Ontario lags in farm income Sunday, May 24, 2009 by BETTER FARMING STAFFDespite huge leaps in their operating expenses last year, Ontario’s farmers took home a tidy profit, according to figures released today from Statistics Canada.But with the country’s highest building depreciation expenses (the amount of money farmers must set aside to replace older buildings at current market prices) and third-highest machinery depreciation expenses for 2008, that extra cash may be needed for on-farm improvements.And so far this year, farm cash receipts for Ontario farmers don’t appear to be as lucrative as they are elsewhere in Canada: while nationally, receipts were up 7.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same time last year, Ontario’s dropped 1.1 per cent.StatsCan attributes a 14.1 per cent increase in 2008 market receipts for Canadian farmers to strong prices for grains and oilseeds. The prices peaked in mid-2008 and have since fallen off. In the livestock sector there were increases in market receipts for cattle (2.4 per cent) and supply-managed commodities (5.7 per cent). Hog revenues dropped 2.9 per cent. In total, Canada’s farmers brought home $41.8 billion in market receipts.Total net income for Ontario’s farmers jumped to $262 million in 2008 from -$220 million in 2007; federally, it jumped to $6.1 billion from $1 billion in the same time period.Stephen Boyd, head of the agriculture division farm expenses unit at Statistics Canada, says Ontario had the highest operating expense level compared to other provinces in both 2007 and 2008 as well as the highest revenues. “This is because Ont. is the province with the largest number of farms,” he writes in an email. In 2006, Ontario had 57,211 farms; Alberta had the next highest number at 49,431. BF Wheat dust-up isolates director 'Aggregate trumps a lot of things'
From Plows to Plates - The 2025 International Plowing Match Returns to Niagara Friday, September 12, 2025 For the first time since 1926, the International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (IPM) is returning to the Niagara Region Setpember 16 to 20. Set to take place in West Lincoln, the 106th edition of this iconic event will run under the theme “,” celebrating the deep roots and fresh flavours of... Read this article online
Festival of Guest Nations returns to Leamington Friday, September 12, 2025 On Sunday, September 14, 2025, Seacliff Park in Leamington, Ontario, will come alive with music, food, and celebration as the Festival of Guest Nations returns to honour the migrant worker communities who play a vital role in Essex County’s agricultural economy. With more than 20 years... Read this article online
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