Tribunal to tackle chicken quota allotment, proposed dairy plant Thursday, October 13, 2011 by SUSAN MANNChicken Farmers of Ontario and a group representing the province’s dairy processors will be involved in two separate hearings at the Ontario Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal next month.Chicken farmer Max Burt of Gore Bay is appealing a decision by Chicken Farmers of Ontario denying his request for allotment of basic quota for chicken production and marketing based on historic chicken production by his father during the qualifying period. The hearing is scheduled for Nov. 1 in Sudbury.Burt couldn’t be reached for comment. Chicken Farmers communications coordinator Megan McCune says the board doesn’t make comments on anything that goes to the tribunal.The other hearing involves the Ontario Dairy Council, which is appealing a decision by the director of OMAFRA’s food industry branch who granted a permit to Esskay Dairy Ltd. to construct or alter a building intended for use as a plant. That hearing is scheduled for Nov. 8 in Guelph.Dairy council president Tom Kane couldn’t be reached for comment. In a Sept. 13 letter to the tribunal requesting the appeal, Kane says the director’s opinion is the plant is necessary but the council and dairy processing industry disagree.Due to the limitations of the milk supply management agreement, which OMAFRA is the provincial government signatory, there is only a limited volume of milk available to all industrial milk processors. The milk that will be delivered to the Esskay Dairy plant will be taken away from other existing cheese, butter, and powder plants in Ontario, Kane writes. Kane notes the director says Esskay Dairy will be providing products for a growing ethnic market but fails to mention that there are a number of processing plants that are already servicing that market. The director didn’t provide any evidence that granting this application will expand the total demand for milk. The fact that the application is for a small volume of milk is of no consequence, he says. BF Barn party crackdown Canadian Dairy Commission chair retires
Strategies to Optimize Market Returns in Ontario Monday, September 15, 2025 Berkley Fedorchuk, grain marketing specialist with Hensall Co-op in Southwestern Ontario, recently shared insights into the current corn market and strategies for forward marketing during his presentation at the . With a focus on the Ontario and Eastern Canadian grain sectors,... Read this article online
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 September 16 to 20. Set to take place in West Lincoln, the 106th edition of this iconic event will run under the theme “From our Farm to your Table,” celebrating... 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