Fast and reliable Internet: are we getting close on the farm? Thursday, December 22, 2016 Better Farming investigates rural Internet access challenges and highlights some of the developments which promise improvements Across the province, farmers struggle with access to reliable, high-speed Internet. Rural service can be interrupted by wind and precipitation – and plans can be costly. Download speeds can vary significantly by location; farmers dependent on wireless Internet can expect download speeds of 1.5 to 3.0 megabits per second (Mbps), while rural residents in Glencoe in Middlesex County can expect upwards of 26.0 Mbps. But the situation seems to be at a turning point. Both the provincial and federal governments, for example, have invested in SWIFT (SouthWestern Integrated Fibre Technology). This not-for-profit "aims to build an ultra-high-speed fibre optic regional broadband network for everyone in Western Ontario," according to its website. Satellite imagery: Multi-use, multi-purpose Right of passage
Re-defining waste in Canada Friday, January 17, 2025 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has provided an update on some of its ongoing research in biomass and bioproducts. Biomass is a renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals, including crops grown for non-food uses, leaves and stalks, fruit skins, and... Read this article online
Canada's 2024 crop harvest insights Friday, January 17, 2025 The 2024 Canadian crop harvest showed mixed results says Statistics Canada, with some crops performing exceptionally well, while others faced challenges. It is the time of year when farmers have a chance to reflect on last year's harvest and prepare for the upcoming season. Wheat... Read this article online
Poilievre pledges to reverse the harmful capital gains tax hike Friday, January 17, 2025 Tax cuts for economic growth in Canada Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to reverse the tax hike on capital gains introduced by the NDP-Liberal government in June 2024. This tax increase, which raises the capital gains tax inclusion rate to 66%, has been widely... Read this article online
The tax impact on farmers of proroguing Parliament Friday, January 17, 2025 The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is advising farmers to be cautious when preparing their taxes this year. With Prime Minister Trudeau stepping down and proroguing Parliament until March 24,Ontario farmers are learning the suspension ofparliament impacts various proposed... Read this article online
Parliament’s shut down leaves farmers vulnerable Thursday, January 16, 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