2011's top ag story, top ag newsmaker Thursday, December 22, 2011 by BETTER FARMING STAFFAnd we thought 2010 was a busy year in Ontario agriculture. That’s before we experienced 2011’s two elections, a soggy spring and the introductions of a risk management plan to protect against market fluctuations as well as a proposal for a mega quarry in Dufferin County’s Melancthon township. Not to mention the federal decision to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board. The decision didn’t directly affect Ontario farmers but did generate uncertainty about the federal Conservatives’ commitment to supply management. A November announcement that Canada wanted to join trans-Pacific trade talks created even more worry about supply management’s future. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz subsequently alleviated these concerns by affirming his government’s commitment to supply management.Many other issues surfaced in 2011, including a building uneasiness about Ontario’s Green Energy Act’s impact on rural communities. Human health has been at the centre of concerns about wind power development. Meanwhile, Ontario’s small-scale solar power developers have struggled with changing promises and surprise hurdles over connecting to the grid. There have been events other than the dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board that cast doubt on Ontario’s supply-managed commodities, such as three egg-industry cases before Ontario’s courts spurred on by material collected by Norm Bourdeau, a self-described industry whistleblower. And then there has been the ongoing debate about the safety of raw milk with Grey County raw milk advocate Michael Schmidt continuing to seek reform by filing for leave to appeal his September conviction of selling and distributing raw milk.Yet there have been many highpoints for the industry over the past twelve months too: solid crop yields despite all of the rainy weather, strong prices for grains and oilseeds as well as for most livestock and a World Trade Organization ruling that supports Canada’s claim that U.S. mandatory Country of Origin Labelling, universally known as COOL, is unfair.Now, as 2011 draws to a close, we’re asking you to weigh in on two questions: WHAT was this year’s top story in Ontario agriculture? And WHO was the top agriculture newsmaker in the province? BF Dairy Farmers of Ontario suspends new farmer quota applications Farmers embrace mobile technology
York Region launching new Agri-Food Startup Program Thursday, September 11, 2025 A new program in York Region is designed to help entrepreneurs find their footing in the food space. The 14-week hybrid Agri-Food Start-up Program partners entrepreneurs with local organizations like the Foodpreneur Lab, Syzl, York Region Food Network, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island... Read this article online
Corn and Soybean Diseases Spread This Season Wednesday, September 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, as well as in previous articles by Farms.com, the 2025 growing season is nearing its end with corn and soybean farmers in Ontario and the U.S. Corn Belt facing disease challenges that reflect changing weather conditions. For corn, two... Read this article online
Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025 Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online
Research Projects and Companies Supported Through OAFRI Tuesday, September 9, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced an investment of up to $4.77 million to strengthen the province’s agri-food sector. This funding, delivered through the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable... Read this article online
Two-pass Weed Control Critical in Managing Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp in Ontario Monday, September 8, 2025 Dr. Peter Sikkema of the University of Guelph recently shared insights into the growing challenge of multiple herbicide-resistant water hemp at the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour final event in Woodstock Ontario. Dr. Sikkema research highlights both the biology of the weed and practical... Read this article online