Turkey fees to increase

 

The Ontario Regulatory Registry is inviting public comment on a proposal to increase fees collected by the Turkey Farmers of Ontario marketing board.

The amendments would give board authority to collect a 1.25 cents per kilogram from farmers and processors to be given to the Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency, also known as Turkey Farmers of Canada (TFC), until December 31, 2028.

 It would also increase the existing production levy from 1.8 cents per kilogram to 2.1 cents per kilogram.

The levy funds the "Think Turkey" campaign, a national marketing campaign established in 2020 with the intent to increase per capita consumption of turkey. 

The campaign uses advertising, digital media, and public relations to promote whole turkeys and value-added products. The proposed amendment supports industry efforts to sustain the domestic turkey sector amid growing import pressures.

Per capita consumption declined from 3.5 kilograms in 2022 to 5.3 in 2024.

PCDOV in Huron County

Swine Health Ontario reports an outbreak of porcine deltacoronavirus at a hog finishing barn in Huron County.

Angela Zilke appointed

 

Angela Zilke of Embro has been appointed to a three-year term on the board that oversees the Grain Financial Protection Board.

She represents grain growers in Waterloo Region and Oxford County on the Grain Farmers of Ontario organization.

 

Weather patterns about to change

Meteorologists predict a quick exit for La Niña exit and a 75 per cent chance of transitioning to ENSO-neutral by Jan-March. 

Expect neutral conditions to persist through at least late spring with a growing chance of El Niño in 2026, they said.

Eric Snodgrass, senior science fellow and atmospheric scientist with Nutrien Ag Solutions, said the lessons of 2025 serve as a reminder that even confident outlooks can unravel quickly, and that adaptability is critical as weather patterns reset.

 But overall, he thinks 2026 could bring favorable weather, especially for crop production.

Lawyer re-appointed for two years

 

Stephanie Zwicker Slavens has been re-appointed to a two-year term as the full-time Associate Chair of the Animal Care Review Board.

She is a lawyer who is also the part-time Associate Chair of Fire Safety Commission and an Acting Associate Chair and Vice Chair at the Human Rights Tribunal.

Farm succession group launched

 

Maggie Van Camp has secured federal government funding to launch a new service for farmers facing succession challenges.

It will be a gathering of farmers in Eastern Ontario who will discuss the challenges and receive information about financials, family communications and self awareness.

The program offers:

Van Camp calls it Groundworks.

She said it is a collaborative effort among the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing, AgriRisk Managers and her own business, Loft32.

Ontario rejoins Grain Farmers of Canada

 

Six years after it left, Grain Farmers of Ontario is rejoining Grain Farmers of Canada.

It has not said whether its concerns about governance and personality conflicts have been resolved. When it left it said it felt it did not have adequate representation, but also said the national organization is needed to deal with a host of issues such as trade and transportation.

Now in its statement about rejoining, Scott Hepworth, chairman of Grain Farmers of Canada,said “for decades, grain farmers have been dealing with the fallout of long-standing issues that have been left unresolved.

“Global market instability is exposing cracks across the system, and Grain Farmers of Ontario joining Grain Growers of Canada reflects just how broad these pressures are and why a unified national voice, representing every major grain-producing region, is critical now.”

When it left in February of 2020, Grain Farmers of Ontario said it was “unable to overlook issues with the structure of the organization and personality conflicts” and was, “concerned with governance and regulation compliance.”