Practical Farmers pursues quota exemption change Friday, December 21, 2012 by SUSAN MANNChicken Farmers of Ontario has 30 days to respond to a Practical Farmers of Ontario request to increase the number of chickens farmers can raise without quota.But if the organization says no again, Sean McGivern, Practical Famers president, says they’ll request the change through an appeal to the Ontario Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal. The group is asking the amount be raised to 2,000 meat birds without quota from the current limit of 300 and that farmers be permitted to sell their processed chicken beyond their farm gate.“We’re not willing to negotiate a watered-down version” of the request, McGivern says.McGivern and Practical Farmers board member Vera Topp of Guelph attended a 1.5-hour hearing Thursday afternoon before the chicken board at its office in Burlington.“We believe that they’ve taken us seriously enough that they had their lawyer, Geoffrey Spurr, accompany them at the hearing,” McGivern notes, adding Practical Farmers wasn’t represented by a lawyer.“We think it’s time the chicken board comes up to speed and meets the needs and requirements of farms in today’s era,” he says. “There’s lots of room in the marketplace for everybody.”McGivern says in their presentation they included a 600-name petition supporting the change. The supporters are farmers and consumers who filled in the petition found on Practical Farmers’ website. Practical Farmers is continuing the petition and by January they’re hoping to have 1,000 names.Another group, Sustain Ontario, recently launched a postcard campaign called – Are We Too Chicken? – requesting the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission work with industry stakeholders to increase the number of chickens farmers can raise without quota. BF Water management makes 2013 priority lists Accreditation eludes NFU-O
Pilot project supports Ontario and Quebec ag Friday, July 24, 2026 A new two-year pilot project is designed to help livestock farmers in Quebec by giving them access to an Ontario abattoir. The project, a collaboration between the Quebec and Ontario governments, with additional support from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), would see a limited... Read this article online
Canada Opens Interprovincial Alcohol Sales Thursday, July 23, 2026 A major change to Canada's internal marketplace is set to create new opportunities for wineries, breweries and distilleries after nine provinces signed a landmark agreement allowing direct-to-consumer sales of alcoholic beverages across participating jurisdictions. The deal is being hailed... Read this article online
Heat and Rain have led to a challenging growing season for Cauliflower Growers in Ontario. Thursday, July 23, 2026 There are only 1,225 acres dedicated to growing cauliflower in Ontario, but they produce 14,545,000 lbs of the vegetable. Growers across key vegetable-producing regions are preparing for increased shipments of locally grown cauliflower to grocery stores, restaurants, wholesalers and... Read this article online
Who Knew so Much Canadian Watermelon is Grown in Ontario Thursday, July 23, 2026 Many consumers may think of watermelon as an exotic fruit, but Ontario grows about2,000 acresof watermelons each year, more than 35,084tonnesof watermelon.Watermelonharvest now is underway. Watermelon originated in northeastern Africa, particularly in the region that today includes Sudan... Read this article online
Ontario Farmers Harvest One of Canada’s Top Carrot Crops Wednesday, July 22, 2026 Carrots are among Ontario's most important vegetable crops, contributing significantly to local food production and year-round fresh produce availability. Ontario grows the most carrots of any Canadian province – 45% of the country’s carrots. According to Statistics Canada, Ontario... Read this article online