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: 79

▶ 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

Amanda Ellis, flax crop committee

Amanda Ellis farms near Wawanesa, MB, with her husband Simon and his family at Ellis Seeds. The Ellis family has farmed the homestead where Amanda and Simon now live since 1919, and the operation continues to run with support from both sides of the family and close friends. They grow wheat, oats, soybeans, peas, flax and canola. What motivated you to get into farming? I fell into farming with my husband’s family to fill a need. I came from a business and finance background and started by taking on some casual bookkeeping for the farm. I enjoyed being part of the farming work and, over time, became more involved in the day-to-day operations. I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers, being outdoors and being part of something that contributes to our communities. This role allows me to do all those things. One of my favourite parts of farming is the constant learning. What motivated you to get involved with Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA)? I wanted to better understand the research, mar

CCGA Statement on Bill C-273 Supporting Innovation

Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) welcomes the introduction of Private Member’s Bill C-273, the Facilitating Agricultural Regulatory Modernization Act (FARM Act), by MP David Bexte. The bill represents an important step toward modernizing Canada’s regulatory system and reducing unnecessary red tape that has impeded the timely adoption of innovative agricultural products. Farmers have consistently called for more timely access to new tools and technologies that improve productivity and competitiveness. By enabling a 90-day provisional approval process for products already vetted in trusted jurisdictions, this bill supports innovation while maintaining regulatory integrity. CCGA also recognizes the foundational work of MP Kody Blois, whose earlier bill helped shape this approach. Bill C-273 builds on that effort and reflects a growing, cross-party understanding of the need for a more efficient and responsive regulatory system that supports faster access to new products for far

EMILI collaborates with 24 innovators on 33 unique projects in 2026

As EMILI celebrates 10 years of driving agriculture innovation, we are proud to announce 33 unique projects taking place on Innovation Farms powered by AgExpert in 2026. This includes commercial and pre-commercial solutions that EMILI is testing and demonstrating in crops and storage bins across 10,000 acres on its two Innovation Farms sites in Grosse Isle and MacGregor, Manitoba.  As an industry-led non-profit, EMILI is in a unique position to provide innovators with access to leading-edge equipment, technology, and production practices along with unbiased feedback on how their innovation works on a full-scale farm. This is more important than ever, as Canada’s agriculture sector navigates climate volatility, global tensions that cause transportation and storage constraints, price instability, and shifting consumer expectations. “Technology is evolving and reshaping the industry at a rapid pace, allowing producers to do more, and in a more productive and sustainable way. But produc

Census of Agriculture opens next month

Canadian farmers will have from May 4 to July 31 to complete the census

The Rural Ontario Institute announces the Community Well-being Dashboard in Canada’s two official languages

The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) is pleased to announce the Rural Community Well-Being Dashboard and supporting factsheets are now available in Canada’s two official languages.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service