Grain Growers of Canada welcomed four new members at the group’s annual summer meeting in Guelph, Ont. last week. Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and Producteurs de grains du Québec joined the national crop producer policy organization. “From our perspective, GFO needed a strong voice in Ottawa that represented farmers,” noted GFO CEO… Read more »
Category: Eastern Canada
Gabrielle Ferguson to lead Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program
The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) has announced that Gabrielle Ferguson will take the helm of its leadership program offerings, including its flagship Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP). As leadership programs director, Ferguson will be directly responsible for managing the long-running agriculture and food industry executive development program. She will also work to maintain and create sponsor relationships… Read more »
Ontario’s new government puts the brakes on farm funding
Ernie Hardeman has been on the job less than a month and farmers have plenty of questions for Ontario’s new minister of agriculture. One question many are asking is what’s happening with Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) funding? RealAgriculture’s own Lyndsey Smith submitted a funding application back in May and waited patiently through the 45-day business… Read more »
Tragedy strikes dairy farmers’ Canadian milk tour
An Ontario farm couple’s cross-country tractor tour to show support for Canada’s dairy sector has ended in tragedy on a highway northwest of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The tractor driven by Henk and Bettina Schuurmans, dairy farmers from Elmira, Ontario, collided with a semi on Highway 16 near Dalmeny on Monday at around 9 am. Bettina, 55,… Read more »
Register now for Straight Cutting Canola Webinar
The 2018 Straight Cutting Canola Webinar is your chance to learn about straight cutting best practices and innovations from industry experts and experienced growers. Join us on either Wednesday, July 11th OR Friday, July 13th. Whichever day you choose, please note that each webinar will kick off at 8:00 am MST. Click here to register now and… Read more »
Maizex and La Coop fédérée announce partnership
La Coop fédérée, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, has entered into a joint venture partnership with Tilbury, Ontario-based Maizex Seeds. The partnership will have a broad, national presence, the companies say. Maizex produces and markets seed corn and seed soybeans, while La Coop fédérée produces and markets seed for corn, soybeans, cereals, and forages under its Elite… Read more »
Maximize yield potential with YaraVita Hydrophos
As a crop input, phosphorus is one of those nutrients we tend to think about early, make application decisions as we are seeding, and then all too often, do not think about again until the next growing season. In reality, our crops have a season-long need for phosphate, and this singular focus and approach to… Read more »
Ernie Hardeman named Ontario agriculture minister
Oxford County MPP Ernie Hardeman has been tapped to lead the agriculture portfolio under Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s new cabinet, unveiled June 29, as Ford took power. Hardeman has held the post previously, serving as minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from 1999 to 2001 under then-premier Mike Harris. He has been an MPP… Read more »
Kentucky looks longingly across the fence at Ontario
Even though Kentucky’s first-ever agricultural trade mission was eight months in the making, no one would have blamed the state’s trade commission for delaying last week’s five-day trek to Ontario until the air cleared of anti-Canadian rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump. After all, not only are trade tensions high, but Kentucky is as pro-Trump… Read more »
Dry conditions drive surprisingly low top-dress recommendations on corn
New technology built on 30 years of Ontario- and Quebec-specific corn data is producing some surprising nitrogen top-dress recommendations for Ontario’s corn crop. The prescription? Some dry areas of the province with a 220 bushel corn yield target are receiving total N recommendations of just 100 pounds per acre. Yes, really. Is this even possible?… Read more »
Weather and geopolitical risk —This week in the grain markets
Except for wheat, grain markets this week trended mostly lower. The oilseed complex saw a significant sell-off as the start to the U.S. growing season has been good. Further, there haven’t been any noticeable discussion between the U.S. and China regarding trade. The market is interpreting this as bearish for soybeans. Next week Tuesday, June… Read more »
Ontario morphs into Ford Nation— who might end up as ag minister?
It’s been a wild few months for Ontario’s provincial leaders. From the sudden resignation of the PC’s Patrick Brown in late January, to the nail-biter of a leadership race between Christine Elliott and the eventual victor Doug Ford, and on to an election that saw Andrea Horwath’s fortunes rise even as Premier Kathleen Wynne conceded… Read more »
La Coop fédérée to build $90 million grain terminal at Port of Quebec
La Coop fédérée has announced plans for a $90 million grain transfer terminal to be built at the Port of Quebec for agriculture commodities destined for European and Asian markets. The new terminal at Pier 106 in Anse au Foulon will have the capacity to export of 1.3 million metric tons of grain per year, with an… Read more »
Coca-Cola to build fairlife milk processing facility at Peterborough
The news Coca-Cola and fairlife, LLC, have announced they will introduce fairlife Ultrafiltered Milk to Canada by the end of 2018. The introduction of the higher-protein, lower-sugar, lactose-free dairy beverage will also spur development of a new $85 million production facility at Peterborough, ON. This is the first market introduction outside of the U.S. for… Read more »
Election homestretch: Farm & rural platforms of the NDP and PCs
In a surprising twist to this already tumultuous provincial election, Premier Kathleen Wynne held a press conference over the weekend to concede defeat, days before the election is to be held. Wynne, emotional in her speech, admitted she has no chance of being re-elected premier, and instead urged voters to still vote Liberal to ensure… Read more »