Ontario releases $5.4 million for ag research

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness announced it is releasing $5.4 million from a $40-million six-year fund announced earlier for agriculture research.

This tranche will fund 28 projects via the Ontario Agr-Food Innovation Alliance.

Among the projects are:

-using economic data to help farmers and businesses respond to market changes and explore new trade opportunities

- developing a battery-powered, AI-driven robot to manage pests in soybean fields

- creating healthier beehives using advanced technology to protect honeybee colonies from Varroa mites

-helping farmers lower costs by developing nutrition and production management strategies for pigs

         - alternatives to glyphosate for weed control

         - using drones for early detection of pests such as western bean cutworms and spider mites and for ‘spraying” parasites that attack those pests

         - finding a systems approach for countering Colorado potato beetles 

         - finding a way to raise queen bees to lessen reliance on imports.

         

 

                  

 

 

Clemens to expand Pennsylvania plant

Clemens Food Group, one of the nation’s largest pork processors and a buyer of Ontario hogs, is making a bold $130 million investment to renovate and expand its flagship facility in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. 

The expansion is designed to increase bacon, sausage, and value-added pork production while enhancing food safety, efficiency, and capacity, the company said.

Renovations to the existing 60,000-square-foot plant began earlier this year, and the expansion phase is set to break ground later this year. By the first half of 2027, the facility will be more than 100,000 square feet, signaling Clemens’ confidence in the growing demand for premium pork products.

“We are investing in this project to continue our commitment to the highest levels of safety and food safety, and to improve product flow,” the company’s spokesman said.

Organic producers can comment on rules

 

Canada’s organic farmers have until July 29 to comment on new organic standards.

One of the proposals would allow struvite to be used as fertilizer. 

Struvite is precipitated from waste water or can be claimed out of manure and food waste.

The white granular result is high in phosphorous.

The new rules would also crack down on producers who slip up on organic management.

There are also new wrinkles the required time between conventional management and organic.

The national and provincial organic associations have already submitted their comments; individuals can make their own comments to the Canadian General Standards Board before the July 29 deadline.

Simon Crouch dead at 67

 

Simon Crouch, who had a passion for agriculture while working almost 40 years in a variety of Chatham-Kent news media jobs. He was 67.

He was a radio producer, wrote a newswriter, hosted a talk show and was a television reporter.

Kim Cooper, a long-time active member of the agricultural community in Chatham-Kent, said Crouch will be remembered as someone who carried the torch from local farm broadcasting pioneer Harold Smith.

"Simon was kind of the second voice of agriculture in Chatham-Kent," said Cooper. "He was a proponent of helping any way he could... I always could count on Simon if there was something I needed to get into the press about different agriculture matters or issues. Simon was always there."

Elora plans Food Day BBQ

 Organizers in Elora said “Canada’s ultimate open-air BBQ is back! On Tuesday, July 29, the heart of downtown Elora transforms into a celebration of Canadian cuisine for the return of Elora’s Longest BBQ the official launch of Food Day Canada 2025.”

This free, all-ages event brings together more thqn 20 restaurants, local craft beers, wines and cider, live music in the evening and family-friendly activities.

Organizers hope to attract 10,000 people this year, up from 7,000 last year.

Food Day Canada and the Elora Mill are building the longest communal table Elora has ever seen, stretching across the Grand River. This table invites everyone to sit side by side, share stories, and celebrate the farmers, chefs, and neighbours who nourish our nation, organizers said.

Food Day Canada was founded in Elora by the late author, food laureate and culinary activist Anita Stewart.

It has become a national celebration of Canadian food and the farmers, fishers, chefs, and communities that shape it. 

Ontario seeks to exclude U.S. biodiesel

 

The Ontario government has posted a proposal to restrict biodiesel to Canadian-produced fuel.

It specifically intends to exclude biodiesel from the United States because the Ontario government claims it is subsidized and is driving Canadian competitors out of the market.

In a posting on its regulatory proposals website, the government said:

“Subsidies for U.S. biofuel producers, specifically the 45Z tax credit under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, threaten to shut down Ontario’s biodiesel production. 

“The U.S. 45Z tax credit provides significant subsidies to American producers of cleaner fuels, such as ethanol, biodiesel, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and other transportation fuels. Such subsidies are not available to Canadian producers. The credit is awarded on a per-gallon basis, with the amount varying based on the fuel's lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and whether a facility has satisfied labour requirements.  

“Renewable fuel policies such as the federal Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) and provincial policies including those in Ontario, BC and Quebec are driving demand for increased volumes of renewable content such as ethanol and biodiesel in Canada. The 45Z tax credit is offering U.S. producers a strong competitive advantage over Canadian producers in this growing market for clean fuels. This is impacting the operational viability of Ontario’s facilities.  The continued presence of U.S. subsidies could result in permanent closure of Ontario’s biodiesel facilities and impact Ontario’s resource recovery objectives if no action is taken.

“In this policy proposal, we are seeking feedback on a domestic renewable content requirement for diesel fuel placed in the Ontario market.  Ontario is proposing to require three per cent of the renewable content required in diesel fuel to be produced in Canada.  This requirement represents 75 per cent of the renewable content that is currently blended in diesel fuel.  This enables the continued processing of some Canadian waste feedstock at clean fuel facilities in Ontario.

“Local biodiesel facilities are critical players in sustaining a circular economy in Ontario.  A circular economy is one where waste streams can be harnessed to produce value-added products, such as clean renewable fuels.  Some feedstocks in biofuel production may be supplied from Ontario’s waste streams (e.g. animal fats, used cooking oil and organics).

“The proposed domestic renewable content requirement would help maintain and sustain a circular economy in Ontario by supporting the continued operations of Ontario biodiesel facilities, which have a key role to play in effectively managing Ontario’s waste streams. This policy could also help recover more waste as a resource and is necessary to enable longer-term innovation and development of Ontario’s circular economy.”

Grape grower loses insurance appeals

 

 

Leonard Feranacci who runs his father’s vineyard at Niagara-on-the- Lake has lost several appeals he filed against crop insurance decisions made by AgriCorp.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Agribusiness and Food Appeals Tribunal ruled in favour of AgriCorp on all of the appeals, including the extent of winter damage to vines and AgriCorp’s cancellation of the Fernacci insurance contract.

Fernacci claimed crop insurance employees lied but the tribunal believed them and not Feranacci.