Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Avia Eek's Blog (4)

Beginning of the End

Well, it has begun—sort of! It is March 31, 2010, 10:30 a.m., I am sitting in the King Township Council Chambers. The Ontario Municipal Board hearing is about to get under way with respect to the site plan for the York Energy Centre. A 393MW (but licensed for 435MW) natural gas-fired peaker power plant to…

Continue

Added by Avia Eek on April 14, 2010 at 1:21am — No Comments

Pulling the Plug...

Part II—You Can’t Eat Energy!!



Monday, January 18, 2010, was a night for small victories for the Farmers of the Holland Marsh, the citizens of King Township, and the people of Ontario!



This was the night our Township Council voted, unanimously, in favour of an interim control by-law. Basically, if upheld by the OMB, it halts the building of the power plant slated to be imposed in the Greenbelt, on agricultural land in the Holland Marsh. This will allow Township staff the… Continue

Added by Avia Eek on January 31, 2010 at 4:24am — 2 Comments

Democracy lives in King Township

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,… Continue

Added by Avia Eek on January 12, 2010 at 6:00am — 2 Comments

You Can't Eat Energy--Peaker Plant in the Holland Marsh

PEAKER PLANT IN THE HOLLAND MARSH





My name is Avia Eek. My husband, Bill, and I farm in the Holland Marsh. My husband, and many of the farmers in the Holland Marsh are descendants of the first pioneers who broke this land in 1934. Although, it should be noted the first industry here was the harvesting of the marsh grass for mattresses. This business took place from 1880 to approx. 1915, when it peaked.



The soil in the Holland Marsh is organic based, the result of… Continue

Added by Avia Eek on December 19, 2009 at 6:03am — 1 Comment

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

Monsanto Wins Roundup Trial After Supreme Court Ruling

A Missouri jury has unanimously sided with Monsanto in the first Roundup trial since the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Durnell decision

What is Struvite? Could it Help Farmers Stretch Phosphorus and Reduce Runoff

AAFC researchers found that blending struvite with conventional phosphorus fertilizer delivered promising results in Eastern Canada and reduced phosphorus losses under Prairie conditions.

Food Affordability and Accessibility Among the Top Priorities of Canadian Consumers

The Executive Director of Canadian Food Focus says in the face of rising food costs, Canadians are increasingly seeking information on how to stretch their food budgets. Over the past five years the cost of food in Canada has risen by an estimated 30 percent. Dorothy Long, the Executive Director of Canadian Food Focus, says we all eat several times a day and food affordability is one of the most immediate concerns facing Canadians right now. Quote-Dorothy Long-CanadianFoodFocus.org: High food prices and higher prices in general are really putting a lot of pressure on household budgets. Specifically with food, it can be harder to consistently choose foods that they want to serve, especially fresh produce, protein foods and other nutrient-dense foods that may seem more expensive at the checkout. The impact isn't the same for everyone but many households are making tougher decisions, buying fewer items, changing brands, reducing the variety or maybe even relying more heavily on less

Toronto-Area Corporation Convicted of Operating a Meat Plant Without a Licence

On January 22, 2026, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) learned that 1000498884 Ontario Inc., operating as Taotie Dry Aging, was producing and selling a ready-to-eat dehydrated meat product marketed as “dry-aged meat chips.” An OMAFA Compliance and Advisory Officer inspected the premises and confirmed the presence of 13.37 kilograms of dehydrated meat products packaged in 308 units. On the day of inspection, the company voluntarily removed the product listing from its website and disposed of the product. Under provincial regulations, dehydrating meat products for sale or distribution is a regulated activity requiring a meat plant licence, unless an exemption applies. The matter was referred to OMAFA’s Compliance Enforcement and Intelligence Unit for investigation and charges were laid.

Recycling Council of Alberta recognizes Barry Friesen with Circular Champion Recognition Award

The Recycling Council of Alberta (RCA) today announced it is honouring recently retired Cleanfarms Executive Director Barry Friesen with its prestigious Rs of Excellence Circular Champion Recognition Award. This award reflects Friesen’s career-long commitment to building a more sustainable, circular future in Canadian agriculture. Friesen and other award recipients will be recognized at the RCA Annual General Meeting, held online from 10:30 a.m. to noon on November 6, 2026. Says Friesen: “I’m very proud to be part of this transformative industry, and to receive this honour from the RCA: one of the great champions of circular economy in Canada, playing a pivotal role in job creation while helping to keep our environment clean.” “It’s fitting this announcement coincides with Waste Reduction Week,” says Cleanfarms Executive Director Shane Hedderson. “During Barry’s tenure, Alberta’s small container program—the first in Canada—grew significantly along with other programs across the prov

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service