Migrant worker health study challenged Tuesday, April 19, 2011 by SUSAN MANNA study documenting migrant workers’ health problems contains lots of wild and unsubstantiated claims, says Ontario Federal of Agriculture vice president Mark Wales.The study, called Temporary Migration, Chronic Effects: the Health of International Migrant Workers in Canada, was posted Monday on the Canadian Medical Association Journal website. The authors say workers are suffering from persistent back pain, eye and skin disorders and mental health problems. Their problems are linked to the grueling work they do on Canadian farms and poor living conditions. The authors surveyed 600 migrant workers in Ontario from 2007 to 2009. Wales says the study fails to differentiate between the Seasonal Agricultural Worker program, which is highly regulated by the federal government, and the Low Skills program, which never really had many rules. He says the rules for the seasonal worker program have been around for more than 30 years.“Those rules are agreed between the government of Canada and the governments of the Caribbean islands where the workers come from and the government of Mexico,” he explains.About 30,000 workers come to Ontario under the seasonal worker program, usually from April to November. Wales says Ontario farmers use 2,000 to 3,000 workers under the low skills program.Wales also questions why the study authors didn’t interview farmers or the liaison officers from the different countries supplying workers. Employees with problems can contact their country’s liaison officer any time during the day or night. And they’re told of that right on a regular basis.Another study, called Doctors Within Borders: Meeting the Health Care Needs of Migrant Farm Workers in Canada, was also posted on the Medical Association Journal’s website Monday.Authors in both studies say there’s a need for stringent federal housing regulations, better safety training, free safety equipment provided to workers, and for officials to ensure workers know their rights to health care. BF Farm groups jump into election fray Chicken board had authority to cap sales to Quebec, Tribunal rules
Global grain trade gets a shake-up: What it means for Canadian farmers Tuesday, September 2, 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
Canadian Farmers Face Weaker Soybean Yields Ahead Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Statistics Canada forecasts that Canadian soybean production will decline in 2025, reflecting weaker yields across major producing provinces. Nationally, output is projected to fall by 7.3% year over year to 7.0 million tonnes. The decline is linked to a drop in yields, which are expected... Read this article online
Canadian Corn Outlook Shows Mixed Regional Trends Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Statistics Canada projects Canadian corn-for-grain production to grow slightly in 2025, despite drier-than-normal weather and high temperatures that have pressured yields. National production is forecast to rise 1.4% year over year to 15.6 million tonnes. This gain comes from higher... Read this article online
Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025 Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online
Scouting and Managing Resistant Weeds in Ontario Monday, September 1, 2025 As the growing season winds down, now is an ideal time for Ontario farmers to assess the effectiveness of their weed control strategies and prepare for the next growing year. Dr. Holly Byker, Agronomy Manager at the Ontario Crop Research Centre in Winchester, emphasizes the importance... Read this article online