Ontario Divisional Court hears Grain Farmers' neonic case Tuesday, September 29, 2015 by SUSAN MANNGrain Farmers of Ontario officials are waiting to hear the outcome of their arguments in court Monday calling for a temporary suspension of new Ontario government rules on the sales and use of neonicotinoid treated corn and soybean seeds.The group representing Ontario’s 28,000 grain farmers is also asking for a court review of the rules that came into effect July 1. Grain Farmers wants the rules suspended until May 2016 or until they can be thoroughly reviewed by the court. Grain Farmers “firmly believes these regulations are not workable and we are highly concerned about how they will negatively impact the future of grain farming in this province,” chair Mark Brock said in an Aug. 18 press release.On Monday, after four hours of arguments in Divisional Court in Toronto by lawyers representing Grain Farmers and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the judge “reserved his ruling,” Brock said. “We don’t have an answer yet.”Brock said Grain Farmers’ argument was for the temporary suspension of the rules until May 2016 while the ministry lawyers argued that the case shouldn’t be heard.“We’re waiting for a ruling to come down from the judge to decide the outcome of both arguments,” he said.Ministry spokesperson Kate Jordan said by email, “It wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss ongoing court matters. We are prepared to defend the new rules related to the sale and use of neonicotinoid-treated seeds in Ontario, which came into effect in July of this year.”Divisional Court is a branch of the Superior Court of Justice. It hears statutory appeals from administrative tribunals in Ontario and is the primary forum for judicial review of government action in Ontario, according to the Judges Library website.Brock said he didn’t get a sense of how the Grain Farmers’ argument was received by the judge. The ministry’s argument was “pretty technical” of why the case shouldn’t proceed, and Brock said he didn’t get a sense of what the judge thought of that side either. “Technically, it was supposed to be a two-hour hearing and it went for four hours,” Brock noted. “It speaks to the complicated nature of trying to have people understand the business environment in which we operate and the complexities of our industry.”Brock said the judge didn’t say when a decision would be released.Once the decision is released, Brock said they’d be informing the board of directors first and then the members. “Once our members know there will be a press release as well,” he said. BF Cattle prices slide Ontario's conservation authorities are under review
RaboResearch says tariffs are disrupting global pork trade Wednesday, May 21, 2025 According to a recent report from Rabobank, pork prices have rebounded and remain strong despite shifting trade flows and growing economic and consumer uncertainties. Rabobank is a Dutch multinational banking and financial services company specializing in the global food and agricultural... Read this article online
Northern Ontario Farms Get Ag Plastic Recycling Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Northern Ontario agriculture communities have compacted 27 metric tons of agricultural plastics. The Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA), in partnership with the northern caucus of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), is proud to announce major progress in its... Read this article online
Ontario's Foodbelt: A Bold Move to Protect Farmland and Food Security Tuesday, May 13, 2025 The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the National Farmers Union, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, and Ontario Farmland Trust are collaborating with Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner and Haldimand-Norfolk independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady to introduce legislation aimed at... Read this article online
Protecting Plant Health Supports All Life Monday, May 12, 2025 Healthy plants are vital to the survival and well-being of people, animals, and nature. They clean the air, support biodiversity, and are the foundation of food and economic systems. On May 12, Canadians celebrate International Day of Plant Health. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)... Read this article online
V6 Agronomy Joins Port of Johnstown Deal Monday, May 12, 2025 V6 Agronomy has partnered with the Port of Johnstown (100 kilometres south of Ottawa) to build a national fertilizer hub. This long-term collaboration should support Canada’s food security, reduce input costs for farmers, and modernize the fertilizer supply chain using clean... Read this article online