Commentary

Supply Management: Working to build up new entrants

March 23, 2018 | By Marie Versteeg

Early this month, the CFFO Supply Management Committee hosted representatives from Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO), Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO), and Egg Farmers of Ontario (EFO) to discuss their efforts to attract new entrants.

Farm Safety

March 16, 2018 | By Marie Versteeg

This week has been Agricultural Safety Week in Canada. Ag Safety Week is supported by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), which works to raise awareness of on-farm risks and provide resources to help farmers improve farm safety.

Drones for Aerial Agricultural Applications

March 9, 2018 | By Brooke Wareing

UAVs or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, better known as drones, are entering the market as an alternative to existing spraying methods. In Canada, the first Transport Canada permit has been approved for a company called Roga Drone for the operation of a UAV for aerial application.

Global Dairy Producers Fighting over a Small Slice of the Pie

March 2, 2018 | By Marie Versteeg

Early next week, the Supply Management Committee of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario is meeting with representatives from a number of supply managed commodity boards. The goal is to learn more about growth for new entrants and plans for long-term sustainability.

Using Marketing Systems to Remain Competitive

January 19, 2018 | By Paul Bootsma

Any industry that wants to stay competitive today needs to choose its customers and/or market base and provide a consistent quality product. This business approach applies to food production as well.

Summit on Canadian Soil Health

September 8, 2017 | By Suzanne Armstrong

Don Lobb, farmer and award-winning soil health leader, encouraged a move to better “soil care” based on four principles: restore soil aggregation, increase soil organic matter, increase biological activity in soil, and manage water availability.

Deflating Soil Compaction

September 1, 2017 | By Paul Bootsma

Scientists are concerned that the compaction of soil, due to heavy machinery, is taking away the full potential of food production.

Succession or Not

February 23, 2017 | By Paul Boostma

Planning is an integral part of farming. However, we continually see a lack of foresight when it comes to succession planning to move ownership on to the next generation.

Predation and Ontario’s Wildlife Damage Compensation Program

February 16, 2017 | By Brooke Wareing

According to 2017 stats from the Government of Canada, livestock death due to predation results in the loss of millions of dollars every year across the country. Fortunately, compensation is available to Ontario farmers through the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.

National Days in February Mark Agriculture’s Importance

February 9, 2017 | By Clarence Nywening

In the past, food was hard bought. Long hours and hard toil produced a crop that served a farming family and few others. Now, with improvements in agriculture, a farmer can produce more food that is safer, healthier and more affordable. In Canada, we have a lot to be thankful for.