Meeting will update Ontario gas well owners Tuesday, June 28, 2011 by SUSAN MANNThe Haldimand Federation of Agriculture is hosting an information meeting so owners of private gas wells can seek clarification on upcoming government regulations.The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is recommending that all existing private gas wells in the province be licensed. The proposal was posted to the Ontario government’s Environmental Bill of Rights Registry on April 26. The comment period was initially slated to close June 10 but has been extended to July 8.Wayne Nyomtato, president of the Haldimand federation, says Pat Mousseau, secretary of the Private Natural Gas Well Association, and Jennifer Dunlap, senior adviser with the natural resources ministry, will be speaking at the meeting being held June 29 at the Agriculture Centre on Kohler Road. It starts at 7 p.m. One of the concerns people have with the proposal is that if the gas well you are using is not actually on your property it would not meet the ministry’s definition of a private gas well even though there may be long standing legal agreements in place. Minimum distances will also be enforced. The gas well must be at least 30 metres from a house, at least 10 metres from a road allowance and at least 30 metres from a property line. But Nyomtato says they’re hoping existing wells will be grandfathered and there will be some flexibility in the regulations. They’re hoping the ministry won’t make people cap their wells if they don’t meet minimum distance regulations provided human and environmental health isn’t jeopardized.Nyomtato says currently there aren’t any proposals by the ministry to charge fees for gas well licenses. But he says one of his private concerns is fees may be introduced in the future. Most of the private gas wells are located in Haldimand County, he says, noting there are also some in Norfolk, Niagara, Brant and Hamilton-Wentworth. There are at least 1,000 private gas wells and most aren’t registered or licensed. BF Tiny package reaps big award Korea poised to accept Canadian beef
Potato industry on PEI to save up to $7 million because of cuts to bridge tolls Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Effective August 1, 2025, tolls on the Confederation Bridge will drop dramatically, with personal vehicle tolls falling from $50.25 to $20. Commercial vehicles will also benefit from these reductions. In addition, ferry tolls in Newfoundland and Labrador and other regions will see... Read this article online
Soil Compaction Challenges Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Ontario’s spring planting faced challenges from soil compaction, impacting crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. Despite some areas experiencing rapid planting under ideal conditions, other regions, even those with lighter soils, struggled due to excessive rainfall. The team at OMAFA –on... Read this article online
2026 Grains Innovation Fund is now open Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, is now accepting applications for its . “This year marks another exciting chapter for the Grains Innovation Fund,” stated Paul... Read this article online
Applications Open for Grains Innovation Fund 2026 Monday, July 28, 2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing 28,000 farmers, is now accepting applications for the 2026 Grains Innovation Fund. The fund offers grants up to $75,000 to support innovative projects that promote the use of Ontario’s grains such as... Read this article online
Sowing the Seeds of the Future -- A Fresh Look at Farm Succession in Canada Monday, July 28, 2025 “You’ve worked the land for decades—through changing seasons, shifting markets, and long days that begin before sunrise," says Jason Castellan, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Skyline when he spoke with Farms.com. “You know every acre, every decision, every responsibility that... Read this article online