'Spectacular' demonstration promised Thursday, January 3, 2013 The agenda for the November "1,000 tractors to Brussels" protest, published in advance by the Agricultural and Rural Convention, promised a demonstration "with spectacular protests." The organizers weren't kidding. According to published reports, windows up to seven floors high at the European Parliament were sprayed with milk from fire hoses. Policemen in riot gear on the ground took the brunt, of course. The milk spilling was part of a two-day protest against low milk prices. Producers want supply management systems with "voluntary supply constraint" (similar to the program in Canada, maybe?) rather than an end to the quota systems that has been promised (or threatened, depending upon your point of view) as the Common Agricultural Policy is reformed. The European Milk Board, claiming to represent 100,000 farmers in 11 countries, says 157,000 dairy farms have shut down since 2009, when the last dairy changes were made. BF Compost from green-bin waste gaining traction Report release resurrects 'Skippy burger' jokes
Ontario Farm Leaders Drew and Heather Spoelstra Named 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers Friday, April 10, 2026 Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) Program has announced Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Binbrook, Ontario, as the Ontario regional winners for 2026. The announcement was made following the Ontario regional competition held April 7 through 9 in St. Jacobs, Ontario. As provincial... Read this article online
Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre designs revealed Thursday, April 9, 2026 Attendees of the Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre’s (OAFDC) AGM last month received a first look at building design concepts. The planned 34,000-square-foot science centre in Listowel, Ont., designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects, the same firm responsible for the looks of buildings... Read this article online
Proposed USDA budget cuts could shift the North American ag landscape Thursday, April 9, 2026 Image by Konyvesotto from Pixabay The US administration’s latest budget proposal includes a significant reduction to the US Department of Agriculture’s discretionary spending, a move that could have ripple effects across North American agriculture. According to Farms.com reporting... Read this article online
Corn and Soy Products Cleared for Global Market Access Thursday, April 9, 2026 The Market Access Committee for corn and soybeans has completed its 2026 review of new crop protection products, confirming no export concerns for four corn products and six soybean products. Approved corn products includeCovintroCorn,TelaroneDC,ZiduaSC Herbicide, and Storen Herbicide.... Read this article online
What Distributed Energy Resources Mean for Canadian Producers Tuesday, April 7, 2026 As energy costs rise, many Canadian farms are looking for ways to take greater control of their electricity use. One term that farmers are hearing more often is distributed energy resources, often shortened to DERs. While the phrase may sound technical, the concept is highly practical, and... Read this article online