Migrant worker health study challenged Tuesday, April 19, 2011 by SUSAN MANNA study documenting migrant workers’ health problems contains lots of wild and unsubstantiated claims, says Ontario Federal of Agriculture vice president Mark Wales.The study, called Temporary Migration, Chronic Effects: the Health of International Migrant Workers in Canada, was posted Monday on the Canadian Medical Association Journal website. The authors say workers are suffering from persistent back pain, eye and skin disorders and mental health problems. Their problems are linked to the grueling work they do on Canadian farms and poor living conditions. The authors surveyed 600 migrant workers in Ontario from 2007 to 2009. Wales says the study fails to differentiate between the Seasonal Agricultural Worker program, which is highly regulated by the federal government, and the Low Skills program, which never really had many rules. He says the rules for the seasonal worker program have been around for more than 30 years.“Those rules are agreed between the government of Canada and the governments of the Caribbean islands where the workers come from and the government of Mexico,” he explains.About 30,000 workers come to Ontario under the seasonal worker program, usually from April to November. Wales says Ontario farmers use 2,000 to 3,000 workers under the low skills program.Wales also questions why the study authors didn’t interview farmers or the liaison officers from the different countries supplying workers. Employees with problems can contact their country’s liaison officer any time during the day or night. And they’re told of that right on a regular basis.Another study, called Doctors Within Borders: Meeting the Health Care Needs of Migrant Farm Workers in Canada, was also posted on the Medical Association Journal’s website Monday.Authors in both studies say there’s a need for stringent federal housing regulations, better safety training, free safety equipment provided to workers, and for officials to ensure workers know their rights to health care. BF Farm groups jump into election fray Chicken board had authority to cap sales to Quebec, Tribunal rules
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