Tribunal rules in favour of former dairy farmers Wednesday, April 8, 2009 © AgMedia Inc.by SUSAN MANNThe Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal is ordering Dairy Farmers of Ontario to repay John and Susanna Cayer $114,492.80 in quota sales income they lost due to the organization’s transfer assessment policy.The money must be repaid without interest and within 30 days of the March 31 Tribunal decision.The Cayers couldn’t be reached for comment.Bill Mitchell, a spokesman for DFO, says the organization’s board will review the decision at its regular meeting later this month.In its decision, the Tribunal gave three reasons for granting the former milk producers’ appeal:• Compassion because the Chesterville-area farmers experienced undue hardship due to John’s health problems. During the two-day hearing (Oct. 31, 2008 and Feb. 2, 2009), the Tribunal learned John’s chronic pain prevents him from working as a dairy farmer and causes problems with daily living;• The couple’s plans to leave the dairy industry because of John’s failing health were already in progress when DFO introduced a 15 per cent transfer assessment on all quota sold on the exchange effective Nov. 17, 2006. The Cayers sold their quota in January 2007. The assessment lowered their sales proceeds by $114,492.80. After DFO denied the Cayers’ request for an exemption, the couple appealed to the Tribunal.• DFO made errors and omissions during the exemption request procedure. The Tribunal recommends the marketing organization write a policy “allowing requests for exemptions from the effects of a DFO policy based on extraordinary circumstances.” It also recommends the organization develop a protocol for exemption requests and train staff and directors to follow it. BF Farm Products order leaves tobacco board in limbo Decision in animal seizure case expected by summer
Calf Auction Raises Funds for Youth Monday, June 30, 2025 Wyatt Westman-Frijters from Milverton won a heifer calf named Ingrid through a World Milk Day promotion by Maplevue Farms and a local Perth, Ontario radio station. Instead of keeping the calf, 22-year-old Westman-Frijters chose to give back to the community. The calf was sent to the... Read this article online
Cattle Stress Tool May Boost Fertility Friday, June 27, 2025 Kansas State University researchers have developed a cool tool that may help reduce cattle stress and improve artificial insemination (AI) results. The idea came from animal science experts Nicholas Wege Dias and Sandy Johnson, who observed that cattle accustomed to their environment... Read this article online
Ontario pasture lands get $5M boost Friday, June 27, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $5 million to strengthen shared community grazing pastures. This funding supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario’s agriculture sector and help cattle farmers improve pasture quality, ensuring long-term sustainability and... Read this article online
Health Canada sets rules for drone spraying Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Health Canada has approved the use of drones, also called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), for pesticide application under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). Drones are considered aircraft by Transport Canada, but Health Canada treats them differently due to their unique... Read this article online
Twelve Ontario Agri-Businesses Receive Funding Support Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Bioenterprise Canada has announced the successful recipients of the second call for proposals under the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) Commercialization Stream. Twelve organizations across Ontario will receive support to bring innovative agri-food solutions to the... Read this article online