Farm writer complies with bench warrant in sheep case Friday, April 25, 2014 by JOE CALLAHAN A slow-moving criminal court case connected to the disappearance two years ago of 31 sheep under quarantine at a Northumberland County farm took a tiny step forward this week when a judge at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg cancelled a bench warrant against one of four people who have been charged. On Wednesday, Judge Robert Graydon cancelled a bench warrant that had ordered Suzanne Atkinson to appear in court after Atkinson complied with the order. It was the second warrant that had been issued to order Atkinson, a journalist, to appear in court. Atkinson had failed to attend two previously scheduled hearings. According to the ministry of the attorney general, “in circumstances where a person does not appear in court, the court may extend a courtesy by issuing a bench warrant ‘with discretion.’” Atkinson, of Warkworth, Northumberland County, as well as Linda (Montana) Jones from Hastings, Northumberland County, Michael Schmidt from Durham, Grey County and Robert Pinnell from West Grey township, Grey County, face charges of conspiracy to commit obstruction of a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officer, to transport or to cause to transport an animal under quarantine, and conspiracy to defraud the public of a service over $5,000 under the Criminal Code. Jones is also charged with obstructing a CFIA inspector under the Health of Animals Act and Pinnell faces a further charge of attempting to obstruct justice and another for obstructing a police officer, both under the Criminal Code. Atkinson declined to comment on the case. Graydon scheduled the matter to June 17 in Cobourg, when Justice Lorne Chester is expected to rule on a conflict of interest motion filed by the Crown in connection with another aspect of the case. BF Standardbred horse breeders say they have no choice but to sue the province OFA wants to see debt retirement charge removed from Ontario farm bills too
Pilot project supports Ontario and Quebec ag Friday, July 24, 2026 A new two-year pilot project is designed to help livestock farmers in Quebec by giving them access to an Ontario abattoir. The project, a collaboration between the Quebec and Ontario governments, with additional support from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), would see a limited... Read this article online
Canada Opens Interprovincial Alcohol Sales Thursday, July 23, 2026 A major change to Canada's internal marketplace is set to create new opportunities for wineries, breweries and distilleries after nine provinces signed a landmark agreement allowing direct-to-consumer sales of alcoholic beverages across participating jurisdictions. The deal is being hailed... Read this article online
Heat and Rain have led to a challenging growing season for Cauliflower Growers in Ontario. Thursday, July 23, 2026 There are only 1,225 acres dedicated to growing cauliflower in Ontario, but they produce 14,545,000 lbs of the vegetable. Growers across key vegetable-producing regions are preparing for increased shipments of locally grown cauliflower to grocery stores, restaurants, wholesalers and... Read this article online
Who Knew so Much Canadian Watermelon is Grown in Ontario Thursday, July 23, 2026 Many consumers may think of watermelon as an exotic fruit, but Ontario grows about2,000 acresof watermelons each year, more than 35,084tonnesof watermelon.Watermelonharvest now is underway. Watermelon originated in northeastern Africa, particularly in the region that today includes Sudan... Read this article online
Ontario Farmers Harvest One of Canada’s Top Carrot Crops Wednesday, July 22, 2026 Carrots are among Ontario's most important vegetable crops, contributing significantly to local food production and year-round fresh produce availability. Ontario grows the most carrots of any Canadian province – 45% of the country’s carrots. According to Statistics Canada, Ontario... Read this article online