'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
Alberta Canola calling for trade compensation Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Alberta’s canola sector is asking the federal government for compensation to help offset challenges caused by Chinese tariffs. In a May 8 letter to the federal finance and agriculture ministers, Alberta Canola Growers says targeted compensation is necessary due to the challenges the... Read this article online
Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention Names Douglas Darling as President Wednesday, May 20, 2026 The Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Convention (OFVC) has named Niagara-based grower Douglas Darling as its new President, marking a leadership transition as the organization prepares for continued growth and innovation within Ontario’s horticulture sector. Darling, with Sunnydale Farms in... Read this article online
Sunrise Farms invests over $100 million to build advanced poultry plant in Woodstock Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Ontario’s agri‑food sector is set for another major boost as Sunrise Farms announced an investment of more than $100 million to build a state‑of‑the‑art poultry processing facility in Woodstock. The expansion—described as the largest greenfield project in the company’s history—will create... Read this article online
Simple Breeding Boosts Bee Survival Wednesday, May 20, 2026 To celebrate World Bee Day, May 20, we thought some good news about bees would be welcome. Honeybee colonies continue to face serious losses each year due to many challenges. Changes in weather, climate conditions, and land use all affect bee health. However, Varroa mites remain the... Read this article online
Caring for Fish in a Farm Pond: Best Practices for Healthy, Productive Water Systems Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Farm ponds are more than just scenic features on a property—they can serve as valuable assets for, recreation, and ecosystem health. Some people like fancy fish in their pond, while some people are not too particular. Whether there are fish in your farm pond, or it’s just a pond, proper... Read this article online