Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Farmer's Christmas Wish List....What do you want?

Farmer’s Christmas Wish List

A long, late harvest means that Christmas comes fast. I’ve got to admit that I’m struggling to get in the spirit of the season as I hustle to finish fall work that is normally completed a month ago. Kids help to remind us of the excitement and thrill of the holidays, and as I watch my son do final edits on his Christmas list, I thought I would do one from a farmer’s perspective. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

All I want for Christmas is……

1) The opportunity for profitability. Every farmer on the planet knows that farming and risk go hand in hand and I’m willing to carry my fair share. But over-regulation, misguided trade policies, irresponsible attacks from main stream media and a wobbly global economy are all man-made factors that are working against our profitability goals.

2) Solid Leadership. This includes leadership at farm organizations, our elected officials responsible for agriculture, and even our heads of state, all of whom impact our future with the decisions they make.

3) Renewed Investment in Public Agricultural Research. We need a bigger commitment from governments to fund public agricultural research. Yes, the private sector is investing huge amounts of money to develop new technologies and products for farmers, but I’ve always felt that we need a three-pronged approach. This includes a vibrant private sector, a committed and long-term public research program, and a progressive/innovative farm community to keep agriculture moving forward.

4) A Recognition of the True Cost of Food. Our society does not put a realistic value on safe, nutritious food. Collectively, farmers, processors and consumers have created a situation where food is the lowest valued potential use for good farmland. It is not sustainable for the average consumer to meet all their food needs for less than 10 percent of their income.


My list could go on and on, but this is not the time of year to be greedy. And I don’t want to give the impression that I am pessimistic about the future of agriculture. There are concerns and challenges to deal with, but I see great upside for our sector in the coming years. With 2009 all but over, we can all begin to focus on the opportunities that will come in 2010. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!

From all of us at Farms.com I wish all of our readers a Merry Christmas and a rewarding and profitable New Year. We appreciate your support and feedback!

Views: 297

▶ Reply to This

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

Supporting B.C.’s food security with new technology, training B.C. companies, research institutions advance food security through smart-farming systems

A new smart-farming project in Delta is helping strengthen food security for British Columbians, while two new training programs will ensure more people have the necessary skills to succeed in the growing agritech sector. “With a changing climate and uncertainty from the U.S., it’s critical that two of British Columbia's greatest strengths, technology and agriculture, come together to ensure British Columbians can rely on healthy food grown here at home,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. “Through our Look West plan, we are connecting innovators with industry partners to turn made-in-B.C. ideas into real-world solutions that create jobs and drive our economy forward in a sustainable future.” With support from the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI), Delta-based Windset Farms is developing a new smart-farming system that automates decision-making with sensors that monitor plant stress and efficient greenhouse crop management. By using advanced data analy

Provincial AGM to include Elections and Resolutions

The Alberta Pulse Growers Commission (APG) invites farmer-members and other industry stakeholders to attend its provincial annual general meeting on January 27 in Edmonton. The AGM will take place during CrossRoads: Alberta’s Crop Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton from 10:30 am to noon. The meeting will include a provincial update for growers, resolutions and director-at-large (bean and non-bean) elections. Resolutions and nomination forms must be submitted to the provincial office by January 15. Director-at-large forms are available on the homepage at albertapulse.com. “The provincial AGM is a good opportunity for pulse farmers from across Alberta to get together and help shape APG’s future,” said APG Chair Shane Strydhorst, who farms at Neerlandia. “We look forward to sharing APG’s accomplishments and plans for the future with our members and stakeholders as we work towards pulses on every farm, on every plate.” Producers who have sold pulses in Alberta in the l

New Research Takes Aim at Canola Pod Shatter

An agricultural science team at the University of Calgary has uncovered several new ways to improve shatter tolerance in canola, a breakthrough that could help farmers cut costs and reduce harvest losses. The findings, published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, address one of the most persistent challenges facing canola producers: pod shattering during harvest. Canola seeds are enclosed in small pods that can easily burst open when crops are cut, scattering seed before it can be collected. While farmers want canola plants to be dry at harvest, that dryness increases the risk of shattering. According to the research, pod shattering leads to average seed losses of about 3% — roughly $1.3 billion annually — and can climb as high as 50% in harsh weather conditions. To manage the risk, farmers typically use a two-step harvest process, first swathing the crop to dry it and later returning with a combine. The research could allow m

IGC Raises World Grains Production to Another New High

The International Grains Council is continuing to revise its 2025-26 world supply estimates higher amid monster crops in many parts of the world. In its latest monthly Grain Market Report on Thursday, the IGC revised its production forecast for total world grains (wheat and coarse grains) to a record-smashing 2.461 billion tonnes, up a hefty 31 million from the agency’s November estimate and 6% higher than 2024-25. (The IGC did not release a report in December). It marks the fifth straight month the IGC has raised its total grains production estimate, with the January increase the largest to date, topping even the 27-million tonne hike in August. Average yields are estimated up 5% year-over-year, while harvested area is expected to rise by 1%, delivering a wave of new supply across nearly all major grain categories, the IGC said. Corn and wheat are leading the production surge, with both crops expected to post bumper harvests. Barley and sorghum output is also forecast at multi-s

Bushel Plus rebrands to BranValt for global harvest-tech growth

Founder Marcel Kringe emphasized that the same experienced team and commitment to farmer success will continue under the BranValt name.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service