Avian flu insurance delayed Thursday, January 14, 2010 © AgMedia Inc.by SUSAN MANNOntario’s chicken producers will have to wait until March to obtain Avian Influenza insurance.Chicken Farmers of Ontario told producers at regional meetings last fall that the program would be available this month. But a few matters still have to be worked out, including the premium cost and the licensing enabling the Poultry Insurance Exchange Reciprocal of Canada to sell the Avian Influenza insurance, says Chicken Farmers spokesperson Mary Fearon.The insurance will pay the difference between Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s compensation for euthanizing birds in cases of outbreaks and the bird’s actual market value. It will also cover cleaning and barn disinfecting as well as vet and diagnostic fees.“The idea behind it is to help the industry rebound more quickly,” Fearon notes, adding the insurance will be mandatory for all 1,100 chicken farmers. “It’s about covering losses and making sure that everybody gets back into production.”Other provincial poultry boards are also considering offering the insurance but they’re not as advanced as Chicken Farmers in the process. Each board will set its own premiums and coverage levels for its farmers.Bob Guy, general manager of the Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission, says it’s up to the farmers to recommend the program; the board would decide if it should be implemented. “We don’t have a target date for that decision,” he says. Harry Pelissero, general manager of Egg Farmers of Ontario, says they’ll likely have a program for their farmers in four to six months. The federal government says it will look at the compensation paid for laying hens under the Health of Animals Act.“That might have an impact on the amount of premium a program may end up costing,” he says.A representative of Turkey Farmers of Ontario could not be reached for comment. BF Huron-Bruce MPP promoted to ag minister Pigeon King to face creditors this month
Inside the Collapse of Monette Farms and What It Signals for Big Agriculture Thursday, April 30, 2026 The restructuring of Monette Farms is raising hard questions about how large is too large in modern agriculture—and whether today’s risk tools are keeping up. (Read the article: Monette Farms Seeks Court Protection as Mega-Farm Restructures Amid Financial Pressures) For years, Monette... Read this article online
Soybean Cyst Nematode Is in almost every soybean producing state and province Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Understanding Detection, Prevention, and Management of Soybeans’ Most Costly Pest Soybean cyst nematode (SCN), , remains the most damaging pathogen affecting soybeans in North America, costing U.S. farmers more than one billion dollars in lost yield annually. Updated national surveys... Read this article online
Farmland Rents Lag Land Values Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has released a new economic analysis highlighting a growing gap between farmland values and rental rates across the country, a trend that will likelyreshapeexpansion decisions for Canadian producers. According to the analysis, Canada’s average farmland... Read this article online
Ontario Funds for New Grain Innovation Projects Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Grain Farmers of Ontario has announced the successful applicants for its 2026 Grains Innovation Fund. The fund supports projects that increase the use, value, and demand for grains grown across Ontario. These efforts help build stronger domestic markets while encouraging innovation in... Read this article online
Drone Seeding Offers Hope for Ontario Wheat Farmers Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Farmers in parts of Ontario often struggle to plant winter wheat at the right time. The ideal planting period usually comes before soybeans are harvested, which can delay wheat seeding and reduce yields. This timing conflict makes it difficult for farmers tomaintainproper crop rotation and... Read this article online