Cargill beef plant workers reach tentative agreement in contract talks Thursday, January 21, 2016 by JIM ALGIENegotiators have reached a tentative agreement in contract talks for workers at Ontario’s largest beef processing plant, Cargill Meat Solutions in Guelph, a United Food and Commercial Workers spokesman told Better Farming, Friday.“We were able to reach a recommended settlement and we’ll present it to the members on Tuesday,” Rob Nicholas said in a brief interview. Director of the union’s Hamilton-based Region Six, Nicholas declined to discuss details of the settlement, Friday.“It’s only fair that the membership hears from us directly,” Nicholas said during an interview by cell phone. Union members provided negotiators with a strong strike mandate at a meeting last Saturday, Nicholas said.Following last Saturday’s strike vote, however, negotiators for the union and employer met Wednesday with a government mediator in a session that produced the potential settlement, Nicholas said. A Guelph Tribune report on Tuesday said company and union representatives had met six times previously in an attempt to reach new employment terms for the company’s 700 union employees.A prior four-year contract expired at the end of 2015.Cargill’s Guelph general manager, Matt Gibney, could not be reached for comment, Friday.The Tribune’s Tuesday story quoted Gibney to say he was “hopeful” of an agreement “that’s satisfactory to both parties.”LeaAnne Wuermli, Beef Farmers of Ontario communications manager said Friday that the farmers’ group had learned of recent progress in the talks.Cargill Meat Solutions is the largest federal packing plant in Ontario and “is a critically important facility for the beef industry in Ontario,” Wuermli said.“We are hopeful that the negotiations will come to a successful conclusion and that business will continue as usual,” the BFO spokeswoman said. BF PMRA to discontinue conditional registrations of pesticides Chatham-Kent claims province's top yields in 2015
22 young leaders graduate from Rural Ontario Institute’s Change Makers Program Tuesday, October 28, 2025 The Rural Ontario Institute () has marked a milestone in rural leadership development with the graduation of 22 participants from its () program. The private ceremony, held this October, celebrated a year of learning, collaboration, and community impact. “We are excited to... Read this article online
Demco-Welker Farms Collab Delivers Big Buddy Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Demco recently introduced the Big Buddy grain cart, a product of collaboration with Big Equipment, the makers of Big Bud tractors, Titan Tires, and the well-known Montana-based Welker Farms. The project began when the Welker family decided to rebuild and modify their iconic Big Bud... Read this article online
New MacDon FD2 Plus Draper Header Monday, October 27, 2025 Case IH continues to expand its innovative harvest equipment lineup with the launch of the MacDon FD2 Plus Draper Header, a new series designed to provide farmers with smoother, cleaner, and more efficient harvesting. Available in multiple widths — 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and even 61... Read this article online
Lots of news from the Ontario Pork Congress Monday, October 27, 2025 The Ontario Pork Congress (OPC) took place on October 20, 2020, at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford, Ontario, with over 50 attendees. At the event, Arnold Drung, President of Conestoga Meats, was honoured with the . Drung has been a dedicated supporter of the OPC for over 23... Read this article online
Free Tools to Power Up Your Farm’s Digital Life in Canada Wednesday, October 22, 2025 For many Canadian farm families, the internet has become as vital as a tractor or combine. It is how producers manage precision planting, monitor commodity prices, check weather forecasts, pay bills and stay connected with suppliers and customers. However, fast and reliable broadband remains out... Read this article online