Producer information theft couldn't happen here says ACC chief Tuesday, June 10, 2008 by BETTER FARMING STAFFA representative of the company that administers the federal advance payments program in Ontario for crops ranging from grains and oilseeds to fruit, vegetables and greenhouse products says the information of farmers who apply to the program is kept on a fixed computer system and hard copies are located in a secured room.“Nothing we have is on a laptop,” says Brian Stover, manager of lending operations at ACC Financial.Stover made the comments after learning on Wednesday of the recent theft of a laptop containing financial information from farmers in Western Canada.The laptop belonged to the Canadian Canola Growers. The organization administers advance payment programs for several western provinces connected to grain and oilseed commodities such as canola, canary seed, flax, mustard seed, oats and rye.The theft occurred while the computer was off-site for maintenance.News reports estimate the financial information of up to 32,000 farmers in Western Canada has been put at risk from the heist.Stover says he is surprised and shocked that such information would be carried on a laptop.“It doesn’t seem to be a secure system at all,” he says.He notes that ACC has its own in-house computer system, “which we had for our own program since 1992 so it has certain firewalls. I’m not sure it’s as secure as a major chartered bank but we’ve never had any problems.” Stover says he hasn’t received any phone calls from farmers concerned about the issue.Carrie James, the general manager of the Canola Growers of Ontario says her phones have been quiet too. A representative from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs was the only inquiry she has received so far about the issue.James emphasized the theft “doesn’t touch Ontario farmers at all.”“It has no relation at all to our farmers here.” BF Wheat crop holds promise Bean leaf beetle numbers modest - so far
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