Farm writer complies with bench warrant in sheep case Friday, April 25, 2014 by JOE CALLAHAN A slow-moving criminal court case connected to the disappearance two years ago of 31 sheep under quarantine at a Northumberland County farm took a tiny step forward this week when a judge at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg cancelled a bench warrant against one of four people who have been charged. On Wednesday, Judge Robert Graydon cancelled a bench warrant that had ordered Suzanne Atkinson to appear in court after Atkinson complied with the order. It was the second warrant that had been issued to order Atkinson, a journalist, to appear in court. Atkinson had failed to attend two previously scheduled hearings. According to the ministry of the attorney general, “in circumstances where a person does not appear in court, the court may extend a courtesy by issuing a bench warrant ‘with discretion.’” Atkinson, of Warkworth, Northumberland County, as well as Linda (Montana) Jones from Hastings, Northumberland County, Michael Schmidt from Durham, Grey County and Robert Pinnell from West Grey township, Grey County, face charges of conspiracy to commit obstruction of a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officer, to transport or to cause to transport an animal under quarantine, and conspiracy to defraud the public of a service over $5,000 under the Criminal Code. Jones is also charged with obstructing a CFIA inspector under the Health of Animals Act and Pinnell faces a further charge of attempting to obstruct justice and another for obstructing a police officer, both under the Criminal Code. Atkinson declined to comment on the case. Graydon scheduled the matter to June 17 in Cobourg, when Justice Lorne Chester is expected to rule on a conflict of interest motion filed by the Crown in connection with another aspect of the case. BF Standardbred horse breeders say they have no choice but to sue the province OFA wants to see debt retirement charge removed from Ontario farm bills too
Chinese Tariffs Are Squeezing Canadian Grain and Oilseeds Friday, March 14, 2025 By Aleah Harle, Farms.com Risk Management Intern On March 8, 2025, China announced steep retaliatory tariffs on $2.6 billion worth of Canadian agricultural products in response to Canada’s October tariffs of 100% on Chinese EVs, and 25% on steel, and aluminum. These newly... Read this article online
Canada proactively purchases 500,000 doses of a human vaccine against bird flu Friday, March 14, 2025 By Liam Nolan Canada’s agricultural industry continues to monitor the spread of Avian Influenza (AI). The H5N1 HPAI was first reported in Canada in December 2021, below is an update on recent developments. Avian influenza, or bird flu, continues to impact poultry farms... Read this article online
Farmer Planting Decisions for 2025 Taking Shape Thursday, March 13, 2025 As farmers across Canada prepare for the 2025 crop year, Statistics Canada says their planting decisions reflect a complex mix of factors including moisture conditions, crop rotation considerations, and market prices. Nationally, farmers are expected to plant more wheat, corn for... Read this article online
Grain Growers of Sounding the Alarm Over U.S. Tariffs Monday, March 10, 2025 Not surprisingly, the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is raising concerns over the United States' decision to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian grain and grain products, a move that could jeopardize the livelihoods of family-run grain farms and lead to higher food prices for American... Read this article online
International Women’s Day – Angela Cammaert Wednesday, March 5, 2025 As International Women’s Day approaches on March 8, Farms.com is asking women in ag about what they’d tell their younger selves about being a farmer, to give a piece of advice to young women entering the ag sector, and to highlight a woman in agriculture they consider a mentor or... Read this article online