Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

I was wondering how people felt about the closing of this local TV station?

Any memories?

Thanks,

Kevin

Views: 773

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Hi Kevin:

I grew up with only one channel....CKNX TV channel 8.
It was the only station until we had cable introduced sometime in the 70's I recall.

CKNX had hockey night in Canada in those years and you never missed that on Saturday nights.

Thanks CKNX.

Joe
There was some concern from various people that the local news would not be heard. In today's society where policy is perceived to be developed based on what is in the news media, local policy could be hampered since there is no local media other than small town localized print media and radio. With more urban based media reporting, the rural issues could be skewed incorrectly or completely missed.
CKNX offered a great media outlet for local residents in the surrounding counties. CKNX farm news was on the top list of things to watch and listen to. A respected farm news broadcaster from CKNX is even in the Ontario Agriculture Hall of Fame. A few people who have worked at CKNX TV have moved on to develop great ideas.
As Joe pointed out - Saturday night hockey games were a must.
But with new technology and the increased (perceived) need to increase in size for economies of scale, local TV has lost the respect from some residents. Society is more interested in what dress Michelle Obama is wearing than the fact the neighbour a mile away lost their heirlooms in a theft.
Changing of the times, changing of the guard. Make the best of it and remember the great things (and people) that have come out of the CKNX building near the top of the hill.
I still remember touring the station in public school and sitting in the chair that Bryan Allen sat in for many years. I do not recall the name of the sports guy.
Thanks a bunch CKNX for the memories.
The sports guy you're likely refering to Wayne is Fred Burton.
Local news did not make CKNX unique. Community newspapers will continue to do a fine job covering that. What made this station so special was the people they attracted to become farm directors. These guys became celebrities in a unique way, Bob Carbert, Rodger Schwass, Cliff Robb and Murray Guant to name just a few. The unique brand each developed and their trusted work is what we miss today.

Wayne Black said:
There was some concern from various people that the local news would not be heard. In today's society where policy is perceived to be developed based on what is in the news media, local policy could be hampered since there is no local media other than small town localized print media and radio. With more urban based media reporting, the rural issues could be skewed incorrectly or completely missed.
CKNX offered a great media outlet for local residents in the surrounding counties. CKNX farm news was on the top list of things to watch and listen to. A respected farm news broadcaster from CKNX is even in the Ontario Agriculture Hall of Fame. A few people who have worked at CKNX TV have moved on to develop great ideas.
As Joe pointed out - Saturday night hockey games were a must.
But with new technology and the increased (perceived) need to increase in size for economies of scale, local TV has lost the respect from some residents. Society is more interested in what dress Michelle Obama is wearing than the fact the neighbour a mile away lost their heirlooms in a theft.
Changing of the times, changing of the guard. Make the best of it and remember the great things (and people) that have come out of the CKNX building near the top of the hill.
I still remember touring the station in public school and sitting in the chair that Bryan Allen sat in for many years. I do not recall the name of the sports guy.
Thanks a bunch CKNX for the memories.

Reply to Discussion

RSS

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

SS400+ Road Show Update – Strong Momentum After Week Four

First few weeks into the SS400+ road show, interest keeps rising across every stop. Dealers and growers in Ontario, Michigan, and Indiana shared strong feedback. More regions now request field demos ahead of the tour schedule. Momentum keeps building as more people hear about the performance of the SS400+ Chassis Mounted Spinner Spreader. Numbers from the first three weeks show strong output. ·         Acres covered reached 3867.6 ·         Average rate reached 177.8 lb per acre ·         Total product applied reached 606,763 lb ·         Field time reached 16 hours 44 minutes ·         Ground speed held near 17 miles per hour ·         Hourly productivity reached 231.6 acres Michigan runs reached ranges between 183 and 300 acres per hour. Indiana stops reached steady output between 250 and 275 acres per hour. Every region reported consistent pattern quality, strong control across wide swaths, and smooth operation at higher speeds. Key SS400+ features drive this level of perfo

Market Trends Report – November & December 2025

US and the World It is that time of year when farmers reach the proverbial finish line, of getting that crop in the bin. The harvest of 2025 has been abundant, and it is also taking place in a very timely fashion with very good weather across the North American corn belt. At the same time there’s been a bit of a dearth of market information as the US government shutdown has meant very little in terms of information coming out from USDA. However, this all changed on November the 14th when despite the continuing governing shutdown, the USDA released their latest WASDE report. For market watchers it was a long two months without USDA numbers. Many were expecting much lower numbers in this November report. However, it seems like big supply is still winning. The USDA actually lowered corn yield .7 bushels per acre to 186 bushels per acre. This was much lower than pre report expectations. This put US domestic production at 16.752 billion bushels above the previous record of 15.34 billion b

Grain Farmers of Ontario 2025 Legacy Scholarship Recipients Awarded

Grain Farmers of Ontario, the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, is pleased to announce the nine recipients of the 2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario Legacy Scholarship. Each student will receive $5,000 to support their studies at accredited post-secondary institutions. Now in its fourth year, the Legacy Scholarship encourages the pursuit of higher education, supporting students in areas of study that will benefit the Ontario grain sector or agri-food industry. Past recipients have studied in a variety of programs across the country, including Communications, Engineering, Sciences, Equipment Repair, Economics, and Agriculture. “Grain Farmers of Ontario is dedicated to championing the success of our agricultural community members, extending our support to students looking to make a difference in Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food industries,” says Jeff Harrison, chair, Grain Farmers of Ontario. “We were a

A New Window into Canada’s Pulse Quality

We've recently launched the Pulse Quality Dashboard — a new resource that makes Canada’s investment in pulse quality research accessible and interactive. The dashboard brings together years of data showing how genetics and environment influence the quality and nutritional attributes of Canadian peas, lentils, and faba beans. Designed for food industry professionals, researchers, and stakeholders across the value chain, this tool provides a clear view into what makes Canadian pulses a leader in global markets. With the Pulse Quality Dashboard, you can: Explore detailed datasets from 2019–2023 across peas, lentils, and faba beans Understand typical ranges for key compositional and functional attributes Track variety acreage over time, nationally and by province Canada’s continued investment in pulse research keeps our industry at the forefront of quality, innovation, and transparency. The Pulse Quality Dashboard represents another step forward in making Canada’s pulse quality data op

Statement On The Launch Of The Canada – India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

Today, Pulse Canada issued the following statement on behalf of President Greg Cherewyk regarding the launch of negotiations toward a Canada–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA): “Pulse Canada welcomes the launch of negotiations toward an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Canada and India. In 2024, pulses were Canada’s largest export to India. Canadian growers and exporters have built decades-long relationships across India, and renewed engagement is an important step toward greater market stability, lower barriers, and new opportunities for both countries. “A strong and predictable trading relationship is essential to achieving our shared vision of nutritional security. Pulses contribute to food security as an affordable, reliable staple, and to nutrition security by providing high-quality plant-based protein, fibre, and essential nutrients. “Pulse Canada supports a CEPA focused on tariff reduction, clear import policies, and a fram

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service