All Blog Posts (442)

The new Ontario government believes in a strong, sustainable future for the horse racing industry in this province. We have a plan, guided by the report of the Horse Racing Industry Transition Panel, for a way forward that will put the industry on a sustainable path – and while  we’ve already made a lot of progress, we know there is more work to be done.

We have committed up to $180 million to support the industry over the next three years as it adapts to a…

The official opening of a new $10 million state-of-the-art greenhouse facility at the Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre (SCPFRC), part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada was held Thursday afternoon. Researchers discussed how Canadian farmers stand to benefit from research focused on improving crop quality, productivity, and disease and insect resistance, to be done at the  newly constructed greenhouse. 

"By investing in research, we are…

I could not believe it: A frontal thunder storm system had barely crossed southwestern Ontario to reach our Guelph-area farm, and Peter Johnson was already tweeting advice to farmers – how to deal the inevitable soil crusting problem which pounding rain would cause, preventing the emergence of recently planted soybean seeds/seedlings.

That incident is far from unique. Late May frosts triggered early Saturday morning tweets from Johnson, Mike Cowbrough and several other field staffers…

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) scientists in Guelph, Ontario are studying the nutritional benefits of Ontario-grown quinoa and amaranth as part of a project to determine the potential for introducing these South American grains to Ontario.

This year has been declared “The International Year of the Quinoa” by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Dr. Rong Cao, a scientist at AAFC’s Guelph Food…

By Nathan Stevens

May 10, 2013

 

The first proposed budget under our new Premier holds many positive commitments for agriculture and rural Ontario. The CFFO is pleased that there are commitments to the key issues that the organization raised in its budget submission on the need for fiscal discipline, the need for a focus on innovation, and the need for regulatory modernization. However, there are some areas of concern as…

Find more photos like this on Ontario…

2012-2013 Agriwebinar® Series

Farmland values in Ontario increased an average of 11.9% in the second half of 2012, following gains of 16.3% and 7.2% in the previous two reporting periods. Farmland values in Ontario have risen for the past 20 years.

Some cash crop producers leveraged their current land holdings to purchase less expensive land in other locations, such as in Northern Ontario, yet the resulting impact on farmland values was relatively modest. The…

By Nathan Stevens

April 12, 2013

 

“Raising animals and livestock requires time, patience and a true commitment to the process, with an end result being our best quality product.”

That sums up the commitment Dana and Adam Thatcher, of Thatchers’ Farms in Rockwood have for their farm operation. The Thatchers received the top honour at the provincial awards ceremony held in Guelph on March 26. Winners of the award are chosen based on career progress; environmental and safety practices; crop and livestock production history;…

The slow pace of winter is starting to give way to a renewed urgency to get things ready for planting season.  The winter has stubbornly refused to let go, but as the sun climbs higher in the sky and the hours of daylight continue to increase, its days are numbered.  That doesn't stop the cold mornings from putting on a show.…