'This program is no ASRA' Monday, October 3, 2011 Kevin Grier, a senior analyst at the George Morris Centre, says the new Business Risk Management program is a poor substitute for Ontario's dream of a support program like Quebec has in Assurance stabilisation des revenus agricoles (ASRA). It's not even "ASRA-lite." "Ontario farm organizations have spread lavish praise over the program. They have a stake in making it look as good as possible, given the time and effort they put lobbying for it," Grier wrote in the July 15 issue of Canadian Pork Market Review. "Unlike a real insurance program, however, Premiums are waived for the program's 2011 transition year. Even better, there is going to be a payout to livestock producers this fall, just in time for the provincial election. "For example, the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario posted a blog on July 8 saying that the 'announcement of a Risk Management Program is arguably one of the most significant accomplishments for Ontario's agricultural groups in a long time,' Grier writes. "The next step is to see whether the average farmer agrees with this assessment and chooses to support the new program by enrolling in it." BP CFIA slow off the mark Pork belly futures a thing of the past
Dorothy Long Leads New Era for Canadian Food Focus Thursday, September 24, 2026 Canadian Food Focus is entering a new stage of growth with the appointment of Dorothy Long as Executive Director. The organization, which focuses on improving food literacy and public trust in agriculture, aims to help Canadians better understand where their food comes from and how it is... Read this article online
Judy Sweet Strengthens Future of Farm Education Thursday, September 24, 2026 A significant investment in agricultural education is set to benefit students, researchers and the livestock industry in western Canada. Long-time Lakeland College supporter Judy Sweet has contributed funding to the Student-Managed Farm (SMF) Lab Revitalization Project. The investment... Read this article online
FCC Report Highlights Challenges for Food Manufacturers Thursday, September 24, 2026 Canada’s food and beverage manufacturers are facing a more uncertain business environment as tariffs, trade restrictions and fluctuating energy and transportation costs add pressure to margins, according to a mid-year analysis from Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Economics. Industry sales... Read this article online
Mondelez Invests in Canadian Farms to Support Growth Thursday, September 24, 2026 Mondelez Canada Inc. has announced an investment in Area One Farms Fund V, a Canadian farmland investment strategy that works with family farms looking to expand. The investment is intended to provide farmers with access to capital, strengthen Canada’s agricultural supply chains and... Read this article online
Sask. prof helps open ag school in Egypt Thursday, September 24, 2026 An instructor from Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Moose Jaw campus helped open ag agricultural school more than 9,000 kilometres away. Bryan Saurer, an instructor in the college’s continuing education department, participated in the development of the Dr. Samir El Naggar Applied Agricultural... Read this article online