Food costs and income are relative Thursday, May 2, 2013 According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, citizens of Cameroon, a state in Central Africa, spend $9 per household on food and drink every week. Compared to the United States, where food costs $43, it sounds look a good deal. But the $9 amounts to 47 per cent of a Cameroonian's weekly income compared to eight per cent of an American's. High percentage of income expenditures on food and drink in the developing world aren't a surprise to most in North America. More of a surprise might be the less-than-enviable spending by residents of Belarus. Residents of the former Soviet Republic spend $26 a week, 42 per cent of their income. Economic growth and population are going backwards. Compare that to India, where food costs are $5/day/household and 27 per cent of income. Neighbouring Pakistan is $7 a day, and 43 per cent of income on food. A chart, published on the website of Britain's The Economist, shows that country and the United States tied for spending per person per week on food at $43. The difference is that the food and beverage spending in Britain is about 13 per cent of income, while it is eight per cent of an American's income. Canada isn't among the 22 countries on the chart. Hard to say if the Brits consider us a colony or the 51st state. BF Who's more responsible - the porn industry or the food sector? Behind the Lines - May 2013
Minnesota Wildfires Threaten Agriculture as Governor Walz Mobilizes National Guard Friday, July 17, 2026 Farmers across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario and Manitoba are closely monitoring a growing wildfire situation in northern Minnesota after Governor Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the Minnesota National Guard to assist firefighting efforts. The decision... Read this article online
Woodland Mills Expands Portable Sawmill Capacity Friday, July 17, 2026 Woodland Mills has introduced the HM126MAX Portable Sawmill, a new machine designed to provide greater cutting capacity and improved lumber production for customers. The latest model builds on the success of a long-standing portable sawmill platform while offering enhanced performance and... Read this article online
Asian Vegetables Like Bok Choy Grown Right Here in Ontario Friday, July 17, 2026 When you think of vegetables grown in Ontario, do you think of ethic vegetables? Also known as pak choy or Chinese cabbage, bok choy has become an increasingly important crop for Ontario's vegetable industry, driven by growing consumer demand for fresh, locally produced ethnic... Read this article online
Survey aims to amplify voices of rural Ontarians Friday, July 17, 2026 New surveys for rural Ontarians are helping people in these communities paint a comprehensive picture of what life is like. “For too long, rural communities have lacked access to reliable, credible and reflective data,” Leith Deacon, a professor at University of Guelph’s School of... Read this article online
Wildfire Smoke Over Ontario--What Farmers Need to Know Thursday, July 16, 2026 Ontario farmers are becoming increasingly familiar with hazy skies as wildfire smoke drifts across the province. While much of the public focus remains on human health and visibility, the agricultural impacts are also drawing attention as smoke affects crop development, livestock... Read this article online