Ontario farmer gets another shot at justice Monday, November 3, 2014 In January 2013, a former American military sniper who now lives near St. Thomas, Ont., was convicted of careless use of a firearm after firing his gun to scare away a stray dog, The Canadian Press reports. But after a September decision by the Court of Appeal for Ontario, John Batty will be entitled to another trial.In handing down its ruling, the Court of Appeal considered the implications a guilty verdict could have on rural residents. As Batty's lawyer put it, "(Farmers) can't be at risk of being convicted because somebody heard a shot." In his appeal, Batty pointed out his experience with firearms and his routine practice of shooting weasels and rats headed for the chicken coop.This was Batty's second appeal. He lost the first one in December, even though there were no eyewitnesses to say how the gun was fired. BF Feathers ruffled over U.S. mislabelling Behind the Lines - November 2014
What Distributed Energy Resources Mean for Canadian Producers Tuesday, April 7, 2026 As energy costs rise, many Canadian farms are looking for ways to take greater control of their electricity use. One term that farmers are hearing more often is distributed energy resources, often shortened to DERs. While the phrase may sound technical, the concept is highly practical, and... Read this article online
Agricultural Educator and Industry Leader Dr Tom Funk Remembered for Lasting Influence Tuesday, April 7, 2026 The agricultural education community is mourning the passing of Dr Tom Funk, a highly respected Professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph whose influence spanned more than three decades of teaching, leadership, and mentorship. Dr Funk dedicated over 35 years to teaching... Read this article online
Blue Collar Brings Canada’s Dairy Farming to Prime Time Tuesday, April 7, 2026 A new Canadian streaming series on Crave is offering audiences an unpolished look at some of the country’s toughest jobs, and in Episode 5, that spotlight turns to dairy farming. BLUE COLLAR is a Crave original series that blends workplace comedy with real-world grit and humour found... Read this article online
New Measures Support Craft Brewers and Reduce Rising Costs Tuesday, April 7, 2026 To help producers in the beverage sectoras the economy is facing rapid changes and creating uncertainty for businesses, theCanadiangovernment has announced a two-year extension of alcohol excise duty relief starting April 1, 2026. This decision aims to support brewers, distillers, and... Read this article online
Study reveals key climate drivers of potato beetle outbreaks Monday, April 6, 2026 A long term research project from Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of Wisconsin is offering new insight into what drives Colorado potato beetle outbreaks, giving US potato growers a clearer picture of how weather patterns and environmental conditions shape one of the... Read this article online