Turkey Farmers ease outdoor restriction for organic producers Friday, November 20, 2009 by SUSAN MANNTurkey Farmers of Ontario will allow organic producers to raise turkeys outdoors.The Organic Council of Ontario used a postcard campaign this fall to enlist Ontario Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky’s help in changing a May 2008 Turkey Farmers policy requiring all turkeys to be raised indoors.Turkey Farmers had introduced the policy to mitigate the risk of Avian Influenza from wild birds. It didn’t apply to farmers with flocks under 50 turkeys.The Council protested the policy because it conflicted with requirements for organic certification.The amended policy requires conventional turkey producers to raise birds indoors but exempts organic producers from this requirement.The Council sent the new policy to the federal Standards Interpretation Committee of the Canada Organic office to ensure it complies with the Canadian Organic Standard. Jodi Koberinski, Council executive director, doesn’t know when the office will complete the review.The Council’s board agreed organic farmers could live with Turkey Farmers’ changes. But “it’s not for us to say what meets the Standard,” Koberinski says.Ingrid DeVisser, chair of Turkey Farmers board, says in the end “it came down to politics, really.”The minister told Turkey Farmers it had the right to make policy. “But she asked us to look at whether we can make accommodations to the policy,” DeVisser explains.Farmers must be certified organic growers and have proof of certification to be exempted, DeVisser says. Turkeys’ food and water must be either in a building or outside in covered range feeders.One week before going to market, organic growers must have a random sample of their birds, normally 20, blood-tested for Avian Influenza. After the blood test, the birds must be kept under a solid roof with either mesh or solid sides.“For us it has always been about disease prevention and mitigating risks,” DeVisser notes. BF Dow AgroSciences buys Hyland Seeds Quebec changes rules for ag funding
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