The Ontario Corn Fed Beef Quality Assurance Program has been approved as the certification body Certified Sustainable Beef Framework’s Sustainable Beef Production Standard for beef feedlot operations in Ontario. The standard, under the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), will be an additional offering of quality assurance programs certified by Ontario Corn Fed Beef, streamlining… Read More
Tag: Beef Farmers of Ontario
Beef Farmers of Ontario, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Veal Farmers of Ontario, and the Ontario Sheep Farmers are collectively asking Ontario’s Premier and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to immediately move to fully fund the Ontario Risk Management Program (RMP) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Representing over 50,000 Ontario farmers, the groups say… Read More
While there is plenty of attention on the growing beef processing crisis in Western Canada, beef producers in Eastern Canada are also struggling with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) has published a video request of the federal government, which includes several voices from the beef industry’s eastern producers… Read More
Ontario’s beef producer group has asked both beef and dairy producers to hold back cull cows in an attempt to ease the pinch on beef processing capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Processing backlogs have plagued the eastern Canadian beef sector for many months due to a lack of sufficient processing capacity and plant closures, says… Read More
Reduced slaughter capacity, tanked prices, and capped risk management programs have beef farmers in Ontario going public asking the federal and provincial governments to do more to #HelpBeefFarmers. Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) says producers are at a “tipping point” and facing economic crisis. The group says market and trade disruptions have caused average weekly… Read More
Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) has elected Rob Lipsett as its new president, with Jack Chaffe serving as vice president. Lipsett replaces Joe Hill, who stepped down after completing the maximum three terms on the BFO board of directors. The new executive was voted in at the 58th annual general meeting held last week in… Read More
Following months of decreased beef slaughter capacity in Ontario, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has cancelled Safe Food for Canadian licences for Ryding-Regency Meat Packers LTD., located at Toronto; Canadian Select Meats Inc. (operating under St. Ann’s Foods Inc); and The Beef Boutique LTD, (operating under St. Ann’s Foods Inc.). CFIA says the decision… Read More
It’s been over two months since the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) suspended the license of a beef slaughter and processing plant in Ontario, and the shutdown is taking a toll on the eastern Canadian beef industry. Toronto-based Ryding-Regency Meat Packers Ltd. saw the suspension of its Safe Food for Canadians license effective September 17,… Read More
The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) and Les Producteurs de bovins du Québec (PBQ) are calling on federal party leaders to include, as a first priority in the mandate of the Minister of Agriculture & Agri-Food, a beef cattle investment and assistance program to help farmers in Ontario and Quebec mitigate the harm of recent… Read More
As trade talks among several countries continue to rock the markets, the Ontario government is stepping up to help those that export food and agri-products to pursue new markets. The provincial government will begin accepting applications for its Market Access Initiative, a new cost-share funding initiative that’s open to all Ontario food and agri-product exporters…. Read More
The Ontario Beef Research Centre has officially opened at the Elora Research Station, adjacent to the Ontario Dairy Research Centre and the soon-to-be constructed Ontario Swine Research Centre. The new centre supports research related to animal welfare, reproduction, and nutrition as well as meat quality and safety. Research results will be commercialized or shared with… Read More
The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) have announced Richard Horne as its new executive director, effective July 22, 2019. Horne most recently served as manager of policy and issues for the producer group, a role he’s held since 2014. Horne replaces Dave Stewart, who will remain employed by BFO in an advisory capacity until August… Read More
This past week the Beef Farmers of Ontario held their annual general meeting near the Toronto airport to take care of some business and discuss the year ahead. The meat sector has seen strong demand for product due to positive economic factors, but 2019 could be different. Additionally, producers are facing increasing costs due to… Read More
When your back’s against the wall, and talking and reasoning isn’t working, sometimes a 1-2 punch seems like the only forward. For example, in recent times, some Ontario farm groups — grain farmers, in particular — have used what appeared to be a pretty tough approach in dealing with pressure over neonicotinoid pesticides. People in… Read More
Ontario beef farmers will now have access to double the individual loan limits under the Ontario Feeder Cattle Loan Guarantee program. For the purchasing of feeder cattle, new members who are enrolled in the program are now able to access a loan for up to $100,000 (an increase of $50,000), and existing members are now… Read More