Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Horticulture Online Community

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Horticulture Online Community

This group is being set up for fruit and vegetable growers and stakeholders to discuss issues and share information.

Location: Ontario
Members: 15
Latest Activity: Nov 28, 2012

Discussion Forum

Peach Research

Here's a neat video on research OMAFRA and the University of Guelph is working on to help make the peach growing season a little longer.…Continue

Tags: research

Started by Andrew Campbell Oct 20, 2009.

Vineland Research: To deliver commercialization opportunities to the horticulture sector: Any Ideas for them?

I wondered what feedback people had on this announcement? Thanks, JoeGOVERNMENTS PARTNER TO BUILD NEW MARKETS FOR HORTICULTURE PRODUCERSAgCanada News ReleaseVINELAND, Ontario, October 16, 2009 –…Continue

Started by Joe Dales Oct 19, 2009.

Peaker Plant in the Holland Marsh & NIMBYism

An individual responded to something on Facebook with respect to the proposed peaker plant for the Holland Marsh and made a connection to NIMBYism. I responded politely to his ignorance, but then I…Continue

Started by Avia Eek Sep 12, 2009.

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Comment by Avia Eek on January 12, 2010 at 5:54am
Last night was a tremendous night for the Farmers of the Holland Marsh, and the citizens of King Township. We are fortunate to have so many astute individuals willing to take up this cause, and do battle with the Ontario government! As one Councillor put it "I never would have thought we would ever have to deal with the building of a power plant in the Holland Marsh"--yah, no kidding! A hydrological study has been done, independently, which does not favour the peaker plant builder's position, and this is very good. Now, as the Township Solicitor pointed out, if the provincial government really wants this project to move ahead--it will, but they can just as easily quash the entire project! The site for this facility is in a floodplain, which goes against the Provincial Policy Statement, and as well, is not "compatible" with the business of farming in this highly productive, specialty crop area. Apparently though, the Ministry of the Environment sees nothing wrong with building a 400MW natural gas-fired power plant, and claims there will be "no negligible affects to the area". I don't know how they have arrived at this particular conclusion, since they also didn't think anything other than the most basic environmental assessment was required (i.e. the same assessment that would be given to a small windmill project). This project flies in the face of so many "protected" area policies, and different pieces of legislation that anyone who is given just the tiniest bit of information about this area is flabbergasted that this was the chosen location! Anyway, our hope of hopes is that this project will be scrapped in its entirety, so that we Holland Marsh Farmers can get on with the business of feeding the people of Ontario!
Comment by Avia Eek on December 7, 2009 at 3:31am
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/12/05/12048366-sun.html This past Friday, December 4/09, Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario came to the Holland Marsh and stood with the Farmers opposing the building of the 393 MW peaker plant slated to be built here. It's puzzling you know, the transformer station that was built nearby had to be moved because IT did not conform with the Provincial Policy Statement, and other criteria put in place for this area (it was to be have built on this same parcel of land that the proponent has purchased). It is absolutely astounding that this facility, York Energy Centre was even allowed to get this far. They have no connection point, the property is part of a floodplain (which according to the PPS prohibits any development OR site alteration on a floodway), it's part of the Greenbelt, Protected Countryside, and many other pieces of legislation, so why are we still having to fight this project? Why isn't the government stepping in and protecting this Specialty Crop Area? This facility will not benefit this area at all!
Comment by Avia Eek on November 18, 2009 at 2:26am
So then, what is it that you do? Do you have a farm? What do you grow? Have you ever heard of Fusarium Dry Rot (carrots)? Glad to have you on board. I'm looking forward to more conversations with you.
Comment by THIRUCHELVAM THANARAJ on November 17, 2009 at 5:07pm
I am an academic in the field of horticulture and postharvest technology would like to join this group and share my knowledge and experineces.
Comment by Avia Eek on October 1, 2009 at 1:00am
It's nice to see the hollandmarshgold.com website up. It has lots of interesting information with respect to the Holland Marsh, on-going events, and amazing photos.
Comment by AgOntario on September 30, 2009 at 2:13pm
The HMGA News September 2009 http://www.hollandmarshgold.com/members
 

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

*Webinars* Strategies for Reducing Calf Losses: Veterinary Insights from Across Canada

Are calf losses cutting into your beef operation’s productivity and profitability? You are not alone! The BCRC is hosting two 90-minute webinars featuring veterinarians from across Canada who work directly with cow-calf operations like yours. A March 18 webinar will feature veterinarians who work with Eastern Canadian cow-calf operations, sharing insights on practical prevention strategies to implement before, during and after calving to increase calf survivability. During the March 25 webinar, Western Canadian veterinarians will outline regionally relevant approaches for reducing calf losses, highlighting essential pre-calving strategies and practical management techniques to use during calving to help ensure healthier outcomes for both cows and calves.   Both webinars will include an extended Q&A session, giving you plenty of time to ask questions. Each webinar will also be available for?one continuing education (CE) credit for veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists

China halts tariffs on some Canadian ag

Some Canadian ag products will have tariff-free access to China as of March 1

Farmers Face Harsh Truths While Refusing to Abandon Their Way of Life

A recent post on social media by a friend asked to add a line from a movie that fans of it would instantly recognize. One of my contributions was, “You can’t handle the truth.” While that line came in a courtroom scene from one of my favorite movies with Jack Nicholson yelling it at Tom Cruise, it actually got me thinking about farming. Many of us who grew up on a farm have seen both good and tough times. That is the truth. But what are we currently experiencing and can we handle these truths? American Farm Bureau recently said there was a 46% increase in farm bankruptcies in 2025. That’s pretty sobering. Those of us who grew up during the farm crisis in the 1980s, when more than 250,000 farmers filed for bankruptcy, never want to hear about someone losing a farm. For a few years I’ve personally been concerned about what’s happening in our farming communities. Interest rates have been plenty high; input costs don’t seem to come down when market prices do. Farmers have always been pr

As US agriculture flails, farmers see big corn acres as best bet to break even

U.S. farmers, though punished by slumping prices after last year’s monster corn harvest, are expected to cut back only slightly on their plantings of the grain in 2026 as they brace for a fourth straight year of narrow profit margins or even losses. Farmers expect corn, the most widely grown U.S. crop, to hew close to break-even levels this year, supported by strong usage. Some see soybeans as riskier, given rising competition from Brazil and a volatile U.S. trade relationship with top buyer China. “Right now, you absolutely cannot make money on beans,” said Tim Gregerson, who farms in eastern Nebraska. “You can probably break even on corn, but you are going to have to have an extraordinary yield, or a price increase,” Gregerson said. Most growers in America’s Midwest farm belt grow both crops, alternating what gets planted on each field from year to year to boost soil health. Many add wheat, sorghum, cotton or other crops to their rotations. But among farmers who have some flexible

This is Agriculture: Producer, advocate, industry leader

Jill Verwey lives and breathes agriculture. Her roots growing up on a mixed grain and cattle operation in rural Manitoba lend themselves well to her current roles – the office manager for Verwey Farms Ltd., president of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), and first vice president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). Jill’s pride in Canadian agriculture is unmistakable. Learn more about her career and advocacy journey below. Describe your job or product in one sentence. My role includes managing the day-to-day administration and financial operations of our family farm, overseeing food and animal safety and human resources, and representing agricultural producers provincially and nationally through leadership roles with KAP, CFA, and various boards and advisory groups. Where did you grow up? Was it an agriculture or urban environment? I grew up in rural Manitoba on a mixed grain and cattle operation. I have been married for 32 years, and my husband and I are involved in

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