Food Policy launched Wednesday, April 20, 2011 by PAT CURRIEKeeping agricultural land in production, establishing a retirement fund for retired farmers and developing policies to encourage the younger generation to take up farming are among top priorities for the People’s Food Policy, a national organization launched Monday in Ottawa."These are all huge issues," said Amanda Sheedy, co-ordinator of the Montreal-based grassroots-driven organization that wants the federal government to address what the PFP sees as "crucial gaps" in Canada’s food system.It wants action on pressing health, hunger, climate and agriculture issues facing the country."Our food system is failing us," said Sheedy. "Close to 2.5 million Canadian don’t have enough to eat, thousands of family farms are disappearing,, one in four Canadians is considered obese and the environment is being pushed to the limit."Sheedy said the PFP held more than 250 meetings with farmers and fishers and four major farm organizations across the country before formulating its program. It’s the first time that those who deal directly with food security have joined to push a national food policy, she said.Sheedy wants all candidates in the May 2 federal election to tell the public what they would do to address problems "and put a food policy in place that reflects the realities of the average Canada.Other key recommendations include: Localizing the system so that food is consumed close to where it is produced; a broad shift to ecological production; federal programs on poverty elimination and prevention, creation of a national program on children and food strategy and ensuring public input into decisions. BF Ontario greenhouse growers face U.S. audits Apple growers want provincial help to replace trees
$18.4M Boost for Canadian Cereal Grain Innovation Thursday, September 19, 2024 Gate Project Receives Major Funding for Research Canada's position as a pioneer in cereal grain research is set to strengthen with the Gate Capital Campaign raising $18.4 million. This funding will support the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) initiative, a project... Read this article online
BASF introduces Surtain herbicide for field corn growers Tuesday, September 17, 2024 Field corn growers in eastern Canada have a new crop protection product available to them. After about 10 years of research and trials, BASF has introduced Surtain, a residual herbicide for corn that combines PPO inhibitor saflufenacil (Group 14) and pyroxasulfone (Group 15) in a premix... Read this article online
We Didn’t Start the Fire! Impacts of Wildfire Smoke on Corn Monday, September 16, 2024 Assistant Professor of Corn Production at Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, Daniel Quinn, PhD. recently provided fascinating insights into the impacts of fire on major corn producing areas, many of which have been impacted by smoke from wildfires. Quinn was the keynote... Read this article online
New home for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario Saturday, September 14, 2024 The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) has announced it has moved into its new office building in Ingersoll. Located at 274620 27th Line in Ingersoll, the new office will serve as the hub for CFFO’s ongoing efforts to advocate for and support Ontario’s Christian farmers.... Read this article online
Canadian Ag Youth Council Welcomes new Members Saturday, September 14, 2024 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has announced the latest members to join the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (CAYC). This update introduces nine fresh members alongside thirteen returning youths, marking a significant step towards involving young voices in agricultural... Read this article online