Ag minister wants feedback on wildlife control Tuesday, September 28, 2010 Wildlife damage to livestock is an important issue of concern both for Ontario's farmers and my ministry. The Livestock, Poultry and Honey Bee Protection Act which manages livestock damage compensation programs is over 30 years old and out of date, so earlier this spring we took action and proposed a number of changes to the act to better meet the needs of farmers. Modernizing this legislation will give us the ability to update livestock damage compensation programs to expand the number of species that farmers can be compensated for and increase the prescribed maximum compensation rates to reflect current market values. Over the summer we have been meeting with producer organizations to gather input on our proposal and make sure that the updated compensation rates are both fair and reasonable. It is important for us to get input on the overall concept of the new program first, as this will help shape the more detailed design elements. We've also developed a discussion paper which includes the broader, major agriculture-wildlife issues expressed by members of our agricultural community and is another way for us to proactively engage farmers, producers, and other interested parties in discussions. We want to hear from as many people as possible, and our discussion paper has been posted online since early August for public comment. The Managing Agriculture-Wildlife Conflicts Discussion Paper can be found on OMAFRA's website under Quick Links and is available for comment until October 1st. The McGuinty government is committed to supporting Ontario's farmers. Developing a strategy that will help minimize the damages their operations face as a result of wildlife damage is just one of the many ways we're working together with farmers to develop meaningful programs that work for all of us. Sincerely,Carol MitchellMinister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs No plans to revise drain laws says ag ministry MPP proposes tax break for food donations
Take a virtual reality tour of Ontario’s egg and sheep farms Saturday, December 21, 2024 Canadians now have the opportunity to explore new virtual farm tours on www.FarmFood360.ca, thanks to Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO), is a coalition of farmers, agriculture and food partners proactively working together to grow public trust and confidence in food and farming. The... Read this article online
Snow Begone: The RapidTrak Series Friday, December 20, 2024 BYLINE: Zahra Sadiq Winter is upon us, and with it comes thick layers of snow, making everything just a little more difficult. But it doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to the RapidTrak Snow Blowers by Ariens. This company’s story starts in 1933 when Henry Ariens took his sons... Read this article online
AEM partners with Euro counterpart to enhance global alignment on key ag manufacturer issues Friday, December 20, 2024 The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the European Agricultural Machinery Association (CEMA) have signed a () to enhance advocacy efforts for the agricultural equipment industry. The agreement seeks to create a positive legislative and regulatory environment across... Read this article online
The 2024 Topigs Norsvin Canada Awards Banquet Thursday, December 19, 2024 Topigs Norsvin Canada Inc.—headquartered in Oak Bluff, Manitoba—is a global leader in swine genetics, and recently held its in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Stratford, Ontario, via two events for its producers. The banquets blended recognition for outstanding production achievements and... Read this article online
Premier equipment strengthens reach with new acquisition Wednesday, December 18, 2024 Premier Equipment, a John Deere dealership in southwestern Ontario, has reached an agreement to acquire Hutchinson Farm Supply, effective January 31, 2025. Hutchinson, which has been in business for 60 years, has served agriculture and rural property owners in York and Durham... Read this article online