Processors pay more for Ontario vegetable crops Monday, March 12, 2012 by BETTER FARMING STAFF Processors will generally be paying a little more for most crops grown by Ontario’s 600 processing vegetable growers this year. Al Krueger, executive assistant for the Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers, says the biggest increase will be in the price of green peas, which is up 22 per cent from last year’s price. Depending on grade, green peas this year will sell from a low of $268.84 a ton to a high of $725.78 a ton. “The pea crop is the one that is the most challenging,” Krueger says. Last year, growers were faced with rains during the April planting period and with extreme heat leading up to harvest. These are extremes peas don’t handle very well, Krueger says. Other increases, Krueger says, have been more modest, with sweet corn up 2.75 per cent to $102.50 a ton and green and wax beans up four per cent -a weighted average price increase - with price levels depending on grade and type. Cucumbers, Krueger says, got an increase in arbitration, “but not as much as the board would like.” The 2012 price for cucumbers can be as high as $878 a ton depending on grade and whether the crop is hand harvested. Most of Ontario’s cucumber crop is hand picked. The final price for hot banana peppers and tomatoes has not been set. The price for hot banana peppers will be reached in arbitration and the price for tomatoes is tied to the price the California Tomato Growers Association negotiates with their processors. That price could be set at any time within the next three weeks. While some vegetable growers have switched to field crops such as corn, soybeans and wheat because of the higher prices those crops are returning, Krueger says they are still reaching the acres they want for vegetable crops. “There is pressure out there for sure,” he says. “It’s probably changing a little bit but it’s not like there are wholesale changes going on, no.” In January, Del Monte Canada Inc. was bought out by U.S.-based ConAgra Foods Inc. The agreement included their manufacturing facility in Dresden where tomatoes and beets are processed. However, the ownership change has not made any difference to growers. “It’s business as usual,” Krueger says. BF USDA proposes to change BSE import regulations Federal money provided for soybean marketing
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
New CEO for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation Friday, September 13, 2024 Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) is promoting from within with the appointment of the organization’s newest Chief Executive Officer. Industry Services Manager Kelly Somerville has been tapped to assume the role as of September 3, replacing retiring CEO Mike McMorris.... Read this article online