Establishing councils for animal welfare and environment a priority for new organization Tuesday, May 15, 2012 by SUSAN MANNGetting the animal welfare and environmental councils of Farm & Food Care Ontario up and running is an important short-term priority for the organization, says its new chairman John Maaskant.“There’ll be interest from different members in both councils,” says Maaskant, the Chicken Farmers of Ontario representative and past chair of the Ontario Farm Animal Council. He was elected chair of Farm & Food Care Ontario at the inaugural board meeting May 11. Joining him on the executive are: Larry Lynn of Grain Farmers of Ontario, as vice-chair; Joe Hickson, of the Seed Growers’ Association, as treasurer; and Heather Copland of Grober Inc. as executive member-at-large.Maaskant says they have to work out the details of how to set up the councils and then notify the membership that they can serve on them.The councils will be discussing and developing a lot of the policies and ideas for the future. “These are, in our view, very important councils,” he says.All four executive members previously sat on the boards of OFAC or Agricultural Groups Concerned About Resources and the Environment. Those two organizations amalgamated to become Farm & Food Care Ontario in January. The organization had been operating with an interim board until the first board meeting this month.The newly elected board focused on setting direction for the year, approved a business plan and financial statements at its first meeting. In June, board members will participate in a strategic planning exercise.Another priority for the organization that is ongoing is “just increasing agricultural awareness” and promoting environmental and animal welfare issues among non-farmers, Maaskant says.Farm & Food Care Ontario’s mandate is to provide credible information on food and farming in Ontario. BF Group housing a norm for Ontario's veal calves says industry spokesperson Ontario municipalities, farm groups question trade agreement
Tips for first year university students Friday, August 29, 2025 The final weekend of summer is here, and students across Ontario will be returning to class next week. That includes at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus, where staff, faculty, and volunteers are preparing to welcome a new crop of first year students. “There’s definitely a... Read this article online
Sterling buckle marks 170 years at Spencerville Fair Friday, August 29, 2025 For its 170th anniversary, the Spencerville Fair is presenting a distinctive piece of Canadian silverwork that reflects nearly two centuries of agricultural tradition. The 170th Anniversary Spencerville Fair Sterling Silver Buckle was designed and handcrafted by Alex Dordevic of TRIBE, a... Read this article online
Corn and Soybean Crops Fall Short in 2025 Predicts Great Ontario Yield Tour Thursday, August 28, 2025 Ontario’s 2025 corn and soybean harvest is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory, as persistent drought and heat have pushed yields below the Agricorp 10-year average say experts and master scouts Moe Agostino and Henry Prinzen of the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour.... Read this article online
Global grain trade gets a shake-up: What it means for Canadian farmers Thursday, August 28, 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
Ontario Farmers Share Yield Strategies Amid Drought Wednesday, August 27, 2025 The Great Ontario Yield Tour held an event at Petersen Custom Farming in Osgood, Ontario, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The farmer panel during lunch was one of the highlights of the event. Farmers and industry experts gathered to discuss yield strategies and the realities of this season’s... Read this article online