Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Farms feed cities

Although not a farmer, live in agricultural area and realize the cost increases that affect farms, will eventually affect us. Can we not all stand together to fight this smart meter issue and related charges on our hydro bill? I am so angry with this Liberal government and what they're getting away with at our expense, I'm considering operating the house with our generator but that would be a drop in the bucket. Unless we all stand together and protest, nothing will be accomplished. If the whole town refused to pay the hydro bill, right across Ontario, will they cut everyone off? You don't want to relive the Ice Storm situation but to what extent are we willing to tolerate the hydro ripoff? This can't be fought alone, farmers should have the upper hand, there will be an outcry if food doesn't make it to the grocery stores. If buying discreetly from the farmer helps sustain the farm, I'm all for it. Ideas, suggestions are needed to work together.  Nancy Moisan

Views: 358

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on October 30, 2010 at 12:54pm
Are you against the smart meters or against paying more for electricity?
How much more are you paying?
What are you suggesting...working together?
Permalink Reply by Nancy Moisan on October 31, 2010 at 5:32am
;Not against smart meters but against the Time of Use rates that will apply. We are keeping our usage to a minimum and mostly have gas appliances, water heater and heating, debt retirement, adjusted usage and delivery charges are more than our actual usage and now I hear they're going to add a Green Tax to the bill. This is before the new rates come into effect, those that already have the new rates are finding it skyrocketing, no one can afford that. The Hydro companies (government) just finds another charge to add to the bill, so no matter how you reduce consumption, your bill keeps increasing. I have a problem with that.
Permalink Reply by Nancy Moisan on December 3, 2010 at 10:43am
We'll be starting on the 29th Dec., Merry Christmas to Mr. McGuinty! Have heard of others in the area who have doubled their bill and the heating has barely started. Why are we not hearing from farmers, this is surely going to be a huge impact on them. I'm willing to participate in anything to get the Liberals to back off on HST and Time of Use rates. A total blackout once a month would be good, we'll be in the dark anyway.

OntAG Admin said:
Are you against the smart meters or against paying more for electricity?
How much more are you paying?
What are you suggesting...working together?
Permalink Reply by Nancy Moisan on December 5, 2010 at 10:22am
According to other areas who have installed smart meters, it hasn't improved anything, just raised the rates. But its not the meters I have a problem with if they work properly, its the government using them to increase rates beyond what general public can afford and I'd think farmers would be screaming. We aren't under the new rates until the end of this month, others have had their bill doubled, regardless of them lowering consumption. Friend in BC paid $67 for 880kWh incl. a couple of small extra charges and tax, my total for 670 was $122. If you figure in the charges on our bills, it works out to .16kWh. I did some comparisons with other provinces and we being ripped off. Working together, I'm not a farmer but you supply my food, if you have an idea that will convince McGuinty to back off, I'm interested in participating. I would like to pull the breaker at a certain time every month so he can see a black province, that's the only time he'll be in the black. Imagine what our neighbours to the south would say if we did this, don't think they'd be impressed and might, might be a wake up call for our government. Nancy

Nancy Moisan said:
We'll be starting on the 29th Dec., Merry Christmas to Mr. McGuinty! Have heard of others in the area who have doubled their bill and the heating has barely started. Why are we not hearing from farmers, this is surely going to be a huge impact on them. I'm willing to participate in anything to get the Liberals to back off on HST and Time of Use rates. A total blackout once a month would be good, we'll be in the dark anyway.

OntAG Admin said:
Are you against the smart meters or against paying more for electricity?
How much more are you paying?
What are you suggesting...working together?

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

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

Market Movers to Watch for the Week of April 6

Key reports that farmers should watch which could have significant impacts on commodity markets the week of April 6th, 2025

MU Extension holds short-term operating plan workshops

If key decision-makers on a farm are unable to make decisions for a short time (two weeks to six months), how well would their farm operations continue? University of Missouri Extension will host “On My Own: Planning for the Unplanned” workshops on short-term operating plans to help landowners and farm operators make sound decisions when preparing for the unexpected. “Farmers can be sidelined by health concerns, cognitive issues, accidents and injuries, family caretaker duties, military deployment or anything else that inhibits their ability to make decisions and operate their farm,” Amie Breshears, MU Extension agricultural business specialist, said in a news release. A short-term operating plan provides essential information and structure to keep the farm running until the key decision-maker is ready to resume their role, she said. Participants will leave the series with knowledge of components of short-term operating plans, Breshears said. The program is designed for female lan

Farmers deeply concerned about ag trade

Weaker expectations for the future led to a decline in farmer sentiment in March as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer index decreased 12 points to a reading of 140, a decrease from 152 a month earlier. The farmer view of the future was decidedly less optimistic in March than in February, as the Index of Future Expectations dipped to 144, which was 15 points less than in February. A weaker Current Conditions Index, which decreased 5 points in March to 132, also contributed to the weakening in farmer sentiment. Reductions in key crop prices since mid-February, combined with concerns about the future of agricultural trade and farm policy, were important factors behind the sentiment shift. Even with the decline in expectations for the future, farmers were still more optimistic about the future than the current situation. The Future Expectations Index remained 12 points more than the Current Conditions Index. The March barometer survey took place March 10-14. Coinciding

Research farm seeks more farmer input

Staff at the Iowa State University Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm are trying to rouse up more attention and input from regional producers. ISU Extension staff and Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association officers reminded members at a recent annual meeting about the importance of their input for upcoming seasonal activities at the research farm, which is also home to the Borlaug Learning Center outside of Nashua in Chickasaw County, Iowa. “We are the best-kept secret in northeast Iowa,” Tim Burrack, president of the NIAEA, said to about 50 members filling a classroom on the farm. “We need to remind people this research farm is here for them.” The farm will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2026. The NIAEA owns the 260-acre research and demonstration farm. Iowa State and the association partnered to open the Borlaug Learning Center in 2009. The center includes Extension and research farm offices, rural development office space and meeting rooms.

Manitoba Government Providing $150 Million for Agricultural Producers

The Manitoba government will provide farmers and producers with more than $150 million in supports, including $10 million to match federal AgriStability funding, Premier Wab Kinew announced today. “We’re standing up for Westman and Western Canada, and protecting your jobs,” said Kinew. “With $150 million in supports for agriculture, we’re making sure that farmers and producers can weather the economic uncertainty we’re facing and protecting jobs in the agriculture industry.” The Manitoba government will provide $10 million in additional matching funds for the AgriStability program, as well as $140.8 million for business risk management programming including AgriInsurance, Wildlife Damage Compensation and AgriInvest. The premier noted the province is also working with farmers, producers and businesses to protect jobs, strengthen Manitoba’s economy and respond to tariffs from China and the United States, in addition to working with Keystone Agricultural Producers toward a number of sh

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service