Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Promoting A Stronger Dairy Sector

McGuinty Government Supporting Dairy Cattle Disease Prevention And Education Program
NEWS January 12, 2010

Dairy farmers and veterinarians are receiving support from the Province to prevent the spread of Johne’s disease in Ontario cattle.

The Johne’s Education and Management Assistance Program is an industry-led, four-year initiative focused on preventing the spread of Johne’s disease, a common bacterial infection in the intestinal tract of cattle. This program will be strengthened through a $300,000 investment from the Ontario government.

This initiative is the result of a commitment by dairy producers, industry members and veterinarians to enhance farm productivity, cattle health, a safe food supply and protection of the environment. This proactive, non-regulatory initiative complements the safeguards for animal health that the new Ontario Animal Health Act provides.

QUOTES
“Ontario’s dairy industry has provided strong leadership in promoting practices that contribute to animal and human health and food quality. These have always been important priorities for our government, and I am pleased to support efforts that will enhance the excellence of our province’s dairy industry.”
– Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

QUICK FACTS

Ontario dairy farmers represent the province’s largest commodity group, with an annual farm gate value of about $1.7 billion.
There are about 400,000 dairy cows in Ontario, averaging 60 cows per dairy farm.



LEARN MORE
Find out more about Johne’s disease

Read Ontario’s Animal Health Act

Discover the Dairy Farmers of Ontario

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

North American Farm Groups Unite to Strengthen USMCA/CUSMA Ahead of 2026 Review

Farm organizations across North America are urging governments to reinforce CUSMA/USMCA, warning that stability in cross-border trade is essential to producers in all three countries.

US Cuts Tariffs on Agricultural Machinery to 15% - What It Means for Farmers

The U.S. is reducing tariffs on farm equipment imports, a move expected to ease cost pressures for farmers and support equipment investment.

Farmer wellness initiative offers support across Ontario

The mental health of Ontario farmers is receiving greater attention through the Farmer Wellness Initiative, a program designed to support the well-being of farmers, farm workers, and their families across the province. Operated through Agriculture Wellness Ontario, the initiative offers free and unlimited counselling services tailored specifically to the agricultural community. Farming is often described as more than just a career; it is a lifestyle that comes with long hours, financial uncertainty, unpredictable weather, and emotional stress. Recognizing these challenges, the Farmer Wellness Initiative provides access to trained mental health professionals who understand the realities of agricultural life. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through a confidential helpline. The program is open to Ontario farmers, farm employees, international agricultural workers, and family members over the age of 16. Youth between 12 and 15 years old may also access services wi

Ontario's pitch to expand northern farming sparks questions from farmers, food security experts

Ontario is pitching its plan to expand agriculture in the north and restrict foreign ownership of farmland as a way to strengthen food security and protect farmers. But some farmers, researchers and environmental advocates say the proposed legislation leaves unanswered questions about land ownership, affordability and whether more production would improve food access in the north. The province introduced the Protecting Ontario’s Food Independence Act, 2026 on April 22. The bill would limit foreign ownership of farmland and “unlock” agricultural potential in the Clay Belt — a region of fertile soil in northeastern Ontario and northwestern Quebec covering 180,000 square kilometres. In a statement to CBC News, the Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth said expanding agricultural access in the Clay Belt would help farmers grow their businesses, create jobs, increase local production and strengthen domestic supply chains. Province says Clay Belt offers growth opportunity

Rapid seeding progress made in some areas of the province

Farmers are dealt with all kinds of weather conditions this spring. The mixed precipitation in late-April, subsequent rainfall, and the recent heat wave resulted in producers beginning seeding operations one week or more later than normal. Jeremy Welter farms in the Kerrobert area in west-central Saskatchewan and is also a Vice-President with the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS). He said while the warm weather allowed them to catch up, it did provide a challenge to equipment. "The high temperature did certainly help to dry land out so the guys could get on it. That being said, those really hot days, they add a lot of stress to your machinery," he said. "You really notice it when you get out of the tractor. Even on a cool day, the tractor's blowing a lot of warm air off of it, but on those plus 35 days that temperature is as hard on equipment as it is on people, so it definitely creates additional challenges." In the Kerrobert area, they're about a week to

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