A private member’s bill entitled the “Modernizing Animal Protections Act” will receive second reading on September 28, 2016. The bill is set for a vote in Canada’s House of Commons late next week. While the off-the-hop goals of avoiding shark harvesting in Canadian waters and shutting down puppy mills seem in line with the title,… Read More
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture is hoping the arrival of new federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay will mark a change in the impact farmers have on public policy. MacAulay’s been on the job for less than a month, but so far Ron Bonnett likes what he sees. The CFA president received a call from the… Read More
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture has re-elected Don McCabe as its president for 2016. The Lambton County farmer was unopposed for the position, which he won for the second consecutive year during the OFA’s annual meeting in Toronto this week. Despite being acclaimed, there were some challenges for the returning president regarding how he and… Read More
Some call it a tax, others a subsidy, but those selling the carbon cap and trade model for Ontario call it a boon for the economy, agriculture included. Recently, Ontario’s premier, Kathleen Wynne, announced the province was committed to the establishment of a cap and trade system to “address climate change by limiting sources of… Read More
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has published its full comment on the Ontario government’s pollinator health proposal — a proposal that singles out neonicotinoid seed treatments of corn and soybean crops as a key factor in pollinator health risks. OFA’s response includes four key points, including: the need for and content of a pollinator… Read More
What’s the danger of building regulations on a “precautionary principle?” Is the Ontario government’s push to regulate neonicotinoids moving too quickly? That’s part of the discussion that Real Agriculture’s Bernard Tobin had with Paul Wettlaufer and Mark Wales, both of whom are farmers and directors with Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). In the interview below Wettlaufer… Read More
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture held its annual general meeting in Niagara, November 24 and 25th, 2014, where delegates from across the provinces voted in a new president and vice president. Former vice president, Don McCabe, got the all-clear to move up to the role of president, preventing Mark Wales from a fourth and final term…. Read More
With so much change and uncertainty surrounding us, the saying (curse?) “may you live in interesting times” is certainly appropriate this year among farmers. I’m hoping farmers are front and centre in everyone’s thoughts as Thanksgiving approaches and their efforts to feed us are remembered, particularly in a year in which they’ve had more than… Read More
Technology has brought us leaps and bounds forward in regards to renewable fuel, to the point where the focus is shifting to biomass as a fuel source instead of grain, helping to cool the food vs. fuel debate. But biomass is also critical to soil health and stability, as roots provide much-needed soil anchoring and… Read More
When farmers aren’t busy farming, it turns out they’re busy lobbying the government with ideas, strategies and suggestions to keep farming vibrant. A new members’ survey by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the province’s largest general farm group, shows many farmers are dedicating time to contacting representatives at all three levels – municipal, provincial and… Read More
This morning at the Ontario Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting in Toronto, the Premier and Provincial Ag Minister, Kathleen Wynne, talked to the delegates about the state of agriculture in the province. Wynne talked about job growth, the opportunity for young people and more. When the meeting was handed off to the question and… Read More
The very dry conditions in Ontario this summer have left many livestock producers very short on forage. The Hay East initiative (www.HayEast2012.com) is still looking for donations from the west and now has widened the request to include Ontario farmers with a little extra to spare. Jim Hair (@OFA1) posted this tweet this morning: #HayEast… Read More
After he was re-elected this week as the President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Shaun Haney asked Mark Wales his opinion on the overall health of Ontario agriculture. If you cannot see the below embedded video, CLICK HERE Register to continue reading Join the RealAg Community Create a FREE account to access exclusive content,… Read More
This week the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is holding its AGM. With a AGM comes an election. On Monday, Mark Wales was re-elected as President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Mark Wales is re-elected & will serve another full year term as OFA President #ofa2012agm yfrog.com/kecl8ulj — Ont. Fed. of Agri. (@OntarioFarms) November 19, 2012… Read More
With Bette Jean Crews not seeking re-election for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture Presidency, there were three contenders for the the Presidency. The candidates were Mark Wales, Don McCabe and Wayne Black. Both McCabe and Wales were Vice Presidents with the OFA this past year. In an incredibly close second vote, Mark Wales edged out… Read More