Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Red Star's view of agriculture

Nothing unusual but once again the old Red Star almost has me wishing I had a subscription, just so I could have the satisfaction of cancelling it.

http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/708661--where-they-grow...

Views: 81

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on October 19, 2009 at 4:52am
I saw this article last week as well.....really slanted reporting....the author has an agenda...shock consumers...

I clipped the first paragraph where they went looking for a junk food farm......

Farmers really should not get much blame because we get $3.70/bu for the corn turned into $440 of Doritos....not much value share there....thats another topic for discussion.


"So to get to the root of the exploding obesity epidemic, I went in search of a junk food farm.

Such farms are not so easy to spot. No fields of Dorito bags waving in the breeze, no orchards blooming with soda pop, no soil bursting with 99-cent burgers.

What you do see are vast operations growing the raw materials for junk food: soybeans and corn.

The two crops go into the production of many things: pharmaceuticals, industrial products, animal feed – and inexpensive calories.

Tonnes of soybeans and corn are turned into "edible food-like substances," as food system critic Michael Pollan calls them, used in virtually all processed foods, beverages and junk food.

Last year, Ontario farmers planted 2.4 million acres of soybeans and just over 2 million acres of corn. That's nearly half of all cropland in the province, a near-colonization of Ontario farms by the soy and corn industry.

It has provided an abundance of cheap calories for a food system that operates by Doritos economics. A bushel of corn produces some 440 two-ounce bags of 99-cent chips. Farmer grosses $3.70 for the bushel of corn, Doritos more than $440.

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

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

NOAA Declares El Nino, Raising Key Weather Risks for Agriculture

NOAA has officially declared El Nino, and the resulting changes in weather patterns could significantly affect crop production across the United States and Canada in the coming months.

Federal Judge Sends Roundup Class Settlement Back to Missouri State Court, Clearing Path for Approval

A federal judge has ruled that the high-profile Roundup class settlement case must return to Missouri state court, a move expected to accelerate approval of a multibillion-dollar agreement covering tens of thousands of claims.

Hursh: A downward shift in fertilizer prices

War in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz contributed to a rapid rise in nitrogen fertilizer values, but prices have dropped dramatically in recent weeks. Some analysts were worried that the normal price reset after spring seeding would not occur this year, but a price drop has happened quickly: There have been reports of international prices for urea, 46-0-0 moving lower, but what matters to farmers is the price locally. Up until a few weeks ago, the price of urea at farm input suppliers in Western Canada was around $1,250 a tonne. According to the Alberta Farm Input Price Survey, the lowest urea price of the past five years was just over $600 a tonne back in July of 2021. However, by April of 2022, world events had pushed urea prices to $1,350 a tonne. While prices this spring were not quite that high, they were onerous as compared to the price of grain. So where are prices right now? What would you need to pay for urea for summer or fall delivery? You cou

Soy Canada annual meeting highlights industry collaboration and future direction

Soy Canada’s 2026 annual meeting highlighted the power of collaboration across the soybean value chain and the opportunities ahead for Canada’s soybean industry. Discussions at the event focussed on strengthening market relationships, improving competitiveness and preparing for the future through a renewed strategic vision. The organization’s annual meeting was held June 18, 2026, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. The event brought together industry leaders from across Canada to review progress over the past year and discuss future priorities for the organization. The 2025-2026 Annual Report highlights progress made in the past year. Brian Innes, Soy Canada Executive Director, shared key accomplishments from the past year, including strengthening relationships with international customers and improving collaboration across the soy value chain. Noted highlights included advancing discussions on soybean protein variability as part of the third Northern Soybean Summit and expanding participa

Two Nunavut communities strengthen access to traditional foods with new processing facilities

The Government of Canada is investing over $4.7 million on two community-led traditional food processing facilities that will help Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak residents access more local foods and strengthen food sovereignty in the region. The Government of Canada is taking action to address local food accessibility and high prices in Nunavut. That means advancing reconciliation with Inuit by investing in food systems to strengthen community infrastructure, reduce dependance on imported foods, and lower costs for Nunavummiut. Today, the Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for CanNor, announced a federal contribution of more than $4.7 million to create country food processing facilities in Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak. This includes $3,389,736 in funding from CanNor, $831,550 from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and $566,038 from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Indigenous Services Canada. The Gjoa Haven Country Food Processing Facility and

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service