Farmers behaving badly Monday, February 3, 2014 Some bizarre stories of farmer misbehaviour have been making the headlines lately. The Irish Examiner reports that pig farmer Donal Connaughton was sentenced to a year in jail after he ordered two repossession men to strip naked and get into a pen with an "agitated" boar. A cellphone recording taken by one of the men during the ordeal features the sound of the boar in the background while the men plead for their release. Connaughton made the men kneel and say an "Our Father" before finally letting them leave, without their truck. In Lancashire, a cattle farmer has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for violating U.K. gun laws. The Daily Mail reports that Paul Alton possessed a "bizarre" homemade gun "crudely constructed from lumps of wood, belts and tags" attached to an air-rifle barrel. The weird weapon could fire 74 rounds of "expanding ammunition" that would mushroom upon hitting flesh. Police were told about the gun by Alton's wife when they came to investigate a domestic dispute. Shame these farmers couldn't just blow off steam like Australian farmer Oscar Bell. He told ABC that, after a November frost ruined his canola crop, he fed it to his sheep. While making paths with the slasher, he wrote a giant "Sh*t Happens" into his field. He then asked his father to check the paddock from the air, and when Geoff Bell flew his ultralight over the artwork he captured his son's "deep-felt sentiments" on camera. BF Ontario livestock groups reach agreement with OSPCA Butterball, have you tried beer?
Ontario invests $6.1 million in northern agriculture projects Thursday, October 8, 2026 The Ontario government is investing more than $6.1 million in 14 agricultural projects across Northern Ontario in an effort to improve farm productivity, support rural communities, and strengthen the province’s food production capacity. The funding is being provided through the Northern... Read this article online
How Much of Your Thanksgiving Dinner Reaches Canadian Farmers? Thursday, October 8, 2026 There are lots of articles and videos about the cost of this year's Thanksgiving dinner. But the Farms.com team we wondered, how much of the pie so to speak, was making it to the farmer. Admittedly, we used Artificial Intelligence to help us make certain calculations and assumptions.... Read this article online
Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Donate $25,000 to Fight Hunger During Agriculture Week Thursday, October 8, 2026 As Ontario Agriculture Week gets underway and Thanksgiving celebrations approach, Ontario's fruit and vegetable growers are once again demonstrating their commitment to local communities through a significant contribution aimed at fighting hunger and reducing food waste. The Ontario Fruit... Read this article online
Canadian Food System Trust Holds Steady, but Uncertainty and Misinformation Are Rising Thursday, October 8, 2026 Canadians largely maintain a positive view of the nation's food system, but rising concerns about affordability, misinformation, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence are creating a more complex environment for maintaining public trust. That was among the key findings... Read this article online
Farmland Demand Strong in Alberta, Not so for the Rest of Canada Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Canadian farmland values continued their upward trend during the first half of 2026, although growth has moderated compared to the rapid gains seen in recent years. According to Farm Credit Canada's (FCC) mid-year farmland values review, cultivated farmland increased by an average of... Read this article online