Ontario farmers to receive extended reprieve from bobolink and eastern meadowlark habitat protection terms Thursday, September 24, 2015 by SUSAN MANNThe Ontario government is proposing to extend agriculture’s exemption to the Endangered Species Act’s habitat and species protection provisions for the bobolink and eastern meadowlark for 10 years.The current exemption expires on Dec. 31. The government passed regulations in 2011, 2012 and 2014 that “collectively provided an exemption from the Endangered Species Act’s species and habitat protection requirements (for the bobolink and eastern meadowlark) for specific agricultural activities,” says the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry proposal posted on the Environmental Registry.Comments are due by Oct. 21. The notice was posted on the registry on Sept. 21.Don McCabe, Ontario Federation of Agriculture president, says the 10-year extension “will do until we have a permanent resolution of this particular initiative.”Asked if the agricultural industry would prefer a permanent exemption, McCabe says, “Permanency in agricultural policy is always preferred.”The bobolink and eastern meadowlark are listed as threatened species on the Species at Risk in Ontario list, the proposal says. The two bird species nest in high densities in agricultural fields. The breeding period for both species is May to July, which coincides with farmers harvesting hay and pasturing livestock in their fields.The exemption enables normal farming activities, such as crop rotation, hay harvesting and livestock pasturing, to continue in the birds’ habitat areas.Agricultural activities have provided and will continue to provide habitat for bobolink and eastern meadowlark, the proposal says.The ministry has also issued a Government Response Statement for the bobolink and eastern meadowlark that’s focused on establishing a province-wide grassland stewardship initiative to protect and maintain grassland habitat across Ontario. BF Ontario's conservation authorities are under review New program for Ontario chicken farmers growing for niche markets
Tips for first year university students Friday, August 29, 2025 The final weekend of summer is here, and students across Ontario will be returning to class next week. That includes at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus, where staff, faculty, and volunteers are preparing to welcome a new crop of first year students. “There’s definitely a... Read this article online
Sterling buckle marks 170 years at Spencerville Fair Friday, August 29, 2025 For its 170th anniversary, the Spencerville Fair is presenting a distinctive piece of Canadian silverwork that reflects nearly two centuries of agricultural tradition. The 170th Anniversary Spencerville Fair Sterling Silver Buckle was designed and handcrafted by Alex Dordevic of TRIBE, a... Read this article online
Corn and Soybean Crops Fall Short in 2025 Predicts Great Ontario Yield Tour Thursday, August 28, 2025 Ontario’s 2025 corn and soybean harvest is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory, as persistent drought and heat have pushed yields below the Agricorp 10-year average say experts and master scouts Moe Agostino and Henry Prinzen of the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour.... Read this article online
Global grain trade gets a shake-up: What it means for Canadian farmers Thursday, August 28, 2025 The global grain and oilseed trading industry is undergoing a major transformation—and Canadian farmers should take note. A recently published study in the September 2025 issue of discussed how the traditional dominance of a few multinational giants is giving way to a more competitive,... Read this article online
Ontario Farmers Share Yield Strategies Amid Drought Wednesday, August 27, 2025 The Great Ontario Yield Tour held an event at Petersen Custom Farming in Osgood, Ontario, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The farmer panel during lunch was one of the highlights of the event. Farmers and industry experts gathered to discuss yield strategies and the realities of this season’s... Read this article online