Norwich couple win egg quota competition Wednesday, November 16, 2011 by BETTER FARMING STAFFMichael and Gwen Van Gurp of Norwich are the first recipients of the New Entrant Quota Loan Pool (NEQLP) program. Their selection was announced Tuesday at Egg Farmers of Ontario's (EFO) Annual Councilors' Workshop.Picked by a selection committee from among 84 applicants, the Van Gurps will be loaned two units of quota, up to 5,000 units, for every unit they buy. After 10 years, the loaned quota will be returned to the NEQLP program in five installments of 20 per cent each year over five years.To be considered for EFO's new entrant program, an applicant must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant and be a permanent resident of Ontario. Applicants cannot hold quota of any type in the supply-managed sector (egg, pullet, chicken, turkey, dairy, or hatching eggs) and not have held quota, currently or in the past, of any type in the supply-managed sector. Priority is given to persons between the ages of 18 and 45.The program was announced in March at the annual meeting of the EFO. The EFO will allocate 50,000 units of egg quota over a 10-year period into the program and, each year, up to 5,000 units of egg quota will be loaned. EFO general manager Harry Pelissero said the program is designed to be self-perpetuating and is expected to continue indefinitely. When loaned quota is returned to the program, it will go out to new recipients. At today’s prices, each unit of quota is worth between $230 and $240. BF Greenbelt poll questioned Farmland prices are on a roll
Colouring a Safer Future for Farm Kids Tuesday, April 28, 2026 Teaching children about farm safety is an essential part of protecting the future of Canadian agriculture. With that goal in mind, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has launched the Kids FarmSafe Colouring Contest, a creative initiative designed to help young people learn... Read this article online
Spring Economic Update Sets the Stage for a Challenging Year on the Farm Tuesday, April 28, 2026 The Federal Government released its 2026 Spring Economic Update on April 28, outlining the country’s current economic position and federal priorities for the months ahead. While the update does not contain new direct funding announcements for agriculture, it offers important signals for... Read this article online
Bluetooth Meets Bumblebees in Groundbreaking Guelph Study Tuesday, April 28, 2026 Queen bumblebees at the University of Guelph Arboretum will be carrying some of the smallest tracking devices ever used in pollinator research this summer. Fifty queens are being fitted with ultra-lightweight Bluetooth radiotransmitters as part of a study aimed at better understanding... Read this article online
Ontario Plans New Law to Protect Farmland Friday, April 24, 2026 Ontario is taking new steps to protect its farmland and strengthen the agri-food sector. The provincial government plans to introduce legislation that would limit the foreign acquisition of Ontario farmland. The goal is to keep farms in domestic hands and protect local food production for... Read this article online
Fuel Tax Suspension Offers Timely Relief for Canadian Farmers Ahead of Peak Growing Season Friday, April 24, 2026 Canadians are set to see short-term relief at the fuel pump following a major federal policy announcement that directly affects on-farm operating costs. On April 14, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the federal government will temporarily suspend the Fuel Excise Tax on gasoline, diesel,... Read this article online