New president for OFA Wednesday, November 26, 2008 by BETTER FARMING STAFFCashcropper Don McCabe, Inwood, and garlic grower Mark Wales, Aylmer, were elected as vice-presidents in a run off beating out Debra Pretty-Straathof, Arnprior, Wendy Omvlee, Haldimand, and Joe Vermunt, Huron County.In her acceptance speech, Crews warned that farmers face some tough times. Some farmers have benefited from a trend to consuming locally produced food. Farmers will potentially be hurt as the economy slides towards recession or worse. Processors and consumers will be looking for deals, she said. “That always comes back to bite the farmer.”Crews pledged to work with the new governance structure at the federation. Immediately following the convention, a board of 18 that meets monthly and an advisory council that meets periodically replace an old board model with approximately 100 members representing counties and commodities. Crews said the new structure offered many opportunities to develop policy that doesn’t disadvantage any commodity or any sector.”Farm groups are likely to find it challenging to work with the provincial government in tough economic times. Speaking to the convention floor, Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky said "we will have to find ways to support the industry without direct payments." BF Release of grains and oilseeds merger vote on hold Storing biosolids in manure pits tanked - for now
Swine Health Ontario confirms first PED case of 2026 Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Ontario has its first case of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in 2026. A finisher barn in Perth County is dealing with the disease as of Jan. 2, Swine Health Ontario says. In total, Ontario has 23 active instances of PED dating back to January 2025. Seven are in Perth County,... Read this article online
Bushel Plus unveils modular X9 Split Frame MAD Concaves for John Deere X9 combines Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Bushel Plus Ltd. has introduced a major update to its MAD Concave lineup with the launch of the X9 Split Frame MAD Concaves, a modular system engineered specifically for John Deere X9 Series combines. Bushel Plus is a global leader in harvest optimization technology, dedicated to helping... Read this article online
PigTek offers new warranties on select products Monday, January 5, 2026 Following recent updates to its feed line offering, PigTek of Milford, Indiana, has announced new five-year limited warranties on select products. The company’s anchor bearing, stainless-steel boots, and stainless-steel control units now come with the industry-leading warranties for... Read this article online
Ontario Farmers -- Share Your 2026 Planting Plans and Win Big! Monday, January 5, 2026 Would you like an early look at what Ontario farmers will plant in 2026 and how the acreage mix might shape up? Farms.com Risk Management is inviting farmers across Ontario to participate in the Annual Ontario Planting Intentions Survey—a quick and easy way to share your plans and gain... Read this article online
Women Farmers Drive Growth in Canadian Agriculture Monday, December 29, 2025 For the first time since 1991, Statistics Canada reports a significant increase in female farm operators across Canada. In 2021, there were nearly 80,000 women leading farm operations. Today, that number is closer to 90,000—a milestone that reflects a powerful shift in the agricultural... Read this article online