Barren budget Thursday, March 4, 2010 by BETTER FARMING STAFFIf you’re looking for agriculture in this year’s federal budget, you’ll have to do a lot of reading between the lines.The industry received no mention in federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s budget speech and only passing mention in budget documents posted on Finance Canada’s website. These included $75 million over three years to Canadian cattle processing plants to improve their operations and $51.7 million over two years to the Canadian Grain Commission.In a news release last week, Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Laurent Pellerin noted that “the government has promised us that they put ‘farmers first’ and we expect this message will be delivered in the throne speech.”The $281 billion budget aims to reduce the Canadian deficit more than $4 billion from its high of $53.8 billion in 2009.Along with pledging $7.7 billion in infrastructure spending, highlights included:• $2.2 billion in stimulus spending to support areas of the country and industry hardest hit by the recession, including agriculture, small business and forestry;• $135 million over two years to the National Research Council Canada’s regional innovation clusters program;• $40 million over two years to launch a small and medium-sized enterprise innovation commercialization program;• $49 million to regional development agencies to support innovation;• Establishing a red tape reduction commission;• $7.2 million over two years to improve Canadian fish and seafood industry access to international markets;• Increasing the amount people can earn before paying federal income tax and being subject to higher tax rates;• Expanding eligibility for accelerated capital cost allowance for investment in clean energy generation;• Cutting administrative spending, including introducing a government salary freeze for workers and politicians, introducing tax changes and other initiatives with the goal of saving $17.6 billion over five years;• Introducing more employment insurance benefits and funding to retrain unemployed;• Reducing the federal corporate income tax rate to 15 per cent by 2012 from its 2010 rate of 18 per cent.“The crisis emerged more quickly and with greater force than anyone could have predicted,” says Flaherty in his budget speech. No banks in Canada have failed and the country is in a position to ensure the deficit it has amassed to counter the downturn are temporary. The country is performing better than the United States and other advanced economies in its recovery, he says. BF Dairy Farmers tackle quota availability Goat milk producers ponder change
The Great Ontario Yield Tour predicts a record-breaking soybean crop Friday, September 6, 2024 Team; Photo credit: Winestains- stock.adobe.com The is predicting the 2024 Ontario soybean yield will be 54.12 bu/ac—a NEW RECORD high surpassing the previous record of 53 bu/ac set last year. If the prediction is correct, it will be the best soybean crop ever produced in... Read this article online
IPM needs volunteers Thursday, September 5, 2024 Image by Tumisu from Pixabay The () could use a helping hand for volunteers. The IPM is being held this year in Lindsay, Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, between October 1 and 5, 2024. While we are aware that the majority of the popular event is being held during the work/school week,... Read this article online
2025 Grain Fund Invites Innovators Thursday, September 5, 2024 By Jean-Paul MacDonald The Grain Farmers of Ontario are now welcoming applications for its 2025 Grains Innovation Fund. This initiative offers up to 60% funding, capped at $50,000, for eligible projects focused on Ontario grains such as barley, corn, oats, soybeans, and... Read this article online
HeatMasterSS G4000 Outdoor Wood Boiler Thursday, September 5, 2024 By: Nevan Hagarty With constantly rising energy costs, it can be expensive to heat different types of farm buildings and homes. If this situation sounds all too familiar, maybe it’s time to consider investing in cheap and sustainable alternative fuel sources - such as a HeatMaster... Read this article online
New CEO for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation Thursday, September 5, 2024 sy of the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation 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... Read this article online