Tory ag critic launches farmer survey Wednesday, July 25, 2012 by SUSAN MANN Ontario farmers have a chance to outline what they need for their businesses to grow and be competitive in a new survey launched by Progressive Conservative agriculture critic Ernie Hardeman. Farmers will also be asked in the survey about the impact of the drought on their farm. Hardeman says he’s surveying farmers to identify what steps should be taken to ensure Ontario’s agricultural industry is competitive and sustainable. The survey was released today. Farmers who have responded so far say the drought is their number one concern and the responses are mainly from Eastern Ontario. Hardeman says he doesn’t know how many responses there are so far. He says he’ll use the results to hold the current government accountable and to develop policy proposals to strengthen the province’s agricultural industry. Hardeman says he’s heard from farmers that overregulation is preventing their businesses from growing. “Through this survey I hope to identify specific regulations that should be reviewed.” The survey takes about four minutes to complete and will be open for some time. “I don’t have any deadline for when it’s going to close,” he says. BF Escalating water restrictions a possibility for portions of Brant and Oxford 'We will contact the federal government again if needed'
A new front in the repair access debate Friday, March 13, 2026 Iowa lawmakers have pushed the right‑to‑repair conversation into new territory with House File 2529, a bill that focuses specifically on diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) systems—the single most common cause of emissions-related downtime on modern farm machinery. The bill would require... Read this article online
Senators examine Canada’s food system firsthand during southwestern Ontario fact finding mission Thursday, March 12, 2026 A delegation of Canadian senators conducted a full day fact finding mission on Friday, March 6, 2026, visiting several major food system organizations and research facilities across Southwestern Ontario. The tour supported the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry’s ongoing... Read this article online
Middle East conflict pushes fertilizer costs higher, forcing Ontario growers to rethink corn acres Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Ontario farmers are bracing for a turbulent spring as fertilizer and fuel prices surge in response to the escalating conflict involving Iran, a development that analysts say could reshape planting decisions across North America. The spike in nitrogen costs—the most critical and... Read this article online
March 8 is International Women’s Day Friday, March 6, 2026 Across the United States and Canada, women are taking on increasingly visible roles in agriculture—managing farms, leading ag-tech startups, advancing research, and strengthening the rural economies that feed both nations. Their work reflects a shift in an industry once defined... Read this article online
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to Visit Toronto and Southwestern Ontario Tuesday, March 3, 2026 The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry will be in Toronto and Southwestern Ontario later this week as part of its ongoing study on the role of Canada’s agriculture and agri‑food sector in strengthening national food security. The fact‑finding mission is scheduled for... Read this article online