PC ag critic promotes party's jobs bill as way to grow Ontario's agri-food industry Wednesday, February 19, 2014 by SUSAN MANN Progressive Conservative agriculture critic Ernie Hardeman has asked the provincial government to support his party’s million jobs bill to help grow Ontario’s food manufacturing industry again. In a Feb. 14 letter to Premier and Agriculture Minister Kathleen Wynne, Hardeman says his party’s proposed legislation is forecasted to create 125,000 jobs a year for the next eight years. “I believe this would result in significant growth in both the agri-food and agriculture industries,’ he says, noting it would also help Wynne meet her challenge issued to the agricultural and food processing industry last fall to double its growth by 2020 and create 120,000 new jobs. Since the agriculture minister issued this challenge, Ontario has lost 1,260 jobs after Heinz in Leamington and Kellogg’s in London both announced last fall they are closing, says Hardeman, noting there are reports of processors and abattoirs closing in small towns across Ontario. But Wynne says in an email supplied by agriculture ministry staff person Amber Anderson that her jobs plan is to build a strong and growing economy in every part of Ontario “while making sure we take care of our people. That’s why we’re working with the agri-food sector to grow business, attract new investment and develop new markets both at home and around the world.” Wynne also says she has “challenged the sector to set its course for growth precisely because this is a vital sector for our economy.” But Hardeman says high hydro rates and a mountain of government regulations and red tape are choking provincial farmers and food processors. Wynne says the Conservatives “want to cut services and drive jobs away from our province.” In response to Hardeman’s statement about job losses in Ontario’s food manufacturing sector, Wynne points out that there have also been investments, including Dr. Oetker and Natra in London, Royal Canin in Puslinch, along with Ferrero and Aryzla in Brantford. BF Beef Farmers awards recognize farmers in Grey and Bruce Counties Blood plasma feed ingredient still suspect in deadly pig virus
Calf Auction Raises Funds for Youth Monday, June 30, 2025 Wyatt Westman-Frijters from Milverton won a heifer calf named Ingrid through a World Milk Day promotion by Maplevue Farms and a local Perth, Ontario radio station. Instead of keeping the calf, 22-year-old Westman-Frijters chose to give back to the community. The calf was sent to the... Read this article online
Cattle Stress Tool May Boost Fertility Friday, June 27, 2025 Kansas State University researchers have developed a cool tool that may help reduce cattle stress and improve artificial insemination (AI) results. The idea came from animal science experts Nicholas Wege Dias and Sandy Johnson, who observed that cattle accustomed to their environment... Read this article online
Ontario pasture lands get $5M boost Friday, June 27, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $5 million to strengthen shared community grazing pastures. This funding supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario’s agriculture sector and help cattle farmers improve pasture quality, ensuring long-term sustainability and... Read this article online
Health Canada sets rules for drone spraying Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Health Canada has approved the use of drones, also called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), for pesticide application under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). Drones are considered aircraft by Transport Canada, but Health Canada treats them differently due to their unique... Read this article online
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