Farm product prices jump Monday, March 5, 2012 by SUSAN MANNHigher feed grain costs and lower North American on-farm cattle and hog inventories drove the livestock and animal products price index up by 14.1 per cent in December 2011 compared to the same month in the previous year, according Statistics Canada’s Farm Product Price Index report released Monday.There were increases in all livestock commodities ranging from 3.3 per cent for dairy to 21.5 per cent for cattle and calves. Year-over-year increases for all of the livestock commodities were recorded in every month last year except for a 2.8 per cent decline in May in the hogs index.Overall the prices farmers received for their commodities in December 2011 was up by 9.5 per cent compared to December 2010 as livestock and crop prices continued to increase. But there are signs the increases, particularly for grain and oilseed crops, may be slowing down.Prof. Alfons Weersink, of the University of Guelph’s department of food, agriculture and resource economics, says the projections for the future aren’t quite as rosy as they were a year ago. In December 2010 the outlook was fairly bullish. This year the United States Department is still projecting strong crop prices “but not as strong as they have been.”He also notes the price variability within the year is quite significant. There’s much more variability in prices now that there was 10 years ago.Weersink says that variability is caused by a relatively tight stock-to-use ratio in crops. The markets are edgy and can shoot up or down depending on if there’s good or bad news.The crops index was up 4.9 per cent in December 2011 compared to December 2010. But for crops, the year-over-year increase in December 2011 compared to December 2010 was the smallest increase since September 2010 and that was mainly due to a 2.8 per cent decline in the grain index. The decline in the grain index ended a year-over-year growth trend that started in September 2010. All other crop commodities were up in December 2011 compared to the December a year earlier with increases ranging from 2.9 per cent for vegetables to 21.6 per cent for fruit.The oilseed index was up 3.7 per cent in December 2011 compared to the same month in the previous year. Similar to the grains index, the oilseed index began its year-over-year growth trend in September 2010. But since June 2011, its rate of increases has been slowing. BF Roundup Ready 1 rarity in this year's seed lineup The puzzling death of two agricultural workers
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Friday, July 4, 2025 The was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded $60,000 to further his... Read this article online
Grape Growers 40th Annual Celebrity Luncheon has Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser Friday, July 4, 2025 The Grape Growers of Ontario’s marks the opening of the by showcasing Canadian personalities and celebrating the annual grape harvest. This year, in partnership with Meridian Credit Union, Ontario’s largest credit union and the third largest in Canada, the Grape Growers of Ontario... Read this article online
Ontario crops respond to summer heat Wednesday, July 2, 2025 According to the OMAFA Field Crop News team, Ontario field crops are showing rapid development as summer-like temperatures have dominated late June early July. The warm spell has accelerated growth and helped reduce the heat unit deficit from a cool spring. Corn fields have seen a burst... Read this article online
Canada’s Place in Global Food System Resilience Wednesday, July 2, 2025 Canada’s food system is facing serious pressure due to global supply chain issues, climate change, and rising food prices. According to a KPMG report, bold and united action is needed now to make Canada’s agriculture sector more resilient and self-reliant. With the global population... Read this article online
Calf Auction Raises Funds for Youth Monday, June 30, 2025 Wyatt Westman-Frijters from Milverton won a heifer calf named Ingrid through a World Milk Day promotion by Maplevue Farms and a local Perth, Ontario radio station. Instead of keeping the calf, 22-year-old Westman-Frijters chose to give back to the community. The calf was sent to the... Read this article online