4 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | May 2024 INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE INSIGHT FROM THE INSIDE LETTER FROM THE EDITOR ONT. COURT RULES ON TRESPASS LAW Ontario Superior Court Judge Markus Koehnen recently delivered a decision on some sections of the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act (2020), which had been under a court challenge for the past few years. On April 2, the court ruled that specific clauses of the “Ag Gag Law” contravened the right to freedom of expression as outlined in the Charter of Rights. The provisions that had effectively banned undercover reporting at farms and abattoirs were declared of no force and effect. The Animal Justice Canada Legislative Fund was an applicant in the case, and is “celebrating (the) decision that strikes down much of the law, which aimed to silence whistleblowers and journalists who work undercover to investigate animal cruelty.” The ruling brought a measured response from the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO), who are “pleased” that the Court of Justice “upheld the legislation and intent” of the Act. “The Act is a critical safeguard to protect farm animals, the food supply, farmers and others from risks that are created when trespassers enter places where farm animals live or when persons engage in unauthorized interactions with farm animals,” noted the BFO. “Trespassing, and even the threat of trespassing, on farms is detrimental to the mental health and well-being of our farmers. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their homes and their places of work.” Seaforth farmer Nick Whyte had a fun response when asked what his family does in their spare time in this month’s magazine (Up Close, Page 30). “At the back of our farm, we have a log cabin beside a pond and a spring creek. It is a focal point for all of our extended family. The pond is used for swimming, fishing, and skating. In the 10-acre woodlot, we make maple syrup and together the family taps trees and collects sap.” Good times, great memories. 1-888-248-4893 90 Woodlawn Road West Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR PAUL NOLAN ext 202 Paul.Nolan@Farms.com ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR LESLIE STEWART ext 265 Leslie.Stewart@Farms.com AGRICULTURAL JOURNALIST EMILY CROFT CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS EDITION MOE AGOSTINO CAMPBELL CORK DALE COWAN DIEGO FLAMMINI ABHINESH GOPAL PAUL HERMANS PATRICK LYNCH RALPH WINFIELD MARIANNE FIGGE STEIN ADVERTISING TEAM GLENN RUEGG JEFF McKEE JENNY LONGSTREET SCOTT FARHOOD SAMANTHA RENAUD JOAN SPIEGELBERG DESIGN & PRODUCTION TEAM TANYA MYERS GREG MARLOW SHAUN CLARK ANDREA WILLIAMS www.BetterFarming.com Better Farming magazine is mailed as a member-benefit to all farmer members of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. If you are not an OFA member, subscribe at: 1-888-248-4893 ext 281 Subscriptions@BetterFarming.com ISSN 1498-9344 (Printed) Canadian one-year subscriptions: $41 (11 issues; includes $4.72 HST). Two-year: $74 ($8.51 HST). U.S. subscriptions: $72 annually. International: $121. Single-copy back issues are $12. GST Registration #868959347RT0001 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AgMedia Inc., 90 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, ON N1H 1B2. Publications Mail Registration #1156. Publications Mail Agreement #40037298. Copyright ©2024 by AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content without written permission of the publisher is forbidden. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, nor do Better Farming, AgMedia or Farms.com endorse any advertiser claims. The publisher shall have no liability for the omission of any scheduled advertising. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Follow us on @BetterFarmingON “The application process is not fun. It’s lots of work and you have to apply in the middle of the night or early morning on the day the program opens because funding is used up by daybreak.“ - Essex County farmer, Page 10 “A single soil report can provide good information. A series of reports over the years is better. We can look at multiple years’ worth of reports to find trends in soil fertility and allow for adjustments in amendments.“ - Dale Cowan, Page 33 “When using these implants, I tell farmers that they are the one thing guaranteed to provide financial return in the beef market. There is no question left that it is going to make them money. It’s going to increase feed efficiency, average daily gain (ADG), and pretty much as long as there is adequate nutrition, they will return a profit.” - Dr. Van Mitchell, Page 36 “Since both reductions in sunlight and increases in ozone can cause photosynthesis reductions, corn may also be inclined to remobilize carbohydrates from the stalks later in the season to satisfy grain fill requirements, thus increasing the potential for weak stalks and lodging prior to harvest.“ - Moe Agostino, Page 44 Cover: Crystal Whyte photo; Emily Croft photo
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc0MDI3