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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


The Hot New Crop: Marijuana

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Health Canada has launched a new initiative that will see the nation's supply of medical marijuana coming from large, carefully monitored indoor farms rather than the small homegrown operations it had previously relied on. In fact, The Canadian Press reports, private-dwelling production will soon be banned altogether.

Profits are expected to be, err, high: $1.3 billion by 2024 according to federal projections. As of press time, 156 firms had already applied for official producer status and two companies had received licenses – Saskatoon's Prairie Plant Systems and its subsidiary CanniMed Ltd. One of the would-be growers is Ontario-based Tweed Inc., which plans to grow weed in an abandoned chocolate factory in Smiths Falls.

Growers will be able to set their own prices, leading some to worry that prices will rise and drive low-income users who previously grew their own toward the black market. Critics also foresee difficulties obtaining prescriptions, which CBC News reports will be required as of April 1, 2014. There is a dearth of clinical trials on marijuana, and Canadian Medical Association president Dr. Louis Francescutti predicts most doctors will not prescribe something so untested.

Nevertheless, Health Canada and would-be growers are seeing green. The number of people who use medicinal marijuana is expected to reach up to 450,000 by 2024 from 34,500 now. Licensed growers will also be in a good position should the drug ever be legalized. Sophie Galarneau, media relations director at Health Canada, told Canadian Press "we're fairly confident that we'll have a healthy commercial industry in time." BF

Current Issue

June/July 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

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Friday, July 11, 2025

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $3 million in the third round of the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This funding will help farmers improve the energy efficiency of their operations and support the long-term sustainability of the agriculture... Read this article online

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As reported on the OMAFA website fieldcropnews.com, Ontario canola crops are at various growth stages, ranging from seedling to full bloom depending on planting time and region. Winter canola is now fully podded, and harvest is expected to begin soon in Essex and other southern... Read this article online

Ontario crops respond to summer heat

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

According to the OMAFA Field Crop News team, Ontario field crops are showing rapid development as summer-like temperatures have dominated late June early July. The warm spell has accelerated growth and helped reduce the heat unit deficit from a cool spring. Corn fields have seen a burst... Read this article online

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