Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Dufferin Cty - Honeywood land

A new issue (to me in Huron County) has been brought to my attention. I am quickly being brought up to speed but as we all know, there are always unanswered questions. I thought I would throw it out there to see if anyone out there can toss it back at me.
All I know - vast tract of land being aquired by the Highland Companies. (over 6000 ac). Apparently it is potato land. Someone has decided it is to be mined? Limestone Quarry?
Two articles that I have found dated April 23 (Orangeville paper) and June 23 (marketwire):
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009/0423/mailbox/026.html
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/North-Dufferin-Agricultural...

(added Sept. 23) Found a main site for the local resident group: http://www.ndact.com/NDACT/

If anyone has any input - toss it out here.
Wayne Black

Views: 61

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Avia Eek on September 24, 2009 at 7:39am
I'm learning all about people dropping the ball. Our Minister of Energy, Smitherman, and the OPA had decided that northern York Region needed an additional power supply in "peak" times during the summer and winter. They chose the Holland Marsh, or more specifically, "just outside" of the Holland Marsh. The facility is slated to be built in a flood plain, beside Specialty Crop Area, in the Greenbelt, and on prime agricultural land--go figure. Oh yeah, it will require 18 km of 16" high pressure gas line to feed the plant. The crazy thing is, we are King Township and are on a separate grid, this will not benefit us at all. 170 tonnes of greenhouse gases will be spewed into the air at 900 degrees and will no doubt affect our micro climate (one of three in Ontario). The ironic thing is Smitherman is denying solar farms--where the land can be returned to agriculture in 20 years,--on prime agricultural land, yet insisting the natural gas-fired peaker plant should be on prime agricultural
Permalink Reply by Wayne Black on September 28, 2009 at 9:38am
Rec'd today via email. the Hellman's video was attached which is already posted here in my videos.
Wayne Black

Anyone noticed the rapid rate that Ontario farmland is being eaten up by urban sprawl, road expansion, etc.? Anyone think it’s wrong that Royal Gala apples from Chile were featured front and centre when I entered Sobey’s this week when I can currently pick them fifteen minutes from my house? Ever wonder when the provincial government is going to prioritize the protection of farmland in addition to setting aside ‘green areas’? Do you stop to question how our ever increasing population will be fed as well as we are today by an ever decreasing quantity of local farmers and farmland?

Want to know something you can do?

You can sign an online petition against a proposed 6000 acre quarry (the size of Orangeville pop. 30,000). It is currently threatening Class 1 farmland (highest productivity) within a 1 hr drive of Toronto (north of Shelburne my hometown). Not only is the farmland threatened, but the pit location also threatens underground streams and rivers which form the headwaters of the Nottawasaga and Grand River systems so groundwater supply is at risk. The topsoil required for agricultural use is a limited natural resource. Ontario residents need to speak out so that the things we take for granted still exist for generations to come.

http://www.ndact.com/NDACT/Petition.html

Thanks for your time!

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

2025-2026 Agronomy Resources Survey

Attention agricultural producers and agrologists: We need your input on publicly available agronomic resources to inform future funding and research! Please click on the following link to answer the short online survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/AgronomyResourcesSurvey The  Agronomy Resources Survey, conducted through the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan, studies the outcomes of public and producer investment in agronomic research. This survey is intended for both agricultural producers and agrologists. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of agronomic resources developed through research co-funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, as part of due diligence to ensure the effective use of public and producer funds. The results of this impact assessment study will provide insight to policy makers and researchers on what agronomic resources are useful to producers and agrologists which can then inform future funding of res

Twelve USask students receive Sask Wheat 2024-2025 scholarships and awards

The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat) committed $165,000 to six undergraduate and six graduate student awards and scholarships to students at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) College of Agriculture and Bioresources in 2024. That brought Sask Wheat’s total commitment to student scholarships and awards to $1,055,000 since 2015. Sask Wheat’s objective when establishing the Sask Wheat Undergraduate Awards and Scholarships and Graduate Scholarships at USask was to assist in the education of Agriculture and Bioresources students, strengthening the development of Saskatchewan’s next generation of producers, agronomists, and researchers. Further, the graduate scholarships enhance the college’s research capabilities and complement research being undertaken by the faculty.

Welcoming new Board chair and vice-chair 2026

The Board of Directors of Sask Wheat elected Jocelyn Velestuk as chair and Rob Stone as vice-chair. Their positions became effective Jan. 13, 2026. Based near Broadview, SK, Velestuk farms with her husband working with a mix of beef and grain. She has an M.Sc. in Soil Science, and a B.Sc. in Agriculture, Environmental and Soil Science, both from the University of Saskatchewan. As someone who notes her interest and passion for bridging the communication between producers and researchers, she looks to garner a growth mindset. Velestuk is also the current chair of the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition, and sits on the Sask Wheat Research Committee. The newly-appointed Sask Wheat chair is entering her seventh year as a member after being acclaimed to the board following the 2020 director nominations. When it comes to her plans, she wants to see an upward trajectory when it comes to growth while continuing the ongoing efforts to be leaders in the agriculture sector. “I hope to continue th

Monette Farms Puts 16 Saskatchewan Farm Packages Up for Sale in Major Land Offering

Monette Farms—one of Western Canada’s biggest farming operations—is offering 16 “well stewarded” Saskatchewan farms for sale.

Ag highlighted in some Super Bowl LX commercials

PepsiCo’s commercial for Lay’s chips is called “Last Harvest”

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service