Ministry floats potential Ontario conservation authority reforms for feedback Friday, May 27, 2016 by SUSAN MANNOntarians have told the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry how to improve conservation authorities’ operations and programs, and now the ministry is seeking input on the best way to implement that advice.Earlier this month, the ministry posted another consultation document on the Ontario Environmental Registry to get feedback on how to implement reforms. People can comment until Sept. 9.Ministry spokesperson, Elizabeth Dorff, says by email the ministry is also seeking advice from an advisory group. The group met May 16 and 17 and includes representatives from Ontario’s three general farm organizations along with experts from conservation authorities, the municipal, environmental and development sectors, Aboriginal Peoples and people from other ministries.The Conservation Authorities Act hasn’t been reviewed “in decades so we are taking this very seriously and listening to a wide range of interested stakeholders,” she says. The ministry started the review last year.Dorff says any proposed legislative, regulatory or policy changes that are released after the ministry completes its review of the second consultation document would require further public consultations.The first round of consultations identified five areas needing improvement:Oversight and accountability in decision-making.Clarity and consistency in roles and responsibilities.Collaboration and engagement of all parties involved in resource management.Funding mechanisms to support conservation authority operations.Flexibility to update the Conservation Authorities Act in the future.Ontario has 36 conservation authorities, according to a May 16 ministry press release. The authorities are local organizations that manage and protect water and other natural resources.Ninety per cent of Ontarians live in a watershed managed by a conservation authority, the release says. BF Rural Ontario 'needs pipeline and not process' says OFA president Canada joins international agreements that establish animal disease outbreak protocols
Ontario Promotes Local Food to Boost Economy and Jobs Thursday, June 5, 2025 Ontario is celebrating Local Food Week from June 2–8, 2025, honoring the people behind the province’s strong and self-sufficient food supply. From farmers and food processors to retailers and restauranteurs, these individuals contribute to the economy and food security. The agriculture... Read this article online
Scientists at Guelph Target Avian Threat Thursday, June 5, 2025 The University of Guelph (U of G) is activeey engaged against the spread of avian flu. Experts from a variety of departments, including virology, engineering, veterinary medicine, and computer science, are working together to stop this growing threat. “This is not just a crisis for the... Read this article online
Trouw Nutrition launches IntelEgg Thursday, June 5, 2025 Trouw Nutrition has announced the launch of , a digital platform designed to empower layer producers with real-time insights and data-driven decision-making tools. The image above shows an demo screen. This browser-based application is set to transform how poultry farmers monitor,... Read this article online
New Report Highlights Farm Housing Needs in Greenbelt Areas Wednesday, June 4, 2025 The Greenbelt Foundation has released a new report titled Housing Needs and . It highlights the urgent need for housing solutions in rural Ontario for farm families, farm workers, and agri-business employees. As the farming community knows, agriculture is a vital part of Ontario’s... Read this article online
New Precision Ag Digital Digest Coming Soon Wednesday, June 4, 2025 The Summer 2025 Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest will be released on June 11. Summer is upon us! Tillage and seeding are mostly completed (…hopefully), so we are shifting focus to irrigation, baling, spraying, guidance, and harvest (among other topics and technologies). In... Read this article online