Ontario Agriculture

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Young Farmers In Ontario

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Young Farmers In Ontario

This group has been set up for young and beginning farmers to discuss the challenges and issues associated with running a farming operation.

Members: 55
Latest Activity: Jun 3, 2013

Discussion Forum

Durham couple wins Young Farmers Award

Started by AgOntario Apr 13, 2010.

2009 Outstanding Young Farmers Announced.

Started by OntAG Admin Dec 15, 2009.

Young Farmers: Provide Input to the Federal Government.... 1 Reply

Started by Joe Dales. Last reply by Roadrunner Dec 5, 2009.

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Comment by AgOntario on May 10, 2010 at 2:43am
FCC's Young Farmer Agriwebinar Series
NOW ONLINE!

Go to www.agriwebinar.com to view the following Agriwebinars in the...

Starting a New Farm Business
Agriculture is full of entrepreneurs. Learn from producers who started a completely new venture as part of their business. You’ll see how they managed risk, became profitable and had fun along the way.

Presented by: Brent Vankoughnet, Owner & Manager, Agri Skills Inc.

Creating a Balanced Partnership
Often, two heads are better than one especially when everyone brings their own unique skills to the table. Learn how to successfully create a partnership between yourself and another producer for mutual profitability.
View Webinar

Presented by: Terry Betker, Meyers Norris Penny

Transitioning to Full-Time Farming
Many producers work off-farm to make ends meet. How do you make the jump to farming full-time? This is your chance to learn how to make a smooth and sustainable transition.

Presented by: Reg Shandro, Farmacist Advisory Services Inc.

Transferring the Farm Outside of the Family
More and more producers are thinking of succession and many farming operations are being passed onto business partners outside of the family. Learn how to make succession planning work for you.

Presented by: John Fast, Family Enterprise Solutions


Hosted/Sponsored by Farm Credit Canada.
Comment by Kevin Stewart on March 20, 2010 at 3:42pm
Grooming a young farmer to take over.

Comment by OntAG Admin on March 19, 2010 at 3:37pm
Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition, Camille Black Video Speech - Click on the link.

http://www.farms.com/FarmsPages/Commentary/DetailedCommentary/tabid...
Comment by Kimberly Dawn on March 18, 2010 at 9:18am
Does anyone know when to start growing vegeatables in Southern ON? Planning on expanding our farm this year.
Comment by AgOntario on December 8, 2009 at 9:33am
INISTER bLACKBURN CONCLUDES A SERIES OF PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS WITH YOUNG FARMERS

OTTAWA (Ontario), December 8, 2009 – Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture) Jean-Pierre Blackburn reported on his five-city, cross-Canada tour to meet with young farmers, agricultural academics and industry representatives and discuss farm succession issues.

This sector’s challenges are well known and complex, ranging from increasing financial pressures and international competition, to changing consumer and societal demands and shifting technology.

“Speaking with young farmers was extremely rewarding. Across the country, I met young people who are excited about what they do and full of plans, despite the pressures they are facing and the disparities inherent in the industry. These discussions have given me insight into the challenges young farmers are facing and the existing opportunities – whether they are starting out, managing or taking over an existing family farm,” said Minister Blackburn. “Only by engaging in these types of discussions can we ensure that our programs are appropriate and working effectively.”

Discussions with young farmers covered a wide range of topics relating to the future of agriculture, including farm succession, barriers to entry, leadership planning and ways to address declining enrolment in agricultural university programs. The young farmers also shared their views
Comment by Brooke Leystra on August 28, 2009 at 7:13am
Really we need to get Joe Dickenson on here he's signed up for ontag...he's an OFA Director and has been doing a lot of work on Young Farmer definitions and initiatives. He should be able to start some discussion!
Comment by Joe Dales on August 28, 2009 at 6:05am
Hi Wayne:

I do think this will be a pretty popular group, we will be launching this site at the Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock in a couple of weeks so the activity should increase. I think where we need to start is to begin some discussion forums that are relevant to young and starting farmers...such as Financing, Succession, Relationships... I am looking forward to being involved even though I am not as young as I once was. Thanks and take care, Joe
Comment by Wayne Black on August 28, 2009 at 4:47am
Is this an example of a Young Farmers Group - everyone sitting around watching waiting for someone to take the bit? Glad to see a young guy like Joe Dales forming this group! :-)
Comment by Roadrunner on August 27, 2009 at 2:27am
Beep Beep
 

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

Steady Ontario Planting Progress

Ontario producers continued to make steady planting progress over the past week, although intermittent rainfall and uneven field conditions are still creating a patchwork of advancement across the province. Corn planting reached 86% complete as of Wednesday, according to Grain Farmers of Ontario’s weekly field observations report on Thursday. That is up from 74% a week earlier. Progress varies widely by region, with some areas wrapping up seeding while others remain delayed due to rainfall differences, heavier soils, and lingering wet field conditions. Corn development remains in its early stages, ranging from emergence to the two-leaf stage, but warm temperatures forecast this week are expected to support rapid crop growth. As planting windows narrow, some producers are beginning to shift intended corn acres into soybeans, the report said. Soybean planting also accelerated during the week, reaching 61% complete compared to 39% previously. However, heavy-clay regions remain behin

Canadian Farm Debt Rises in 2025, but at Slower Pace

Canadian farm debt continued to increase in 2025, although at a slower pace. A Statistics Canada farm income report released earlier this week pegged total nationwide farm debt at the end of last year at $179.1 billion. That is still a 7.5% increase from the previous year but well down from the 14.1% increase in debt that farmers took on in 2024 compared to 2023. Meanwhile, StatsCan data shows farm interest expenses reached $9.19 billion in 2025, up $90.99 million from $9.1 billion in 2024, representing a modest year-over-year increase of about 1%. The increase in 2025 interest expenses followed a much steeper jump in 2024, when annual farm interest expenses surged by roughly $2.02 billion to $9.1 billion — an increase of 28.6%. That sharp rise in 2024 interest expenses reflected the impact of higher interest rates across the economy, which significantly increased borrowing costs for producers at a time when many farms were already facing elevated expenses for inputs, machinery,

Chicago Close: Weaker into Weekend as Crude Falls

Losses in crude oil weighed on crop futures Friday, as easing geopolitical tensions and improving crop prospects combined to pressured into the weekend. Wheat led the declines as traders removed weather and geopolitical risk premium from the market. Benchmark Chicago wheat fell for the sixth time in seven sessions amid improving weather conditions across key production regions. Losses in crude oil, due to growing expectations the U.S. and Iran could move closer to a peace agreement, added to the downside. July Chicago dropped 13 ½ cents to $6.10 ½, and July Kansas City dropped 15 ½ cents to $6.49 ¾. July Hard Red Spring tumbled 36 ½ cents to $6.72 ¼, and July Minneapolis lost 13 ½ cents to $6.63 ¾. Corn futures also moved lower as traders reduced risk exposure ahead of the weekend. Export demand offered limited support, with USDA reporting 1.015 million tonnes of old-crop export sales for 2025-26, near the lower end of expectations and down sharply from the previous week. However,

At Olds College Smart Farm, everything is new

If you take Alberta’s Highway 2 south from Edmonton toward Calgary, the landscape is pure prairie. The highway bisects fields that unfold endlessly toward a horizon that most evenings is a pastel blend of mauve and sherbet orange. There’s little else along this stretch of rural paradise, save for rest stops and the occasional lonely highway casino, their parking lots full of F-150s. Driving this route between Alberta’s major cities can become so routine that the only way to tell you’re actually moving is to count the passing farms that dot the landscape. One of those farms is distinctly not like the others. Just 45 minutes shy of Red Deer, in Olds, Alta., sits the Olds College Smart Farm. The 3,300 acres on which this part of a century-old post-secondary institution sits look like most other farms in the area. The fields rotate with the seasons between green, canola yellow, and gold. Its herd of purebred Red Angus cattle and flocks of sheep graze leisurely in the feedlot. But l

Lamb 'too costly' for some Muslims in Manitoba ahead of Eid al-Adha celebrations

A halal grocery store owner in Winnipeg says the rising cost of lamb has made it difficult for some Muslims to buy the animal or meat ahead of Eid al-Adha on Wednesday. The Festival of Sacrifice is an Islamic holiday that celebrates the prophet Ibrahim's obedience and loyalty to Allah, reminding Muslims of community and to practise gratitude and selflessness. On this day, it's traditional to have a lamb slaughtered — a practice known as Qurbani — and share its meat with family, friends and those in need. Khaldoun Majani said the price of lamb has nearly doubled to $28.50 per kilogram at his store since he started running Alsham Food Market in Winnipeg more than a decade ago. A lot of people want to buy lamb for Eid al-Adha, "but at the same time, they feel like it's out of budget," he said. "That makes it [a] little bit hard for some people." The Manitoba Islamic Association expects some community members, especially newcomers, to find alternatives to slaughtering a lamb themselv

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