Feds zoned out on West Hawk Lake livestock monitoring station Tuesday, May 5, 2009 AgMedia Inc.by BETTER FARMING STAFFA program that would enable Canada to apply border-like controls over east-west domestic livestock shipments remains stalled because funding ran out.The program involves introducing a livestock monitoring point at West Hawk Lake, on the border of Manitoba and Ontario. The location is a “choke point” of rail and highway corridors between Eastern and Western Canada, and a monitor station there can track, trace or even limit shipments between the two parts of the country, allowing producers in one section to continue their business if a disease outbreak affects the other.Financed with $3.5 million from the federal government and the country’s livestock industry, the program operated as a pilot for two years until money ran out in February. “Unfortunately, government has chosen . . . not to fund the full activation” of the program, says Curtiss Littlejohn, former chair of Ontario Pork and a member of the committee that developed the program. Because the flu outbreak was an isolated instance in Alberta he doubts the program would have played a role in protecting animal health — this time around. “There are no market hogs that move east-west (to Ontario from Alberta); the cost is prohibitive,” he explains.But the current situation shows the advantages of maintaining zones, he says. BF Wellington North reconsiders controversial development charges Three acquittals and an absolute discharge in Landowner mischief case
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