Court denies stay of Ontario's neonicotinoid law Saturday, October 24, 2015 by BETTER FARMING STAFFThe Ontario Superior Court has denied Grain Farmers of Ontario’s request for a stay of a law that requires farmers to greatly restrict the use of neonicotinoid seed treatments next spring.In a written statement released late afternoon Friday, Mark Brock, Grain Farmers of Ontario’s chairman, expressed disappointment at the judge’s ruling which had been reserved following a hearing on an application made in court on Sept. 28. Brock, who farms near Staffa in Perth County, says the 28,000 member organization “has not conceded on this matter,” and is considering further legal options. Farmers are in a difficult situation as they order seed this fall for planting in the spring, Brock says. Arrangements must be made now with seed dealers to either treat or not treat the ordered seed which is delivered shortly before planting in the spring.The widespread use of neonicotinoid seed treatments in recent years has been blamed for high losses in hives in overwintering bees. Beekeepers have called for a ban on use of the seed treatments. The regulations that Grain Farmers is fighting came into effect on July 1. Better Farming was unable to reach the Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change was not able to respond Friday.UPDATE: Oct. 24, 2015"We are pleased the court has ruled in favour of the government's actions to improve pollinator health," writes Kate Jordan, spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in an email. "The new requirements support the government of Ontario’s target to reduce the number of acres planted with neonicotinoid-treated corn and soybean seed by 80 per cent by 2017."These rules will be phased in to give farmers and seed vendors time to adapt. Government funded training is also available to farmers through to September 2016." BF World Health Organization slams meat consumption Maple leaf promoting U.S. canned corn sold in Ontario stores riles growers
First Northern Cohort Joins Ontario Vet Program Thursday, September 4, 2025 This September, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph welcomed its inaugural Northern Cohort of 20 students through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP). This initiative, created in partnership with Lakehead University, marks a milestone... Read this article online
Manitoba Farmers Defend Their Whisky Roots Amid Ontario Backlash Thursday, September 4, 2025 As most reader will know by now, on August 28, beverage alcohol giant Diageo announced it will be closing its Amherstburg, Ontario bottling plant. Located just 25 kilometres from the nearest U.S. border crossing, the company says the decision is part of a strategy to streamline its supply... Read this article online
Global grain trade gets a shake-up: What it means for Canadian farmers Tuesday, September 2, 2025 The global grain and oilseed trading industry is undergoing a major transformation—and Canadian farmers should take note. A recently published study in the September 2025 issue of discussed how the traditional dominance of a few multinational giants is giving way to a more competitive,... Read this article online
Canadian Farmers Face Weaker Soybean Yields Ahead Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Statistics Canada forecasts that Canadian soybean production will decline in 2025, reflecting weaker yields across major producing provinces. Nationally, output is projected to fall by 7.3% year over year to 7.0 million tonnes. The decline is linked to a drop in yields, which are expected... Read this article online
Canadian Corn Outlook Shows Mixed Regional Trends Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Statistics Canada projects Canadian corn-for-grain production to grow slightly in 2025, despite drier-than-normal weather and high temperatures that have pressured yields. National production is forecast to rise 1.4% year over year to 15.6 million tonnes. This gain comes from higher... Read this article online