OFA wants to see debt retirement charge removed from Ontario farm bills too Thursday, April 24, 2014 by SUSAN MANN Ontario farms must continue paying the debt retirement charge on their hydro bills until 2018 just like business and industrial hydro users, even though the Ontario government is nixing the fee from residential bills effective Jan. 1, 2016. Mark Wales, Ontario Federation of Agriculture president, says if there is only one meter on the farm, and it also applied to the farm residence, “then the debt retirement charge gets removed.” But if a farmer has other meters on their operation, such as for a grain dryer or a poultry barn or a greenhouse, the debt retirement charge stays on the bills covering usage for those meters and continues until the end of 2018. “This is the unfairness of it,” he says. “We’re saying it (the debt retirement charge) should be off farms too.” Ontario Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli announced April 23 the government is eliminating the debt retirement charge for residential users. At the same time it’s removing that fee, the government is also ending the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit, which takes 10 per cent off hydro bills. The government says in an April 23 press release, the debt retirement charge has been on electricity bills since May 1, 2002. The money has been used to pay down the debt and liabilities of the old Ontario Hydro after it was broken into smaller entities. Wales says the federation has been pushing for some time for a farm and industrial rate for hydro, which would have been a much better solution. “We were suggesting a lower rate but I don’t think they’ve settled on a number.” The government’s debt retirement charge announcement “is good for the farm house but it’s not good for the farm,” he says. In an April 25 press release, Wales says energy costs are one of the greatest expenses for farmers. The Ontario government doesn’t appear to realize the problem the electricity system is causing farmers and the province’s food system, he adds in the release. Ontario’s rising hydro rates are increasing farmers’ costs of doing business and putting them at a competitive disadvantage compared to growers in other provinces, the United States and internationally. BF Farm writer complies with bench warrant in sheep case Ontario SPCA and Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency join forces to prevent animal abuse
Twelve Ontario Agri-Businesses Receive Funding Support Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Bioenterprise Canada has announced the successful recipients of the second call for proposals under the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) Commercialization Stream. Twelve organizations across Ontario will receive support to bring innovative agri-food solutions to the... Read this article online
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Tuesday, June 24, 2025 The was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded $60,000 to further his... Read this article online
Rural internet speeds have improved, but compared to urban gap is wide Friday, June 20, 2025 Rural internet speeds have improved, but the gap with urban areas is still wide, says Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) - the national not-for-profit best known for managing the .CA domain. Regional differences also continue—New Brunswick shows faster speeds, while as... Read this article online
Ontario Bean Growers are having a day and you are invited Friday, June 20, 2025 The Ontario Bean Growers have announced it will be holding its annual on August 20, 2025. The day begins with research presentations at 1 pm. Details of the research presentations will be published as they become available. At 4 pm, Chris Gillard will lead attendees on a tour... Read this article online
Did you know your summer picnic watermelon might be from Ontario? Thursday, June 19, 2025 Watermelon, a fruit often linked to warmer U.S. states, is grown in southern Ontario during the summer months. In 2023, Ontario farmers produced 35,084 tonnes of watermelon, accounting for 96.7% of the total Canadian watermelon production. Sweet potatoes are another example. In... Read this article online