Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Sent from Samsung Mobile

Rating:
  • Currently 5/5 stars.

Views: 111

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by Joe Dales on February 19, 2014 at 10:48am

Minister Ritz Highlights Budget 2014 and Trade Opportunities at London Chamber of Commerce

 

February 19, 2014 – London, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

 

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today addressed the London Chamber of Commerce to outline how Canada's Economic Action Plan 2014 will foster economic growth and help Ontario succeed in the global economy. He emphasized that the Government's top priority in Budget 2014 remains jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.

 

Minister Ritz also outlined the importance of the agriculture and the agri-food sector to the economy of Ontario and the key role that opening new markets plays in creating new opportunities for the industry. The Canada-EU trade agreement will open new markets and unlock growth opportunities in the European Union for Ontario's producers, processors and exporters. Once fully implemented, the agreement will eliminate tariffs on almost all of Ontario's key exports, from chemicals, to plastics, to processed foods.

 

Quick facts

 

Under Canada's Economic Action Plan:

  • An investment of $630 million will advance the construction of the new Windsor-Detroit corridor, which handles a third of all Canada-U.S. trade carried by truck.
  • An investment of $1.5 billion in the new Canada First Research Excellence Fund will help Canadian universities excel globally in research areas that will create long-term economic advantages for Canada.
  • An additional $500 million over two years will be provided to the Automotive Innovation Fund to support significant new strategic research and development projects and long-term investments to the Canadian automotive sector.
  • The Building Canada Plan will receive a further $1.3 billion over two years to support additional strategic investments in public infrastructure and transportation services.
  • An additional $390 million over five years to strengthen Canada's food safety system will support the hiring of inspectors and other staff; establish a national information system to move quickly to detect and respond to food safety risks and continue core bovine spongiform encephalopathy-related programming aimed at safeguarding human and animal health.
  • An expansion of the types of farming livestock that quality for tax deferral on sale by farmers dealing with drought or excess moisture conditions.
  • The Agricultural Growth Act will strengthen intellectual property rights for plant breeders and stimulate innovation and growth in the agricultural sector.
  • The agriculture, agri-food and beverage sector in Ontario contributes $15 Billion to the province's GDP, and leads the nation in agriculture and food exports, topping $11 billion last year, for the first time ever.
  • Ontario is home to the largest food and beverage processing jurisdiction in Canada. Across Ontario, about 3,000 food and beverage companies generate $40 billion in revenues and employ more Ontarians than any other manufacturing sector in the province.

 

Quotes

 

With ongoing investments in innovation, job creation and infrastructure, and our aggressive trade agenda, our Government is opening up new frontiers for farmers across Ontario.

 

We will continue to work with producers and the entire value chain to ensure they have access to the tools they need to succeed.

 

– Gerry Ritz, Agriculture Minister

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

Western Canadian Farmers Struggle with Federal Trade Policies

Western Canadian farmers are facing increasing frustration with federal trade policies that they say favor Eastern Canada, leaving them exposed to economic hardship. Many producers argue that policies designed to protect industries in the East, such as dairy and poultry supply management, limit opportunities for growth and expansion in the West. The impact of these policies is felt across multiple sectors, from grain to livestock. Pork producers in particular have faced challenges due to restricted access to certain markets and increased costs driven by federal regulations. Additionally, Western farmers have endured ongoing issues with rail transportation bottlenecks, making it difficult to move their products efficiently while Eastern-based industries benefit from more developed infrastructure and federal support.

PLF technologies can benefit swine industry stakeholders beyond the farm

Producers can use data from precision livestock farming technology to work more efficiently and better care for their animals. But the benefits don't stop there. Veterinarians, food companies, government officials, scientists, animal welfare groups and grocery stores can also use this data. It could help them be more transparent, follow government regulations and make the swine industry more responsible and efficient. The role of PLF in enhancing transparency and efficiency is crucial, making stakeholders feel more informed and efficient in their roles. Today, consumers want to know more about how their food is produced. The technology could help food processors and retailers show that pigs are raised ethically and sustainably. One example is blockchain technology, which allows producers to track food safety and quality from farm to store. Blockchain makes the food supply chain more dependable when combined with existing tracking systems. It could help consumers trust the production p

Balancing Welfare and Productivity in Swine Care | Kurt Preugschas, DVM

Kurt was born and raised on a pig farm near Barrhead, Alberta, which sparked his passion for swine production and medicine. He graduated with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2010 from WCVM in Saskatoon. After graduation, he went directly into swine medicine and has worked in swine practices in Manitoba and Alberta. In 2019, Kurt started a new swine veterinary practice, Precision Veterinary Services inc., based in Red Deer, Alberta. He and his wife Tanja have their home near Lacombe with their 4 children. Kurt takes part in various committees and associations to stay abreast of industry news and innovation. He is a director of the Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop, and has been a director of the Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians for multiple years and is currently the Past President. What can you expect to learn from this episode of Popular Pig? How animal welfare is more than just pain management—it’s about creating a productive and healthy environment for pigs. Th

Weekly Hog Market Update – Week Ending March 14, 2025

Hog prices remained steady with slight fluctuations across major markets. In Ontario, the 100 percent base formula price closed at 233.92 per hundredweight, up from the previous year’s 200.35 per hundredweight. The average dressed weight remained stable at 109 kilograms, while total market hog sales reached 126,271 head, reflecting a 3 percent increase compared to last year. In Canada, total hog slaughter across federal and provincial plants reached 451,832 head, marking an 8 percent increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, the Quebec pool price dropped to 215.32 per hundredweight, and the Manitoba hog value increased slightly to 240.44 per hundredweight. The Canadian dollar remained weak at 0.6950 US dollars, impacting overall export competitiveness. In the U.S., federally inspected hog slaughter was estimated at 2.515 million head, a 2 percent increase from last year. Sow slaughter saw a decline, down 9.2 percent year-over-year, signaling potential shifts in herd size. Early-wea

Iowa State University Examines Truck Washing and Decontamination

Research conducted by Iowa State University suggests swine producers and transporters can reduce truck washing and decontamination costs through the strategic scheduling of truck washing. Iowa State University, with funding provided through the Swine Health Information Center Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program in partnership with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and Pork Checkoff, used computer modeling to determine how different levels of swine transport trailer washing impact the spread of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. SHIC Associate Director Dr. Lisa Becton says the study found increasing the decontamination rate significantly reduces PED spread but it's not always economically plausible to wash 100 percent of the trailers 100 percent of the time. Quote-Dr. Lisa Becton-Swine Health Information Center: This modeling really does show the impact of network connectivity between sites, between systems and even in different geographic regions. While it does l

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service