MNR explores long term exemption for agriculture from habitat protection provisions Wednesday, May 7, 2014 by SUSAN MANN The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is seeking comments on a plan to continue agriculture’s exemption to the Endangered Species Act’s habitat protection provisions for the bobolink and eastern meadowlark for 14 more months. The current exemption is due to expire in October but under the ministry’s proposal, it would be extended until December 2015. That will give the ministry time to consult the public and stakeholders on the development of a protection and recovery plan for the two ground nesting bird species. It will also give the ministry time to evaluate the Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark Round Table’s recommendations. Among the recommendations of that advisory group, made up of farmers, conservation group representatives, along with the industrial and development sectors, is an “integrated solution package’ that includes a 10-year extension of the current exemption for agriculture, it says in the ministry’s notice on the Environmental Registry. The ministry is actively considering the recommendations in the round table’s report, the notice says. Mark Wales, Ontario Federation of Agriculture president, says “they’re trying to figure out how to implement the 10-year exemption so the 14 months is just buying them some time to finish that process.” The 14-month extension “gives them (the ministry) plenty of time to then put in the 10-year exemption for agriculture,” he says, noting the 10-year exemption for agriculture is the only viable solution. “There is no other option.” The ministry’s notice says hay and pasture lands provide the greatest percentage of bobolink and eastern meadowlark habitat in Ontario. In two previous regulations, the Ontario government gave an exemption period of about three years. The exemption means the protection provisions of the Endangered Species Act do not apply to agricultural operations for bobolink and meadowlark habitats. Comments are due by June 2. BF Quality Meats creditors meeting scheduled for later this month University receives first donation towards new beneficial insect health centre
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