Pork producers urged to consider domestic market Monday, September 21, 2009 by KATE PROCTERLocal was the focus at a meeting last week organized by the political action committee of the Perth County Pork Producers. Speakers told the group to use Ontario’s large population base to bring profit back to the red meat sector.Organizers suggested a united front of red meat and horticulture might generate more support from government, but the crowd of about 250 producers at the Sept. 17 meeting arrived at no clear consensus about pursing a partnership.Ken Strawbridge, president and CEO of Alpha Strategic Consulting Inc. based in Waterloo, is working with several beef producers to develop a sustainable business model for their industry. Why and what change is needed? “If you can answer those two questions, the rest is just work,” said Strawbridge.Production, consumers and finance are the three main components of business and they work against each other, he explained. Successful businesses learn how to manage those relationships.Strawbridge said all producers must pay more attention to the entire supply chain. When cheap corn drives expansion in the livestock industry, nobody is better off. “You’ve got to step up and say ‘this is wrong; this isn’t working for any of us.’”He observed through his study of the beef industry that local markets are more manageable for farmers. But producers face challenges: currently there are no means to co-ordinate stakeholders of the supply chain and there is no mechanism to manage change. Producers also have no way to manage investment or cash flow.On the consumer side, the local market is more manageable than the global market, he said, adding the consumer cannot always distinguish which characteristics are important “The notion that I’m going to build it and they will come is a fallacy,” said Strawbridge. Producers need to instill understanding in consumers that high-quality food produced in Ontario is something they want to pay for.Elbert van Donkersgoed, another speaker at the meeting, agreed that Ontarians want to eat locally grown food. Retailers are the main bottleneck between a diverse group of producers and a diverse group of consumers. “If we are going to get a better price, we need to build a bridge to the consumers,” he said.Strawbridge’s solution? “A paradigm shift. Completely changing our way of thinking.” It is all about the consumer. Build a system to manage consumers, producers and finance in order to achieve sustainability. BF Supply management unlikely for hog industry Ethanol hurts hog industry
Alberta Crop Harvest Nears Completion with Gains Friday, October 3, 2025 According to the latest AFSC and Alberta Government Crop Reporting Survey, Alberta’s harvest is advancing quickly thanks to warm and dry conditions across much of the province. By September 23, 2025, 77 percent of major crops were harvested, an increase of 18 percent from the previous... Read this article online
Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight Friday, October 3, 2025 The University of Guelph welcomed two prominent federal representatives for a day of engagement and discovery on Friday, October 3rd. Dominique O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, hosted the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for a comprehensive tour... Read this article online
Downtown Diner Delivers a Taste of Canadian Farming to Ottawa Friday, October 3, 2025 This week, the heart of Canada’s capital was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Canadian agriculture as Sparks Street played host to the Downtown Diner, a pop-up event celebrating Canadian food and the farmers who make it possible. At the center of the conversation was... Read this article online
Peavey Mart Reboot- New Ownership Group Targets 7–12 Stores Thursday, October 2, 2025 For many, Peavey Mart, is a name synonymous with rural retail in Western Canada. As previously reported by Farms.com (read the article Is Peavey Mart Making a Comeback?), the new ownership group that acquired the Peavey Mart name and intellectual property from the now-defunct Peavey... Read this article online
When Cattle Roam--Legal Risks and Road Safety for Rural Drivers Thursday, October 2, 2025 It’s late. A vehicle barrels down a rural highway. Suddenly—impact. A Black Angus steer, nearly invisible against the asphalt, has wandered into the road. The consequences are costly—and potentially litigious. According to attorney Kelsea Eckert, whose firm , PA, has handled numerous... Read this article online