Farmers bet on Bitcoin Monday, February 3, 2014 At press time, the value of volatile digital currency Bitcoin was skyrocketing. CNBC reports that the five-year-old open-source currency went up 8,000 per cent over the course of 2013, and on Nov. 29th, Coindesk.com reported that one Bitcoin was (briefly) worth more than an ounce of gold. Most companies are reluctant to accept this new currency, but some small businesses are getting on board. And according to a recent story on NPR blog The Salt, this includes some small farmers. Bitcoin means no credit card transaction fees and more physical security at the farmer's market. Clinton Felsted of Utah farm La Nay Ferme tells The Salt, "Taking money with you is a real risk . . . a real security problem. With Bitcoin you can take it anywhere with no risk." Transactions pass from smartphone to smartphone. And if Bitcoin's value continues to rise, Bitfarms.com argues it may provide unsubsidized small farms with an industry advantage. Campbellford's Carlen Farm is hoping to cash in on Bitcoin's promise. The small honey and maple syrup farm has been accepting Bitcoin since opening in the spring of 2013, but has yet to make their first Bitcoin sale. The problem, owner Mark Carlen says via text (a true modern farmer!), is a "lack of people knowing what (Bitcoin) is." However, he still sees the value in Bitcoin as a means "to increase exposure and possibly be a part of an alternative medium of exchange due to (the) underlying fragility of our current system." BF B.C. land speculation edges out young farmers The Heinz/Kellogg's plant closures A body blow to Ontario food processing
Table Beet Harvest has Begun Wednesday, July 15, 2026 July marks the beginning of Ontario's fresh beet harvest season, with growers across the province supplying one of Canada's most popular root vegetables to grocery stores, farmers' markets, food processors, and wholesale distributors, and fellow farmers. Known for their versatility,... Read this article online
Massive Norfolk County Barn Fire Kills 20,000 Hogs, Shuts Down Highway 3 in Southwestern Ontario Wednesday, July 15, 2026 A devastating barn fire in Norfolk County has left one of Ontario's largest hog facilities destroyed and an estimated 20,000 hogs dead, drawing attention across the agricultural sector and raising new questions about emergency preparedness, livestock protection, and farm infrastructure... Read this article online
Canadian Grain Commission Updates Grain Grading Rules for 2026-27 Crop Year Tuesday, July 14, 2026 The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is introducing several important changes to grain grading procedures for the 2026-27 crop year, including updates affecting Canada Western Amber Durum, wheat and red lentils. The revisions, which take effect August 1, were developed following... Read this article online
Snap Beans are the Fastest-Growing Vegetable Crop in Canada? Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Fresh yellow and green bean season is officially underway across Ontario and Quebec, bringing one of Canada's most popular summer vegetables to grocery stores and farmers' markets. Harvest typically begins in July and continues through early fall, with both provinces serving as... Read this article online
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