CFIA limits ports of entry for slaughter-bound horses Thursday, November 3, 2011 by KAREN BRIGGSThe Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced that, effective January 1, 2012, shipments of American horses destined for Canadian abbatoirs may enter Canada only at one of eight designated border crossings, three of which are in Ontario.The ports of entry at Windsor, Sarnia, and Niagara Falls/Queenston will henceforth be the only Ontario crossings which will accept slaughter-bound horses. Horses being transported across the border for the purpose of racing, showing, or breeding will not be affected and may enter the country at any border crossing.The three designated border crossings are staffed by CFIA veterinarians and have appropriate unloading facilities. Slaughter-bound shipments will be accepted only during the CFIA’s regular hours of operation, and transporters will be required to arrange an appointment for inspection of the animals at least 24 hours before arrival.Since 2007, there have been no operational slaughterhouses in the United States which process horse meat. American horses designated for slaughter are now shipped either to Mexico, or to Canada, where four abbatoirs – two in Quebec, and two in Alberta – currently process horse meat. Norval Meats, the only facility in Ontario to accept equines in recent years, officially closed in March 2011.Lisa Gauthier, of CFIA’s Media Relations department, explained the changes. “The Government of Canada takes the humane treatment of animals seriously and has been taking steps to enforce the regulations for the humane transportation and slaughter of animals. “These new measures are being taken to enhance the CFIA’s ability to verify compliance with the humane transport provisions of the Health of Animals Regulations.“Humane transport issues have been identified in this industry.”In addition, Gauthier said, the CFIA has determined that not all of the border crossings had facilities appropriate for unloading horses, and/or veterinary staff available for inspections. BF Farm silo hazard alert isn't enough says union Urban agriculture resource proves popular
Grain Bin Emergencies Turn Deadly in Seconds, but Training Can Save Lives Thursday, May 7, 2026 Would you know what to do if someone you loved was trapped in a grain bin? The reality is sobering. Compared to a flowing mass of grain, a person is only several bushels in volume. When grain begins moving, escape becomes nearly impossible. In most cases of full grain engulfment,... Read this article online
Applications open for GFO 2026 Legacy Scholarship Thursday, May 7, 2026 Applications are now open for the 2026 Grain Farmers of Ontario , an annual program designed to support students pursuing post‑secondary education that contributes to the future of the province’s grain and agri‑food industries. Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) represents 28,000... Read this article online
Farmland Rents Lag Land Values Thursday, May 7, 2026 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has released a new economic analysis highlighting a growing gap between farmland values and rental rates across the country, a trend that will likely reshape expansion decisions for Canadian producers. According to the analysis, Canada’s average farmland... Read this article online
How to Keep Your Groundwater Safe and Clean Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Groundwater plays a vital role for families and businesses in rural and agricultural settings. It supports essential activities such as livestock care, irrigation, and cleaning processes, and in many areas, it's the sole source of drinking water. For this reason, it's critical for rural... Read this article online
Rising Waters on the Canadian Prairies and Beyond Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Spring flooding is intensifying across large portions of Canada, placing farms under growing pressure during one of the most important windows of the agricultural year. From the Prairies to Central Canada and into Atlantic regions, saturated soils, elevated rivers, and damaged rural... Read this article online