Traceability measures prompt fears of spiraling costs Tuesday, February 1, 2011 by SUSAN MANNThe federal government should ensure mandatory livestock traceability doesn’t cost farmers a lot of money to implement before putting the system in place, says a beef industry spokesman.Travis Toews, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, says farmers are concerned the system will include protocols that will add significant costs to the production system. “We share those concerns and have communicated that to our federal government.”Even though the government has set a deadline of this year for the national livestock and poultry traceability system to be in place, Toews says the beef industry hasn’t stipulated a deadline for implementation.Toews says while they recognize the merits of the traceability system, the association wants the federal government to pay attention to its recommendations. He says he thinks it will because there’s an underlying recognition by the federal government that it can’t bring a significant regulatory burden into the industry through mandatory traceability. The cattlemen’s association recommends the next step in implementation include the installation of standardized premise identification across Canada. Toews says the identification systems in each province don’t have to be identical but “we certainly need an adequate, standardize premise identification across the country before we can start doing any meaningful movement tracking.”Another request the association made is for farmers to have access to cost-effective, readily-available software.When those two recommendations are in place, Toews says a reasonable next step would be that feedlots receiving more than 1,000 head a year could start recording the cattle moving into the feedlot. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz recently announced up to $20 million would be available during the next three years as part of a program to allow auction marts, assembly yards, feedlots, backgrounders, fairs and exhibitions, privately-managed community pastures and other high-risk, high-volume, co-mingling sites to update their facilities to buy equipment that would help identify and track individual animals. The program, called Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative, is accepting applications for projects starting April 1.Agriculture Canada spokesman Joe Fishman says by email it’s a voluntary program that is available before regulations are introduced. It’s for anyone who sees a business opportunity in using traceability information or those who want to get a head start before regulations are in place. BF Differing attitudes hamper veal industry success Ontario turkey processor streamlines operation
From Plows to Plates - The 2025 International Plowing Match Returns to Niagara Friday, September 12, 2025 For the first time since 1926, the International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (IPM) is returning to the Niagara Region Setpember 16 to 20. Set to take place in West Lincoln, the 106th edition of this iconic event will run under the theme “,” celebrating the deep roots and fresh flavours of... Read this article online
Festival of Guest Nations returns to Leamington Friday, September 12, 2025 On Sunday, September 14, 2025, Seacliff Park in Leamington, Ontario, will come alive with music, food, and celebration as the Festival of Guest Nations returns to honour the migrant worker communities who play a vital role in Essex County’s agricultural economy. With more than 20 years... Read this article online
York Region launching new Agri-Food Startup Program Thursday, September 11, 2025 A new program in York Region is designed to help entrepreneurs find their footing in the food space. The 14-week hybrid Agri-Food Start-up Program partners entrepreneurs with local organizations like the Foodpreneur Lab, Syzl, York Region Food Network, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island... Read this article online
Corn and Soybean Diseases Spread This Season Wednesday, September 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, as well as in previous articles by Farms.com, the 2025 growing season is nearing its end with corn and soybean farmers in Ontario and the U.S. Corn Belt facing disease challenges that reflect changing weather conditions. For corn, two... Read this article online
Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025 Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online