Ontario farmers doubt Canada's ag policy boosts business, a new survey suggests Wednesday, July 11, 2012 by SUSAN MANNForty-three per cent of Ontario agri-business owners participating in a business organization’s survey said the current national agricultural policy agreement was ineffective in boosting the competitiveness of their businesses.And only one per cent of the 400 Ontario responses in the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s Future of Agriculture Policy survey said the Growing Forward policy framework met their expectations, says Marilyn Braun-Pollon, the federation’s vice-president, prairie and agri-business.Another 22 per cent said the framework was somewhat effective in enhancing the competitiveness of their businesses.So what are farmers looking for in the next national policy agreement, called Growing Forward 2, being negotiated now by the federal, provincial and territorial governments?Ontario farmers are on board with their counterparts across Canada in calling for governments to focus on regulatory reform, total tax burden reduction and market access improvements for Canadian farm products as part of the next agreement that governments want to finalize by this fall. Growing Forward 2 will replace the current Growing Forward agreement when it expires on March 31, 2013.“These are the top priorities for government action in Growing Forward 2,” she says. “We want Growing Forward 2 to reflect these priorities.”Braun-Pollon says they hope these key items are the focus of discussions at the upcoming agriculture ministers’ meetings in September in Whitehorse, Yukon.The federation has already sent its report, Fostering Ag Competitiveness, to the federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers in June so they can digest it and “hopefully implement some of the suggested changes,” she says. The federation will be sharing the report and its priorities at the consultations being planned now for Ontario farmers and the provincial and federal agriculture ministers.“We’re calling on the government to ensure Growing Forward 2 drives productivity in the ag sector,” she says. About business risk management programs within Growing Forward 2, 42 per cent of survey respondents nationally said governments should design more responsive programs.Braun-Pollon says business risk management tools are a last resort but when farmers need them they have to work. “Our agri-business members have consistently called for more responsive, transparent, accessible, predictable and timely” business risk management programs.The survey results were part of the federation’s Fostering Ag Competitiveness report. A total of 1,049 agri-business owner members of the federation from across Canada completed the survey. It was done between January and March 2011.The federation has 7,200 independently owned and operated agri-business members. Seventy-five per cent of those are primary producers. A total of 2,800 of the 7,200 are from Ontario. BF Markets already resisting higher corn and soybean prices Invasive species strategy a 'great start'
Free Tools to Power Up Your Farm’s Digital Life in Canada Wednesday, October 22, 2025 For many Canadian farm families, the internet has become as vital as a tractor or combine. It is how producers manage precision planting, monitor commodity prices, check weather forecasts, pay bills and stay connected with suppliers and customers. However, fast and reliable broadband remains out... Read this article online
Precision Harvesting with HeadSight and TrueSight Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Modern harvesting relies heavily on precision and smart technology, and new systems for head height control and steering are making sure you are not leaving bushels in the field. These innovations ensure efficient crop collection, protect equipment, and reduce operator fatigue during... Read this article online
Remembering Ralph Winfield: Beloved Better Farming Columnist Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Ontario's farming community is mourning the loss of longtime agricultural writerRalph Gordon Winfieldof Glanworth, who passed away peacefully at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Oct. 17, 2025, at the age of 85. Ralph’s name has been closely tied to Better Farming since 1999. His... Read this article online
Case IH FieldOps Brings Smart Connectivity to Modern Farming Friday, October 17, 2025 Lance Meyer, region precision manager at Case IH, told Farms.com that FieldOps operates on desktops through a web interface and on mobile devices through an app compatible with iPhone, Android, or iPad. This flexibility allows farmers to access critical machine and field information anytime,... Read this article online
New Holland Marks 50 Years of Twin Rotor Innovation Friday, October 17, 2025 New Holland is celebrating 50 years of leadership in twin rotor harvesting technology, a milestone that began with the introduction of the TR70 combine in 1975. This machine transformed agriculture by bringing the world the concept of twin rotor threshing and... Read this article online