Ontario Agriculture

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CFFO Blog: Agriculture is Cornerstone of Growth within the Agri-food Sector

The CFFO is focused on how to generate additional jobs within the agriculture and agri-food sector. The Premier’s Challenge set ambitious goals for the sector which were renewed in the recent mandate letter to the Minister of Agriculture. The leadership within the industry needs to work together to generate new ideas to meet this challenge and help strengthen our great province.

The CFFO assessment is that there are limited opportunities at the primary production level to generate more jobs. Growth in the greenhouse sector and growth in local farmers markets represent relatively modest gains in jobs. The potential to open up more agriculture in Northern Ontario is an ambitious idea that may form the new heartland for cow-calf production in Ontario. Yet, even if these opportunities are fully realized, primary agriculture alone cannot reach the goals of 120,000 jobs and doubling the rate of growth in the industry by 2020.

While the primary sector of the industry may struggle in job creation, there is the potential to increase the rate of growth in the sector. At the primary level, trends towards more efficient technologies on a limited land base in Southwestern and Eastern Ontario means that few operators will continue to manage more and more of the land-base. This trend is an extremely long-term reality for agriculture as ever since the wheel was invented, farmers have been able to manage more resources. However, these efficiencies allow a very small number of people to feed millions in North America on a relatively small proportion of their incomes. CFFO believes that Ontario farmers will need to continue to adopt new technologies in order to remain competitive within the North American market. We also believe that improved stewardship will be required. Our focus on water policy is a cornerstone in sustainable growth and stable supply for agriculture in Ontario.

Primary agriculture has a strong role to play in strengthening the food processing sector in Ontario, and thus help create jobs. In order to grow the availability of local food there is the need for greater coordination between producers, processors and retailers to ensure that our supermarkets and restaurants have a consistent supply of high quality and tasty food on store shelves and restaurant menus that were grown in Ontario. Moreover, there is untapped potential within the various immigrant groups in the Greater Toronto Area to supply herbs and spices used in traditional meals drawn from their cultural backgrounds.

Primary agriculture has a strong role to play in meeting the goals of the Premier’s challenge to the sector. As the foundation of the sector it is essential that farmers continue to strive to improve in their use of technology and embrace better stewardship of their resources. Primary agriculture can be the cornerstone of a more prosperous and growing agri-food sector in Ontario.

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Soybean Fungicide Decisions

As soybean crops move into flowering, questions are sure to be raised about whether fungicide applications are needed. In anticipation, let’s take a closer look at the potential disease threats and what Manitoba On-Farm Network research has told us. What Should We Be Concerned About? Foliar diseases infecting soybeans in Manitoba typically occur at low severity levels and are not expected to impact yield most years. These usually include bacterial blight, downy mildew and Septoria brown spot. Stem diseases generally have a greater impact on yield. White mould: infections begin at nodes along the main stem. Wilted plants may be spotted from afar, within a humid canopy may find white mycelial growth and black sclerotia bodies later in the season. This disease is the main target of fungicide applications. Cool, wet conditions throughout July and August favour white mould. For every 10% increase in the percent of plants infected with white mould, 2-5 bu/ac of yield are lost in soybeans.

Fungicide Decision Tool for Managing Mycosphaerella Blight in Field Peas

When your peas have reached V10 (10th node stage), it is an ideal time to start scouting each field to evaluate if a fungicide application to manage Mycosphaerella blight is warranted. Continue scouting for symptoms from V10 (10th true node) to R2 (beginning bloom), during mid-June to late July. Mycosphaerella (Ascochyta) blight is the most widespread and economically damaging foliar disease of Manitoba field peas. Peas are the single host crop of Mycosphaerella but it can be managed by foliar fungicide. This pathogen can be stubble-, air-, soil- and seed-borne. Spores can travel long distances by air, meaning there is a disease risk even in fields where peas have not been grown previously. The impact of disease severity on yield will depend on how early the disease sets in and how quickly it progresses into the upper crop canopy. Early infections during the bloom to early/mid-pod stages cause the most damage if left untreated. Use this fungicide decision worksheet when scouting to

Manitoba pork, canola producers hold steady amid heavy tariffs

A slab of back bacon from Natural Raised Pork comes with a waitlist. Ian Smith points to tariffs. Since the United States placed levies on imports from Canada, Manitobans have increasingly been calling Smith about his farm near Argyle, some 40 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. “There’s more people wanting to support local and I’m one of few people that do what I’m doing,” said Smith, 62. He estimates 90 per cent of his pork products are bought by Manitoba households; the latter goes to a packing plant. Last year, it was a 50-50 split. Smith works alone, hustling to meet the four-to-six week waitlist that’s accumulated. He keeps hundreds of feeder pigs and a couple dozen sows; it’s a relatively small operation, he noted. “If there’s any mistakes to be made, there’s only one person to blame and that’s me,” he said with a laugh. Smith doesn’t export to China — so he’s shielded from that nation’s levies still hanging over the Canadian industry.

KAP Welcomes Appointment of New U.S. Trade Representative

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) welcomes the appointment of Richard Madan as Manitoba’s new trade representative to the United States. “We commend Premier Kinew and Minister Moses for making Manitoba’s voice a priority in Washington, D.C.,” said KAP President Jill Verwey. “We look forward to working with Mr. Madan to advance the interests of Manitoba farmers and the agricultural industry, ensuring these interests are at the forefront of his work as he forges stronger relationships with American policymakers and trade officials.” Agriculture is an important part of Manitoba’s economy, with $4.29 billion in agri-food exports to the U.S. alone in 2024, and KAP sees the new presence in Washington as instrumental in fostering strategic relationships with key states that are important to our trade interests. “The U.S. is Manitoba’s largest agri-food export destination and is one of Manitoba’s key trading partners on the international stage,” added KAP General Manager Colin Hornby. “

2025 Annual General Meeting

On Wednesday, June 18th, the Ontario Farmland Trust hosted its Annual General Meeting. The meeting was held hybrid again this year, with members and friends joining both virtually and in person.

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