'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
Biofuel Mandate Sparks Grain Rally Thursday, June 19, 2025 On the weekly Ag Commodity Corner+ podcast by Farms.com Risk Management Chief Commodity Strategist Moe Agostino and Commodity Strategist Abhinesh Gopal, the team agreed and discussed how the markets moved positively last week (June 9 to 13), led by gains in oilseeds, pork, and crude... Read this article online
Helping producers make smarter, data-based beef breeding decisions Thursday, June 19, 2025 A new project, called IntegrOmes (Integrated Genomics for Sustainable Animal Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship) -- focusing on improving beef genetics using advanced genomic tools – has been announced which will receive $3.4 million. Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and... Read this article online
Bill C-202 divides Canadian ag Thursday, June 19, 2025 A fast-tracked piece of legislation related to Canadian agriculture has industry groups voicing different opinions. Bill C-202, which prohibits supply-managed products from being included in future trade negotiations, is poised to receive royal assent after the Senate completed its third... Read this article online
Alta. dairy farmer part of local food campaign Thursday, June 19, 2025 An Alberta dairy farmer is one of the faces behind a new local food campaign. Jason Crozier, a fifth-generation farmer at Cheslen Dairies in Sturgeon County, a 1,500-acre operation including crops and about 190 cows, is part of Alberta Milk’s Farm to Table campaign. “I think it’s... Read this article online
Did you know your summer picnic watermelon might be from Ontario? Thursday, June 19, 2025 Watermelon, a fruit often linked to warmer U.S. states, is grown in southern Ontario during the summer months. In 2023, Ontario farmers produced 35,084 tonnes of watermelon, accounting for 96.7% of the total Canadian watermelon production. Sweet potatoes are another example. In... Read this article online