Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

What Was The Ontario Agriculture Top News Story Of The Year? Any suggestions?

In 2010 What Ontario Agriculture Top News Story was the biggest and most impactful in the province?

 

Here are some of my thoughts?

 

Tremendous Financial Challenges Faced By the Pork and Beef Producers in Ontario.

 

Excellent Crop Production Year in Ontario - Yields and Strong Prices.

 

The New Role and Restructuring of Ontario Pork.

 

Ontario Land Prices Continue to Increase.

 

 

 

These are some of my thoughts looking back, what other topics do you have?

 

Thanks and Happy New Year,

 

Joe Dales

Farms.com

joe.dales@farms.com

877 438-5729 x5013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Views: 821

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Twynstra on January 4, 2011 at 6:18am

I would suggest that one of the most interesting stories of 2010 was how many Ontario producers continued to shun basic  and fundamental business principles.  Examples include wilfully selling into local markets that were clearly uncompetitive to our major trading and global competitors, buying or renting land at P/E ratios that are well north of "bubble" territory, and continuing to operate as if they can borrow their way to prosperity judging by the latest StatsCan reports.  Will be of further interest to see how all sectors of the industry react when we return to below COP returns within the next 12 - 18 months as many pundits are suggesting.

Just my 2cents.

Permalink Reply by John Schwartzentruber on January 4, 2011 at 12:50pm
Government interventions have historically had a way of insulating producers from the realities of market forces that conflict with personal choices. So your thoughts are interesting, Steve, but no new story here! Remember the infamous Farm Debt Review Board of the 80's?
Permalink Reply by Joann on January 4, 2011 at 3:11pm

Albert Einstein is quoted to saying "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them".

 

Then by all means, I would suggest you are both righ. 

 

Our government has managed to further erode farmers' rights in Ontario but have not released our obligations to the public.   ......in other words..... our provincial government is incapable of solving our agricultural problems as they are the very people that lead us to this point.

 

Woe is us.

 

John Schwartzentruber said:

Government interventions have historically had a way of insulating producers from the realities of market forces that conflict with personal choices. So your thoughts are interesting, Steve, but no new story here! Remember the infamous Farm Debt Review Board of the 80's?
Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on January 6, 2011 at 3:22am

Hi Steve, John and Joann

Good thoughts...what does the future hold...what should we do....

 

One of my New Year's Resolution is to keep improving our business fundamentals and not make too many expensive mistakes....

 

I like to follow something that I heard a keynote speaker say called the Ant Philosophy.

 

Think Winter, All Summer   (Prepare when times are good)

and

Think Summer, All Winter   (Be Optimist when times are tough)

 

Take care and see you soon,

 

Joe Dales

 

Permalink Reply by Joann on January 6, 2011 at 10:51am

I lean towards Dr. Spencer Johnson's thoughts in "Who Moved my Cheese".

 

and I truly believe the farmers' cheese is about to be moved in a big way in Ontario.

 

take care

 

joann

 

OntAG Admin said:

Hi Steve, John and Joann

Good thoughts...what does the future hold...what should we do....

 

One of my New Year's Resolution is to keep improving our business fundamentals and not make too many expensive mistakes....

 

I like to follow something that I heard a keynote speaker say called the Ant Philosophy.

 

Think Winter, All Summer   (Prepare when times are good)

and

Think Summer, All Winter   (Be Optimist when times are tough)

 

Take care and see you soon,

 

Joe Dales

 

Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on January 6, 2011 at 4:11pm
I think the story could be the large swings in commodity prices....in June the experts were warning about $2.50/bu corn and now they are talking about $7 corn...Crazy markets is my vote.
Permalink Reply by John Beardsley on January 7, 2011 at 9:33am
i agree with you joe that crop price and yeild is the story. never have we been in the news more and because food prices never came down after the wheat spike in 2007-2008 we don't have all the noise about ethanol being bad for society.Never in my life in agriculture have i seen good yeilds and good prices in all main commodities of corn soys canola and wheat. pork buy out program allowed many to get out with dignity and equity intact. and teeth in not being able to refill barns for three years will allow even the pork industry to recover
Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on January 7, 2011 at 10:56am

Thanks John,

I heard the crops did well up there.

What kind of yields on corn and soy?

Talk to you soon.

Joe

Permalink Reply by bert on January 9, 2011 at 5:00am

You must have memorized all 180 sayings

 

Joann said:

Albert Einstein is quoted to saying "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them".

 

Then by all means, I would suggest you are both righ. 

 

Our government has managed to further erode farmers' rights in Ontario but have not released our obligations to the public.   ......in other words..... our provincial government is incapable of solving our agricultural problems as they are the very people that lead us to this point.

 

Woe is us.

 

John Schwartzentruber said:

Government interventions have historically had a way of insulating producers from the realities of market forces that conflict with personal choices. So your thoughts are interesting, Steve, but no new story here! Remember the infamous Farm Debt Review Board of the 80's?
Permalink Reply by Joann on January 9, 2011 at 11:11am

No.

 

I just happen to like people such as Einstein and especially Hawking.

 

 

 

bert said:

You must have memorized all 180 sayings

 

Joann said:

Albert Einstein is quoted to saying "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them".

 

Then by all means, I would suggest you are both righ. 

 

Our government has managed to further erode farmers' rights in Ontario but have not released our obligations to the public.   ......in other words..... our provincial government is incapable of solving our agricultural problems as they are the very people that lead us to this point.

 

Woe is us.

 

John Schwartzentruber said:

Government interventions have historically had a way of insulating producers from the realities of market forces that conflict with personal choices. So your thoughts are interesting, Steve, but no new story here! Remember the infamous Farm Debt Review Board of the 80's?
Permalink Reply by Bristow on January 10, 2011 at 1:41pm
I would say Carbon tax mark two, this time by the proviencal means, as a poss to fedral acts.  The rock spiders are planning it already. 
Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on January 15, 2011 at 3:09am

Steve, I think the wild land prices and rents will be the story in 2011 with these crop prices and everyone tripping over themselves to get a bigger piece of the gold rush...

 

 

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

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

Rail Inflation Index Increased for Maximum Revenue Entitlement for Western Grain

New VRCPI determinations from the Canadian Transportation Agency show modest increases for CN and CPKC that will influence regulated western grain transportation revenues in the 2026–2027 crop year.

Pet Obesity a Growing Concern

Pet obesity is common but manageable. Veterinarians explain how to identify excess weight, manage feeding habits, encourage activity, and support long term pet health.

Lab on a Drone Lab Tests Farm Waterways Fast

Iowa State researchers developed a drone-based water testing system that measures nitrate levels quickly, helping farmers monitor runoff, protect waterways, and improve fertilizer use with real-time data.

Grain Transport Disruptions Can Cost Sector $540 Million in a Week

A single week of rail and port disruptions during peak export season can cost Canada’s grain sector up to $540 million, with most of the damage tied to lost sales that are unlikely to be recovered, according to a new analysis. Commissioned by the Ag Transport Coalition, the study found roughly 94% of the financial impact from supply chain disruptions comes from reduced sales rather than penalties or added costs. The report said that when Canadian grain does not move, international buyers often turn to competing suppliers, leaving sales permanently lost rather than simply delayed. The coalition released the findings April 27 as part of its Too Much on the Line campaign, which is calling for changes to Canada’s labour regulations to reduce the risk of future supply chain shutdowns. The report said the financial damage can begin even before a strike or lockout officially starts. Uncertainty ahead of a disruption can cause railways to stop accepting new shipments, exporters to pull b

Domestic Canola Crush Rebounds in March

After dipping below 1 million tonnes for the first time in the 2025-26 marketing year in February, the Canadian canola crush rebounded in March. A Statistics Canada crush report Thursday pegged the March canola crush at 1.097 million tonnes, up a hefty 15.3% from February’s 951,353, and 7.1% above the same month last year. The year-to-date 2025-26 crush (August to March) now stands at 8.163 million tonnes, 4.1% above the same period a year earlier. As of the end of March, the cumulative crush for the current marketing year represented 68% of Agriculture Canada’s full year projection of 12 million – nearly identical to the previous year when the crush totaled 11.412 million tonnes. At the end of February, the 2025-26 crush was running 3.7% ahead of a year earlier and represented about 58% of the full-year crush forecast. In its April supply-demand update, Agriculture Canada left its 2025-26 canola crush forecast unchanged from March at 12 million but lifted its new-crop crush ou

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service