chief Commodity Strategist with Farms.com Risk Management. The highlights in the survey show HRS wheat up 30%, oat acres +33.95% and SRW wheat down 13.30%. “Farmers in most areas had a good corn crop last year and that is holding corn acres on many farms where soybeans tend to be more variable on sand to variable soils,” explains Stephen Denys, Director of Business Management, Maizex Seeds. “In more clay soil-based counties like Essex, Lambton, Haldimand we have heard about more acres to soybeans versus corn given yield potential. This also applies to farmers who do not own a corn dryer and where drying costs were high last fall and not likely to change this year with the carbon tax. That said, corn will still pay the bills on many farms given the yield potential in a normal year. “ Lower inputs and higher premiums are attracting more soybean acres. Many smaller farmers are looking at switching to soybeans due to lower input costs and higher IP soybean premiums at $5-6/bu. “2024 Ontario wheat acres are down because of economics with a -$40+/acre loss without straw does not pay the bills,” explains Henry Prinzen, Chief Agronomist for Maizex Seeds. “Any borderline corn acres will go to soybeans, and to a large degree most farmers are sticking to a rotation but the $5-$6/premium to grow IP soybeans remains a sweet deal. If you do not own a planter or combine acres will switch to soybeans.” According to Agronomist Peter Johnson (aka Wheat Pete), “many of the farms with heavy soils are swi

As many farmers would agree, soil sampling is an important aspect of modern-day farming. AMS, Inc., a family-owned company since 1942, now in its 4th generation, introduces the Auto-Field Sampler (AFS), a cutting-edge solution designed to modernize the agricultural industry's soil sampling process. The AFS, a hydraulic-driven soil core sampling machine, retrieves a 7/8-inch diameter soil core from depths of 0 to 12 inches within a mere 5.5 seconds. This performance may vary depending on the current soil conditions. The development of the AFS focused on simplicity and user-friendliness, requiring minimal operational knowledge to get started. This is a significant step forward compared to traditional manual soil sampling techniques. The AFS not only covers more acreage in less time but also drastically reduces the physical strain on the user, a common complaint with manual sampling. Operating the AFS is simple. From the comfort of your carrier vehicle's seat, using a simple control switch, you can drive the soil probe into the ground and retrieve it, all with the push of a button. Upon retrieval, the soil core is automatically deposited into a collection container designed for a composite sample. This container can hold between six to ten samples before reaching capacity. When full, the contents can be easily emptied into boxes or bags for further analysis. The container can then be reinserted into the AFS, ready for continued sampling.The AFS allows for the adjustment of sampling depths as required. The Auto-Field Sampler (AFS) from AMS, Inc. is a cool tool because it represents a significant advancement in agricultural soil sampling technology. By making soil sample collection faster, easier, and more efficient, the AFS is set to become an indispensable tool for modern agriculture.

Someone contact Bonnie Tyler because there’s a total eclipse coming. On April 8, a solar eclipse, when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, will occur in the afternoon. The event is scheduled to happen in Ontario beginning around 2:00pm. Niagara Falls, Ont., is noted as the best place to see the eclipse, with the sun being fully eclipsed for roughly three minutes from 3:20 and 3:23pm. Farmers will be watching with anticipation. “I’m looking forward to this one because it’s going to be a total eclipse,” Stuart McCall, owner of McGrows Farms & Gardens in Garson, Ont., told Farms.com. “I’m expecting some dramatic changes.” When an eclipse last occurred in 2017, McCall noted and graphed the changes on his farm. “We have a 10-kilowatt solar power generation system on the roof of the house,” he said. “Before the eclipse we were operating at around 8,700 kilowatts. When the eclipse hit, that (energy number) dropped to under 3,000 kilowatts. And that wasn’t even a full eclipse, so I’m interested to see what readings we get this time around.” The temperature in his greenhouse dropped about 15 degrees. And the re

Canadians are coming to grips with an increase to the national carbon tax. On April 1, the price on pollution increased by $15 per tonne from $65 to $80 per tonne. By 2030, it’s expected the carbon tax will cost $170 per tonne. Farmers like Ethan Wallace, a dairy and grain farmer from Huron County, are concerned about what the increased costs will mean to their operations. “This tax is a direct draw on producers’ income,” he told Farms.com. “It’s a consumption tax that’s meant to change our behaviour and move us away from fossil fuels. But in agriculture there’s no alternative. I can’t heat my barn or dry my grain or fuel my tractors with anything except fossil fuels.” For clarification, Canadian farmers are already exempt from paying the carbon tax on gasoline and diesel used in farm vehicles. In Ontario, the price of gas and diesel increased by about 3.3 cents and 4 cents per litre, respectively on April 1. And the carbon tax on natural gas went up to 15.25 cents per cubic metre. These increases and their potential impact on Canadian farms is a perfect example of why Bill C-234 needs to pass, Wallace said. The bill, which would remove th

The Grain Farmers of Ontario, representing 28,000 farmers, are calling on the federal government to exempt grain drying from the carbon tax. The carbon tax is set to increase on April 1, 2024, raising concerns for farmers facing limited options for drying grain. Grain Farmers of Ontario Chair Jeff Harrison argues that the tax unfairly penalizes farmers for a necessary process. Drying grain is essential for safe storage and consumption. Grain farmers lack viable alternatives to current drying technologies, and the rising tax adds to their financial burden. Harrison highlights the confusion among Canadians who see food bank lineups while the government increases food production costs. He emphasizes the provincial government's support for farmers, Premier Doug Ford issued a public statement on the carbon tax and Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson sent a letter to the federal government signed by Ontario commodity organizations. The Grain Farmers of Ontario urge the Liberal government to implement a grain drying exemption when the House of Commons resumes after Easter. This exemption would help alleviate the financial pressure on Ontario grain farmers.