Review of risk management programs underway Friday, July 18, 2008 by BETTER FARMING STAFFOn July 11, the federal and provincial ministers of agriculture announced that they had reached an agreement on the non-business risk portion of the Growing Forward agricultural policy framework. The five-year policy framework will replace the Agricultural Policy Framework that came into effect in 2003. Ontario’s minister of agriculture, Leona Dombrowsky, says the agreement signed involves programs that support environmental responsibilities, such as the environmental farm plan, as well as those that promote food safety and food traceability.The agreement is backed by a $1.3 billion financial commitment with the federal government shouldering two thirds of that amount and provinces the remaining third.In Ontario, the total amount allocated for the programs will be $300 million with Ontario’s share being $120 million and the federal government’s $180 million.Dombrowsky says a key point of the new agreement is its flexibility that will allow provinces to obtain federal cost shares in programs custom developed to meet their farm sector’s needs.Will such flexibility apply to the new policy framework’s business risk management programs?Dombrowsky says it’s too soon to comment.“What I can say certainly what was talked about at the federal/provincial table was the need to review the risk management program because provinces continue to be concerned that it is not adequately addressing or meeting the needs of our producers.”Consequently, a strategic review is underway.“Ontario has made it very clear that we are eager to play a role in that review,” Dombrowsky says, noting that flexibility of how funds allocated to these programs will be a “key part” of that discussion. BF Groups warm to labelling proposal Wheat harvest delayed
Poll Reveals Mixed Public Sentiment on BC Ostrich Cull Decision Thursday, October 2, 2025 Farms.com poll shows divided opinions among Canadian farmers on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull. A recent poll conducted on Farms.com's X account @OntAg aimed to capture Canadian farmers' views on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull in British... Read this article online
New Ontario agrobotics challenge seeking high school submissions Thursday, October 2, 2025 A new competition for Ontario high school students is looking for innovative ways to solve challenges in the ag sector. The AgRobotics Ontario Challenge launched at the end of September. The competition is a collaboration between the Western Fair District, the Ontario Council for... Read this article online
Canada Post Strike Continues to Threatens Agri-Businesses and Rural Communities Thursday, October 2, 2025 The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling on the federal government to take swift action to end the ongoing Canada Post strike, warning that the disruption is causing serious harm to small businesses – including many in the agriculture sector. “The government’s... Read this article online
Farmland Values Climb Across the Prairies-Manitoba Leads, Ontario Holds Steady Thursday, October 2, 2025 Canadian cultivated farmland values rose by an average of 6.0 per cent in the first half of 2025, according to the mid-year farmland values review by Farm Credit Canada (FCC). This marks a modest acceleration compared to the first half of 2024, which saw a 5.5 per cent increase. Over... Read this article online
Setting Foundations for Higher Yielding Soybeans Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Farmers can achieve higher soybean yields by focusing on strong foundations and careful field management according to Shaun Casteel, Extension Soybean Specialist from Purdue University, who spoke at the in August. He emphasized that no single method guarantees success—each field... Read this article online