Thomas Eckschmidt's Page

Ont. farmer Tony McQuail reflects on NDP leadership race

The 73-year-old farmer and political veteran ran on themes of representation, regeneration, redistribution, and redesign.

Corn Acres Slide, Soybeans Gain as USDA Releases 2026 Planting Intentions

New USDA reports show U.S. producers planning fewer corn acres and more soybeans in 2026, alongside higher grain stocks compared to last year.

Estimate the functional sustainability and true costs of packaging

For growers and packers, packaging decisions have become more complex now that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation is rolling out in key markets in Canada. Ontario legislation, for example, went into force as of January 1, 2026.

Canola Crush Falls for Second Straight Month in February

The Canadian canola crush slowed for the second straight month in February but remained above the year-earlier level. A Statistics Canada report Tuesday pegged the February canola crush at 951,353 tonnes, down 9.7% from January although still up 7.8% from 882,610 in February 2025. It also marked the first time in six months the crush has dipped below the 1-million tonne mark. The high for the 2025-26 marketing year occurred in December 2025, with the crush hitting 1.077 million tonnes. The cumulative year-to-date 2025-26 canola crush (August to February) now stands at 7.066 million tonnes, compared to 6.812 million for the same period last year. That is up 3.7% and represents about 58% of the full-year Agriculture Canada forecast of 12 million tonnes. According to the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, total national canola crush capacity is expected to reach 15 million tonnes in 2026. Cargill’s new canola crush plant at Regina is estimated to process about 1 million ton

Preparing your farm for wildfire season

Considering that Canada borders three oceans, spans six time zones, and has diverse terrain, it’s no surprise that a range of natural hazards can affect farms across the country at any given time. While one part of the country may be in a severe drought, another may experience record floods. But regardless of the location, one hazard has become an all-too-common threat during the warmer months: wildfires. Just look at Canada’s 2023 wildfire season, which was the most destructive on record. By the end of 2023, more than 6,000 fires had burned 15 million hectares of land, which, to put it in perspective, is substantially more than the annual average of 2.5 million hectares. Which is why being prepared for wildfires, wherever you are, is essential. That’s exactly the message that FireSmart Canada, a national program that helps Canadians increase neighbourhood resilience to wildfire and minimize its negative impacts, wants to raise awareness about. Below are some of FireSmart Canada’s