Subsidy announced for deadstock

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is offering $700,000 on a first-come basis for facilities to dispose of deadstock.

Successful applicants can get half their costs covered up to $25,000 per project.

"The overall intent is to have multiple locations with increased deadstock capacity," said Dan Carlow, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) regional manager for the west region.

Applications are open until Dec. 16, but the money is likely to be gone before then.

Approved projects must be completed by Sept. 30, 2022, and all claim paperwork submitted by Oct. 30, 2022.

"We hope municipalities will come forward with a centralized composting plan as well,” said Carlow. “That will help not only one farm but a bunch of livestock farms all in that municipality."

Sesame seed recall expands

The recall of organic sesame seeds has been expanded to include ones from Elan Brand products from Tootsi Impex Inc.

The issue is salmonella food-poisoning bacteria.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reports that the recalled product has been sold in Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec.

The CFIA has no reports of consumers falling ill.

Juices recalled

Kraft Heinz is recalling Lemonade Fruit Juice Substitute Drink Mix, Orange Flavour Crystals because of glass pieces.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is monitoring the recall and said there have been no consumer reports of injuries.

The products were distributed across Canada and via the internet.

Tobacco lobby calls for Ontario enforcement

The tobacco industry is lobbying Ontario Premier Doug Ford to step up enforcement of tobacco taxation, noting that the province estimates that $750 million a year is being lost.

Gary Grant, spokesman for the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco, said Ford’s recent announcement of a war on guns and gangs needs to include action to stop contraband tobacco that is being used to fund the gangs.

He said the trade in illicit cigarettes amounts to $1 million a day, yet the government has still not acted on an initiative it announced the 2018 fall economic statement.

He said Ontario continues to be the worst province for illicit tobacco.

Years ago, economist Larry Martin said illicit tobacco was taking about half of the market and undermining the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Marketing Board's attempts to practice supply management to support tobacco farmers’ incomes.

Not long after Martin’s report the tobacco board abandoned supply management and the province subsidized them with a multi-million-dollars buyout

Sheep board wants to turn the page

Ontario Sheep Farmers has a five-year strategic plan called Building Strength for a Better Future.

It could turn the page on years of internal bickering and sharply differing ideas about what the industry needs.

Some foresee a future of large-scale flocks and meat-packing plants and products tailored for supermarket chains. Others prefer smaller-scale flocks, local marketing directly to consumers, and custom-slaughtered and frozen meats.

“Our new plan sets an ambitious and engaging path forward for the organization,” said John Hemsted, district six director who is the new chairman.

“We are well-positioned to seize the opportunities and address the challenges we heard directly from our members and industry partners,” he said. 

Colleen Alloi, district 11, is first vice-chair and Jay Lewis, district two, is second vice-chair. Ken Lamb replaced Marc Carere as district seven director and Art Alblas took over from Ed Post as district one director. 

Keith Todd, district three, Marusha Kostuk, district four, Heather Little, district five, Gary Fox, district eight, Reg Campbell, district nine and Lee Brien for district 10 are the other directors.

 

Carere advised directors that “a good dose of humility and willingness to learn is always a good place to start.. I’ve learned that the ability to come to the table with an open mind and learn from your fellow producers is what makes being a part of a group like the OSF board so meaningful.

“Allowing your beliefs and ideas to be challenged while listening to and respecting people who see things differently and focussing on the objectives are essential to growth and change,” Carere said. 

“I know that my time on the board has changed me dramatically.”

Flooding claims thousands of animals

Thousands of animals and birds have drowned in British Columbia floods and the government has declared a state of emergency.

And there is a critical need for feed for animals that have been rescued.

Feed that was in the port at Vancouver destined for China has been turned around to feed local livestock.

Flooding remains a threat in parts of the lower Fraser River Valley as water continues to descend from the mountains and pumps are struggling to drain lowlands.

India scraps farm policy changes

After more than a year of often violent protests, farmers have persuaded India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to scrap changes to farm policy.\

The farmers were angry because price supports would be taken away, leaving them more exposed to market forces.

The protests gained world-wide attention and sympathy, including in British Columbia where Indian immigrants are celebrating the change in policy.

The protestors in India have not yet called off their demonstrations because they said they are waiting until Parliament rescinds the measures.