Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

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: 58

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

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
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

Grupo Bimbo Challenges U.S. Tariffs in Trade Lawsuit

Grupo Bimbo takes legal action against U.S. tariffs imposed under an “economic emergency” claim.

Breaking Barriers -- Why 2026 Is the Year of the Women Farmer

The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of the Women Farmer, signaling a global commitment to gender equality in agriculture. Does gender equality in agriculture exist in Canada?

Is the Year of the Women Farmer Worth Celebrating in the U.S.?

Compared to their male counterparts, female producers are more likely to live on the farms they operate.

What are machinery manufacturers excited about for 2026?</

John Deere and CLAAS are excited about upgrades for 2026.

Carryover Seed Explained: Certified, Tested, and More Valuable Than Ever

From bumper crops to insurance against bad harvests, carryover seed plays a bigger role than many people realize. Carryover seed is becoming a more visible part of the Alberta seed landscape, but according to seed growers and testing experts, its presence is nothing new. In fact, having carryover seed on hand often presents a strategic advantage for both seed growers and farmers. The Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers’ Association (ABCSG) has offered a carryover listing service since around 2009, before the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) added carryover capability to the national Seed Locator in 2018. For Greg Stamp of Stamp Seeds, carryover seed — certified seed that simply wasn’t sold the year it was produced — is a natural part of running a pedigreed seed business. Predicting dryland yields isn’t exact, he says, and some years he produces more seed than expected. “Sometimes we expect 20 bushels of durum and get 40 or 50,” he says. “That becomes two years’ worth. We

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service