Premier Doug Ford’s government released its latest budget for Ontario, with a major focus on health care and housing. Tucked in the budget, however, are a few items directly or indirectly applicable to agriculture in the province, including a focus on improving veterinary access in under-serviced areas, support for trades, and a manufacturing credit. In… Read More

Ontario heads to the polls June 2, 2022, to select its next government. We’ve heard from the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), on the six priority areas the organization is focused on. But what does the livestock sector need? For the dairy, beef, and lamb sectors, there are common asks surrounding infrastructure needs and risk… Read More

Beginning his eighth year on the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) board, Jack Chaffe will lead the producer group as president for the year. Chaffe and his family operate a fifth-generation farm near Mitchell, Ontario, and market over 2,500-head of cattle per year through the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program. Announced at the BFO’s 60th annual… Read More

The Ontario government is increasing loan limits for the Feeder Cattle Loan Guarantee Program from $500,000 to $1 million for individual co-op members, and up to $1.5 million for corporations that participate in feeder cattle co-operatives. The government says the increase applies to “experienced” individuals and corporations only. The loan guarantee is designed to help beef… Read More

Ontario veterinarians will be able to access a portion of up to $4 million for new, portal and virtual equipment. Funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Livestock Veterinary Innovation Initiative is intended to increase the access options for veterinary care, especially in rural and northern Ontario. The province says the program will target investment… Read More

Farmers and ranchers in the drought-affected areas of Ontario will have an opportunity to access up to $15,000 per farm for well drilling and pond construction projects. Applications for the Northwestern Ontario Drought Assistance Initiative will open later in September through Agricorp. The program will be retroactive to June 14, 2021. Ontario will provide up… Read More

The Government of Ontario has announced up to $2 million to assist with emergency measures for feed, water, and basic needs for livestock in the Rainy River and Kenora Districts. The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) will administer up to $800,000 of the Northwestern Livestock Emergency Assistance Initiative to help deal with the immediate feed shortages on… Read More

An important step forward was taken May 27 for the Canadian beef industry, as the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recognized Canada as negligible risk for Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). “The recommendation by the OIE’s Scientific Commission to grant Canada negligible risk status for BSE is a historic closing of the BSE era for… Read More

The  Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has launched an advocacy campaign called Home Grown in an effort to decrease the loss of farmland to development. “Once it’s paved over, it’s gone forever,” the organization says. Home Grown focuses on protecting and preserving farmland and domestic food production, and is designed to increase awareness on the issue and… Read More

When asked why the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) recently announced a policy to focus on inclusion within the beef value chain, Joe Dickenson says it should have been done years ago. Dickenson is a beef producer from near Oil Springs, Ont., and a feedlot director for BFO. He’s also been instrumental in moving this… Read More

Frontline essential workers, including those in the food processing sector, will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in the next round of immunizations, says Ontario’s premier Doug Ford. In late December, Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) and the Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association along with the Canadian Meat Council, Meat and Poultry Ontario, Food and Beverage Ontario, Ontario… Read More

Updated story: Details of the program are now listed on Agricorp’s website The governments of Canada and Ontario have committed $5 million in immediate, emergency assistance for the province’s beef farmers through funding for feeding costs associated with market-ready cattle that must be set-aside due to COVID-19-related processing disruptions. Last Thursday, Cargill’s Better Beef plant… Read More

The Beef Farmers of Ontario is setting out its commitment to diversity and inclusion in its industry. In an announcement on its website, Beef Farmers of Ontario says the Ontario beef industry is an ally against discrimination based on race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, and ability (visible and invisible), as well as linguistic discrimination. “We… Read More

 

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