Ontario Agriculture

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Andrew Campbell's Blog (11)

Future of Dairy Farming = Efficiency

Dairy farmers can sometimes get a bad reputation. Because of supply management, I'd agree that some farms can hang on longer than they would if they were open to the free market. The free market can be very good and eliminating the least efficient very quickly. Unfortunately - it can also eliminate some good farmers who just get mixed up in a market they can't control (just ask a hog farmer).



However - I think those least efficient dairy farmers are going to have to make…

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Added by Andrew Campbell on May 20, 2010 at 7:00am — 1 Comment

When Bigger Isn't Better

When I think of farming, I think of a few things. Feeding cows, planting and harvesting corn, baling hay. They, and most of the jobs I do around the farm, all relate to production. Most of you will agree that is one of the big reasons we farm -- we like being around animals, we like being on the land, we don't like numbers.



But I was lucky enough to get the chance to realize that even if we don't like the numbers, we all like making more money.



The Ontario Dairy Youth…

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Added by Andrew Campbell on May 12, 2010 at 8:32am — 1 Comment

Fireflies = Lower Nitrogen Costs

Researchers have created a new and cheaper test that producers can use to see how much nitrogen they should… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on April 12, 2010 at 6:04am — 1 Comment

A View of FCC Spending

Found this very interesting post on the Canadian Agri-Food blog, managed by the Agri-Food Unit at the Ivey School of Business.



Written by Brandon Schaufele - with the article available at - http://www.canadianagrifood.ca/?p=374



" Today’s edition of the London Free…

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Added by Andrew Campbell on March 5, 2010 at 2:00am — No Comments

Lessons In Farming

I'm a young farmer. I can say that now - especially since just a couple of weeks ago we moved out to one of our family farms. This is a house my great-grandfather built in the early 1900's, and is the farm where the dry cows and heifers are kept. My mom and dad are a few kilometres away at the farm I grew up in - where the milking cows are.



As I get settled on the farm, I thought I'd share some of my experiences. Along the way I'd invite any and all pieces of advice I can get - as I… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on December 17, 2009 at 7:24am — 6 Comments

The Future of Pork

We all know about the struggles facing the pork industry -- the big question though is how do we fix it.



Here are a couple of videos with some involved in the sector discussing how to move forward. Take a look a add your thoughts below.…



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Added by Andrew Campbell on December 16, 2009 at 4:30am — No Comments

A Lesson From Best Buy

This was written by Matt Hardecke from the Young Producers' Council, which is part of the US based National Cattlemen's Beef Association. It's an interesting perspective...



As the future leaders of American agriculture and the beef industry, we need to not only know the facts but understand the thought process of our consumers. I am looking to buy a new flat screen TV. Over the weekend I went to Best Buy to gaze at the selections of options for my view pleasure. For an hour I stood… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on November 3, 2009 at 3:48am — 1 Comment

People Watching

Over the last several years I've been fortunate to be part of the Western Fair - the big fall fair in London. Each year I'm in the barns doing some livestock show announcing and new this year kids pedal tractor pulls. In between events barn staff tend to find each other for a visit and some people watching. You really do get people from all walks of life coming to the fair in the city and the one thing I've learned from all of them, is that people really don't know anything about agriculture.… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on September 14, 2009 at 1:30am — 1 Comment

It Isn't Always Our Fault

Covering agriculture has meant I've been to a pile of meetings. Meetings on getting more profit on your farm, meetings on government regulations, meetings on just about anything you can think of in order to help you be a better farmer. One of the topics that comes up a lot for livestock producers is developing a consistent product. While this usually is directed towards beef producers today, at one time it applied to everyone. Processors and retailers say if you want a better price - they need… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on September 7, 2009 at 12:44am — 1 Comment

It's Official - I'm Now a Farmer.

So I think its official – I’m a real farmer. Now there was no certificate or degree from Guelph. No big ceremony or letter stating I was now accepted to the farming profession. I’ve decided I’m a real farmer because of one innocent thought. People told me I would have these thoughts, they warned me to expect them. I always shrugged those naysayers off saying I would not be like other farmers. But then it happened, just like it was suppose to. We were baling hay late yesterday afternoon. The… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on August 26, 2009 at 2:48am — 2 Comments

Which is Better-Livestock or Deadstock?

If you are going to have livestock, you are going to have deadstock.



I don’t know who coined that term, but every farmer knows it’s the truth. But that doesn’t mean you leave anything sick to die.



That would appear to be what some folks rather we do. As noted in an article in TIME Magazine and the New York Times, the world seems to have something against antibiotics.



I’m going to use our small dairy farm as an example. It’s been a tough couple of weeks. After… Continue

Added by Andrew Campbell on August 24, 2009 at 6:35am — No Comments

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

Chinese Tariffs Are Squeezing Canadian Grain and Oilseeds

Canada has just been hit with Chinese tariffs, canola meal and oil exports to China are valued at $920.9 million

Kody Blois appointed minister of agriculture in Carney’s cabinet

Canada’s new ag minister is from Nova Scotia

Voting Quorum Changed to Ensure APG Meetings Continue to Move Forward with Commission Business

The Alberta Pulse Growers Commission (APG) changed its bylaws to reduce the number of members necessary to conduct an annual or special Commission meeting from 40 to 30 eligible producers. The Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council approved the change on February 24 following a vote by eligible APG members attending the 2025 annual general meeting in January and conversations at all five fall zone meetings. “We had great turnout at the provincial AGM in January, but sometimes it isn’t easy to get growers out to these meetings,” said APG Chair Shane Strydhorst, who farms at Neerlandia. “If we didn’t have quorum at the AGM, we wouldn’t have been able to hold a vote and would have had to reschedule. We strive for more than our quorum number when we are making decisions because we want everyone to participate.” Strydhorst added that the board agreed that the move was necessary for several reasons, including the increasing consolidation of farms. The new quorum number brings APG

Canada’s Pulse Industry Calls For Swift Resolution To The Imposition Of Chinese Tariffs

Yesterday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced the results of its anti-discrimination investigation into Canada for imposing a 100% tariff on EVs and an additional 25% tariff on steel and aluminum products imported from China. As a result of this investigation the State Council Tariff Commission will impose an additional 100% tariff on Canadian peas, canola oil and canola meal as well as an additional 25% tariff on Canadian pork and seafood. “China is one of Canada’s largest markets for yellow peas; a market that Canadian farmers and exporters have been serving since the mid 1990’s,” said Terry Youzwa, Chair of Pulse Canada. “The Canadian industry values this long-standing and mutually beneficial partnership. We know Chinese customers prefer Canadian peas and want to continue to deal with Canadian suppliers.” In 2024, Canada exported roughly 500,000 metric tonnes of yellow peas valued at over $306M. The 5-year average for yellow pea exports is over 1,500,000 metric tonnes valu

Grain Farmers Caught in Crossfire as U.S.-China Trade War Escalates

Tariffs threaten billions in exports, family farms at risk, Grain Growers of Canada says. Canadian grain farmers are facing a trade crisis on two fronts, with escalating tariffs from both the United States and China threatening billions in exports and putting the future of family farms at exceptional risk, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) says. The Chinese government’s decision to impose 100 percent tariffs on Canadian canola oil, canola meal, and peas comes as trade tensions with the U.S. continue to pressure Canada’s grain sector. “With uncertainty mounting with the United States, our largest export market, the last thing grain farmers needed was a trade war with China, our second largest export market,” said Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “Together, the U.S. and China account for over half of all Canadian grain exports — losing access or facing exorbitant tariffs in both markets at once is a threat farmers cannot afford to absorb.” GGC echo the concerns raised by the Canadi

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