Sidebar 3: Trudy Reid, 29, District of Thunder Bay Monday, May 4, 2009 Reid and her husband, Jason, have one daughter and run a 60-head beef cattle operation on 138 acres which they own and also rent 300 acres. They started by raising heifers, then explored pre-conditioned veal before getting involved in beef cattle. They try to market calves locally. The couple supplements farm earnings with off-farm work, such as custom farm work and relief milking. They are currently considering dairy goat production. Greatest success. "I continue to persevere even through tough times, which makes me appreciate the small things in life." Greatest challenge. Remaining optimistic while dealing with a tight cash flow.Words of advice. If you want a career in farming, "go for it." Don't be scared, she says. "Ask questions. Ask for help. Don't be shy." Sidebar 4: Cathy McKay, 55, South of Port Perry (Durham Region) Sidebar 2: Alice Uher, 52, north of Blenheim (Municipality of Chatham-Kent)
A new front in the repair access debate Friday, March 13, 2026 Iowa lawmakers have pushed the right‑to‑repair conversation into new territory with House File 2529, a bill that focuses specifically on diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems—the single most common cause of emissions-related downtime on modern farm machinery. The bill would require... Read this article online
Senators examine Canada’s food system firsthand during southwestern Ontario fact finding mission Thursday, March 12, 2026 A delegation of Canadian senators conducted a full day fact finding mission on Friday, March 6, 2026, visiting several major food system organizations and research facilities across Southwestern Ontario. The tour supported the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry’s ongoing... Read this article online
Middle East conflict pushes fertilizer costs higher, forcing Ontario growers to rethink corn acres Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Ontario farmers are bracing for a turbulent spring as fertilizer and fuel prices surge in response to the escalating conflict involving Iran, a development that analysts say could reshape planting decisions across North America. The spike in nitrogen costs—the most critical and... Read this article online
March 8 is International Women’s Day Friday, March 6, 2026 Across the United States and Canada, women are taking on increasingly visible roles in agriculture—managing farms, leading ag-tech startups, advancing research, and strengthening the rural economies that feed both nations. Their work reflects a shift in an industry once defined... Read this article online
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to Visit Toronto and Southwestern Ontario Tuesday, March 3, 2026 The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry will be in Toronto and Southwestern Ontario later this week as part of its ongoing study on the role of Canada’s agriculture and agri‑food sector in strengthening national food security. The fact‑finding mission is scheduled for... Read this article online