Court rules chemical spray drift is trespassing Monday, October 3, 2011 Spray drift qualifies as trespass, thanks to a ruling handed down recently by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.Organic farmers Oluf and Debra Johnson sued Paynesville Farmers Union Co-operative Oil Company, alleging that pesticide and herbicide applications repeatedly drifted onto their property, damaging crops. As well, the Johnsons lost their organic certification and the higher prices associated with their produce. The state department of agriculture ordered affected fields to be removed from organic production for three years and some crops destroyed.According to an article written by Nancy Burke, Jeff Peterson, and Jessica Mitchell of the Gray Plant Mooty Law Firm in Minnesota, the Court differentiated between "transient" manure smells that interfere with the enjoyment of property and liquid pesticide drift that "descends and clings to soils or plants."Most jurisdictions now recognize that agricultural chemical drift provides sufficient grounds for a trespass claim, and some courts are issuing injunctions against applicators to prohibit drift," the article reads.Damages have yet to be determined. BF More packaged milk for Asia Fewer bankers, more farmers?
Parliament’s shut down leaves farmers vulnerable Wednesday, January 22, 2025 In March 2025, Canada's agriculture sector and broader supply chain will face a another setback with the expiration of the extended interswitching pilot program. With Parliament prorogued until March 24th, there is effectively no opportunity to renew or make the program permanent before... Read this article online
Peavey Mart Closing 21 Stores in Ontario Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Peavey Industries LP (“Peavey”) has announced the closure of 21 Peavey Mart stores in Ontario and one store in Nova Scotia as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its operations and ensure long-term sustainability. The decision is part of an effort to streamline Peavey’s retail... Read this article online
$10 million investment supporting Ontario ag mental health Wednesday, January 22, 2025 On January 22, 2205, the Ontario provincial and federal governments announced that two initiatives designed to meet the mental health needs of the agricultural community will continue for the next three years thanks to close to $10 million in new funding. With this new funding, the... Read this article online
Tariffs and their impact on farming Wednesday, January 22, 2025 The swearing-in of a new government in Washington, DC, has brought concerns about potential tariffs on Canadian agricultural exports. With approximately 60% of Canada’s agricultural exports heading to the United States, such measures could significantly impact farmers and consumers... Read this article online
Dynasty kidney bean wins U of G Innovation of the Year award Wednesday, January 22, 2025 A kidney bean variety developed at the University of Guelph has won the school’s Innovation of the Year award for 2024. The award went to Dynasty, which Dr. Peter Pauls, a professor at the Department of Plant Agriculture at the Ontario Agricultural College, and research technician Tom... Read this article online