Ontario beekeepers petition province for neonicotinoid ban Thursday, December 5, 2013 by SUSAN MANN The Ontario Beekeepers’ Association plans to deliver a massive petition to Premier Kathleen Wynne calling for a ban on neonicotinoid insecticides in time for spring planting. President Dan Davidson says the petition currently has 65,000 signatures, including more than 50,000 obtained on line and 12,000 to 15,000 hand-written ones. The association plans to deliver it to Wynne before the Ontario Legislature ends its fall session Dec. 12. Despite the province’s assertion that only the federal government can implement a ban because it’s the regulator of pesticides, Davidson says Ontario has the authority “to ban a specific class of insecticides. They’ve done that with the cosmetic pesticide ban and they’ve done it on a couple of other pesticides throughout history.” Davidson says they haven’t worked out how the petition will be presented to the premier. Once the Legislature breaks, MPPs will head back to their constituencies for office work, attending local events and other work. The legislature resumes sitting on Feb. 24, 2014. The beekeepers want the ban because they say the neonicotinoid field crop seed treatments are causing bee deaths. But another farm group, Grain Farmers of Ontario, opposes a ban and has asked their farmers to talk to MPPs and MPs to prevent one from happening. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency issued a notice Sept. 13 saying current agricultural practices related to the use of neonicotinoid treated corn and soybean seeds are affecting the environment due to impacts on bees. PMRA has outlined a number of additional protective measures for corn and soybean production for 2014 and people have until Dec. 12 to comment on them. The beekeepers’ association has submitted its comments to PMRA and is encouraging individual beekeepers and the general public to send in submissions too. Honey production in Ontario was down 32.6 per cent this year compared to 2012 according to information on the association’s website. Nationally, by way of contrast, honey production dropped 17 per cent. But “we can’t point our finger solely at neonicotinoids,” Davidson says, noting the province’s cool summer weather at the end of July and beginning of August impacted production too. “We can’t say it’s just one thing.” Still, some beekeepers would have lost production because they lost bees early in the year due to neonicotinoids “and they would have missed an early crop,” he says. Grain Farmers of Ontario is also encouraging its farmer members and industry stakeholders to comment to PMRA. Grain Farmers has prepared a letter, available on its website, farmers can use for online submissions that encourages a continued “balanced approach to the issue and the implementation of protective measures for the 2014 planting season.” BF Chicken processors appeal Chicken Farmers of Ontario specialty chicken policy Guilty: jury convicts Pigeon King of fraud
Ontario’s Best in Agri-Food Excellence 2024 Thursday, November 7, 2024 Ontario celebrates excellence in agriculture and food sector achievements The Government of Ontario is celebrating the achievements of outstanding contributors in the agriculture and food industry through the 2024 Excellence in Agriculture Awards. This year’s awards recognize 13... Read this article online
The Canadian Pork Council and Canadian Meat Council want an ASF trade recovery program in place Tuesday, November 5, 2024 The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) and the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) representatives raised concerns about the plan for African Swine Fever (ASF), improved trade access, and ongoing access to labour and immigration programs for the pork industry as they discussed the industry issues with... Read this article online
Four new inductees to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame Tuesday, November 5, 2024 The welcomed four accomplished Canadians for their contributions to advancing Canadian agriculture. Dr. Bruce Coulman, Dr. Michael Eskin, Paul Larmer, and Dr. Charles Vincent were formally inducted at a ceremony on November 2, 2024. “We are so proud to shine a bright spotlight... Read this article online
Navigating Financial Literacy for Women in Ag Monday, November 4, 2024 By Deanna Ciaccia In today’s evolving agricultural landscape, financial literacy is crucial for success, particularly for women who are increasingly taking leadership roles in the agriculture sector. According to a recent article from FNBO (First National Bank of Omaha),... Read this article online
Ontario Pork Congress Annual Meeting report Friday, November 1, 2024 The Ontario Pork Congress was held on October 22, 2024, at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford, Ontario, with over 35 people attending. At the event, the association revealed the winner of its —Tara Terpstra, a Huron County pork producer who is currently Chair of Ontario Pork. The... Read this article online