Processing industry looking to polish its image Tuesday, June 12, 2012 by SUSAN MANNThere’s a shortage of skilled labour capable of maintaining food-processing equipment and Ontario’s newly appointed Jobs and Prosperity Council needs to address it, says a food industry spokesman.Steve Peters, executive director of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors, says the food and beverage manufacturing sector is a major contributor to Ontario’s economy. It contributes 90,000 direct jobs and is a $39 billion a year industry for the province. The alliance represents more than 650 food and beverage processing companies in Ontario.He described the sector as the farmers’ best customer with 65 per cent of Ontario agricultural production being purchased by food and beverage companies in the province.“One of the things that needs to happen is the profile needs to be raised regarding job opportunities within the food and beverage sector,” he says, noting there’s a perception that food and drink manufacturing jobs are dirty and poorly paid but that is very far from reality.Peters says the council should also look at programs food and beverage manufacturers could use to upgrade their equipment. And it should look at how a better relationship between farmers, processors and retailers can be created. The government announced the formation of the council in this year’s budget and recently appointed 13 members plus chair Gordon Nixon, president and CEO of RBC, the Royal Bank of Canada, and its subsidiaries. The council will report directly to Premier Dalton McGuinty and have its first meeting later this month.Michael McCain, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., is the only food manufacturer’s representative on the council.Peters says his appointment is a recognition by the government of the industry’s importance.The council’s mission is to generate new ideas and approaches for improving Ontario’s long-term productivity and competitiveness. It’s made up of leaders from business, labour and the research community. BF Shropshire sheep found Farm registration grinds to halt
CN’s 2025-26 Grain Plan is now available Tuesday, August 5, 2025 CN (Canadian National Railway) has released its . It’s a plan that demonstrates CN’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-performance service through disciplined planning, targeted infrastructure investments, and proactive supply chain collaboration. For this past crop year,... Read this article online
Hot Dry Weather Stresses Ontario Crops Tuesday, August 5, 2025 According to Ontario’s FieldCropNewscom, several areas across the province have seen very little effective rainfall since early June. This prolonged hot and dry weather is causing stress to corn, soybeans, and wheat, impacting growth and increasing vulnerability to pests. Corn is showing... Read this article online
Hot Ontario Farm Land Real Estate Listings in July Tuesday, August 5, 2025 A look at some of the most talked-about farmland properties featured on Farms.com and @OntAg Curious about what farmland was turning heads in Ontario this summer? July brought a fresh crop of standout listings that had plenty of people talking. From sprawling acreages to tucked-away... Read this article online
Ontario beekeepers get 1.7M boost support Monday, August 4, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario have invested over $1.7 million in the Honeybee Health Initiative to help beekeepers across Ontario grow and protect their colonies from diseases, pests, and harsh weather. This strategic funding supports 206 local beekeeping businesses and 334... Read this article online
Nitrogen protection is getting a leg up with new CENTURO™ A-PRO nitrogen stabilizer Monday, August 4, 2025 The next generation of nitrification inhibitors is here, and just in time for fall applications of anhydrous ammonia. New for fall 2025 applications is CENTURO™ A-PRO from Koch Agronomic Services (KAS), a highly concentrated formulation of its industry-leading CENTURO™ nitrification... Read this article online