Regulation changes for Ontario's meat processors and anaerobic digester operators Friday, November 1, 2013 by SUSAN MANN Provincial government changes to meat regulations that take effect Jan. 1, 2014 will make it easier for businesses to comply with the rules. Laurie Nicol, executive director of the Ontario Independent Meat Processors, says there are a number technical amendments to regulations under the Food Safety and Quality Act “that will provide flexibility and reduce some regulatory burdens.” The changes will make the regulations more modern and “outcome based,” she adds. The regulation changes cover a “number of critical control areas,” she says. The language is clearer, less prescriptive and the regulation is more outcome based. “There are many ways to achieve the same outcome but in the regulatory text it was very prescribed before,” she explains. The meat processors association isn’t advocating for lower standards and companies still must have controls in place to cover, for example, the handling of dry storage. The regulation just isn’t going to specify any one way that it must be handled. As long as meat processors meet the food safety requirements of the regulations, there will be some latitude in how they accomplish them. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food says on its website the meat regulation changes are part of the “Open for Business strategy and reduces regulatory burden on businesses while continuing to protect the public interest.” Another recent regulatory change under the strategy is to streamline approvals for on-farm anaerobic digestion facilities that treat up to 50 per cent off-farm materials, which includes organic waste materials from food processing and feed production. The changes will enable those facilities to be regulated under the Nutrient Management Act. That will lead to faster approval times and lower costs but environmental protection requirements will continue. The changes were effective Oct. 25. BF The changing face of Ontario's agricultural research DuPont adds to Chatham facility
Free Tools to Power Up Your Farm’s Digital Life in Canada Wednesday, October 22, 2025 By Farms.com Based on an Article on SmallFarmCanada.ca by Jeff Buell For many Canadian farm families, the internet has become as vital as a tractor or combine. It is how producers manage precision planting, monitor commodity prices, check weather forecasts, pay bills and stay... Read this article online
Precision Harvesting with HeadSight and TrueSight Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Modern harvesting relies heavily on precision and smart technology, and new systems for head height control and steering are making sure you are not leaving bushels in the field. These innovations ensure efficient crop collection, protect equipment, and reduce operator fatigue during... Read this article online
Remembering Ralph Winfield: Beloved Better Farming Columnist Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Ontario's farming community is mourning the loss of longtime agricultural writerRalph Gordon Winfieldof Glanworth, who passed away peacefully at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Oct. 17, 2025, at the age of 85. Ralph’s name has been closely tied to Better Farming since 1999. His... Read this article online
Case IH FieldOps Brings Smart Connectivity to Modern Farming Friday, October 17, 2025 that FieldOps operates on desktops through a web interface and on mobile devices through an app compatible with iPhone, Android, or iPad. This flexibility allows farmers to access critical machine and field information anytime, anywhere. One of the most significant upgrades to... Read this article online
New Holland Marks 50 Years of Twin Rotor Innovation Friday, October 17, 2025 New Holland is celebrating 50 years of leadership in twin rotor harvesting technology, a milestone that began with the introduction of the TR70 combine in 1975. This machine transformed agriculture by bringing the world the concept of twin rotor threshing and... Read this article online