Buchanan takes the reins Wednesday, October 16, 2013 by BETTER FARMING STAFF This month, Premier and agriculture minister Kathleen Wynne nominated Elmer Buchanan as head of a revamped Ontario Racing Commission. It will be Buchanan's job to lead revitalization and re-invention of horse racing in Ontario. Buchanan, a former provincial agriculture minister and a frequent appointee to government panels concerning agriculture, is no stranger to farming. Nor is he new to the horse industry – he was one of three assigned to a horse industry transition panel whose final report on how to save the industry was released last week. But many in the province’s horse industry might not be familiar with Buchanan’s involvement in the industry. So we’ve dug into our archives and found this excellent profile by Bernard Tobin published in 1995 by the former Farm and Country magazine. Tobin spent three years covering Buchanan's dealings as agriculture minister and penned this story just prior to the 1995 provincial election that saw the New Democratic Party lose power to Progressive Conservative Mike Harris and his Common Sense Revolution. Harris would then go on to establish the slots at racetracks program, which was dismantled by Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government in 2012. Tobin, as you may remember, won this year’s gold award for monthly press reporting at the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation annual awards for his Better Farming feature profiling the impact of the ending of the racetrack slots program. BF Behind the wheel with Buchanan Listowel farmer, milk board at odds over direct payment policy Vomitoxin levels in Ontario corn are low for second year in a row
Minnesota Wildfires Threaten Agriculture as Governor Walz Mobilizes National Guard Monday, July 13, 2026 Farmers across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario and Manitoba are closely monitoring a growing wildfire situation in northern Minnesota after Governor Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the Minnesota National Guard to assist firefighting efforts. The decision... Read this article online
Gordie Howe International Bridge Could Boost Canadian Agriculture Through Faster Trade and Lower Costs Monday, July 13, 2026 The upcoming opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Mich., could provide significant long-term benefits for Canada's agriculture and agri-food sectors. As announced last week, it is scheduled to open on July 27, 2026. The six-lane... Read this article online
Ontario Cherries are Ready to Eat Monday, July 13, 2026 Ontario Cherry Season Begins Across Key Fruit-Growing Regions Ontario's cherry season is officially underway, bringing one of the province's mostanticipatedsummer fruits to farm markets, grocery stores, and roadside stands. Harvest activity typically begins in July and continues through... Read this article online
CFIA Proposes Changes to Expand Interprovincial Meat Movement Friday, July 10, 2026 The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing temporary regulatory changes aimed at improving interprovincial trade of red meat while supporting food security and strengthening Canada's food system. The proposed amendments to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations would... Read this article online
Lutz Lube Drive Cuts Workplace Strain Friday, July 10, 2026 Lutz Pumpen has introduced a mobile grease pump powered by a cordless screwdriver. Their goal is to help farmers, and others who work regularly with grease pumps to reduce ergonomic strain. Workplace ergonomic strain continues to cost U.S. businesses billions of dollars each year,... Read this article online