Beef farmers honour two producers

 

Will and Tara MacArthur of MacArthur Farms have been named the 2026 Ontario recipients of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA), sponsored by RBC Royal Bank and organized by Beef Farmers of Ontario.

Robert and Emily McKinlay of Silver Springs Farmn near Ravenna are the recipients of the 2026 Ontario Pasture Award. 

In recognition of their environmental improvements and exceptional pasture management, the McKinlays received a $500 cash award and a bag of forage seed courtesy of DLF.

The MacArthurs manage approximately 100 cow-calf pairs, 40 replacement heifers and 20 steers on 220 acres which they manage with rotational grazing and another 250 acres dedicated to grazing.

More than two kilometres of streams and drainage ditches have been fenced to prevent livestock access, helping to safeguard water quality.

Water lines have been installed in every paddock to ensure consistent access while minimizing nutrient concentration in any one area. 

On their crop acres, the MacArthurs implement reduced tillage practices and follow 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles to optimize fertilizer efficiency and enhance soil health.

Robert McKinlay farms with his parents, James and Joan McKinlay, and they manage a beef and cash crop farm with approximately 200 cow-calf pairs on 2,500 acres near Ravenna, as well as 120 cow-calf pairs on 800 acres on Manitoulin Island. 

They family operate distinct herds at the two locations. 

They sell about 30 bulls and 100 bred heifers a year.

The operation transitioned in the 1990s from Fleckvieh genetics to a Red Angus/Simmental-based herd to better align with evolving market demands. 

Now the Manitoulin location is primarily focused on the crossbred herd and supports a strong regional heifer market.

A commitment to land stewardship and forage excellence underpins both locations. 

The northern farm rotates cash crops with about 300 acres of pasture.  

The Ravenna-area farm maintains about 500 acres of pasture and uses double-cut red clover frost seeding to enhance pasture density, productivity and longevity. 

A select group of bred heifers is also pastured at the southern farm.

                           

 

 

Two more PED outbreaks

There have been two more outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in finisher barns.

One is in Middlesex County, the other in Perth County.

PED outbreaks continue

 

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus has broken out in two barns in Huron County, one a nursery-to-finish operation, the other a finishing barn.

PED has also broke out in a finisher barn in Golden Horseshoe reported Swine Health Ontario.

Bayer offers $7.25 billion to settle lawsuits

Bayer is offering $7.25 billion to settle all outstanding lawsuits related to its Roundup herbicide.

It has already paid $10 billion to settle previous lawsuits.

This offer which will be presented to a court in Missouri is to be paid out over 21 years to about 65,000 people.

The deal would cover all future claims for Roundup-related compensation.

The company has steadfastly maintained Roundup is safe when used as directed. The lawsuits claim it may cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma which is a form of blood cancer.

Food prices soaring

 

While overall inflation held to 2.3 per cent in January, food prices shot up by 7.6 per cent.

Restaurant meals cost 12.3 per cent more than a year ago.

The news comes days after the federal government announced it will bring in the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit program in July It will increase the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Credit by 25 per cent and give it the new name.

NFU wants ban on trade with Israel

 

The National Farmers Union wants Canada to stop trade with Israel because of its ongoing attacks on Palestinians.

It has written to Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand asking for a suspension of the free trade deal and for a two-way embargo on arms meaning no more sales to Israel and no more arms purchases from Israel.

Its action flows from a resolution passed at its annual meeting calling for the NFU to join the global movement of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions.

The NFU said “we have begun conducting an audit of our investments and relationships with Canadian and international businesses that benefit from the ongoing genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine. 

“We are developing resources to share with our membership to implement BDS on their farms and in their households and communities.”

                          

 

CoBank foresees more soybeans, less corn and wheat

 

CoBank is predicting farmers will plant more land to soybeans and less to corn, wheat grain sorghum, cotton and rice this year.

It said the shift is prompted by low prices and high costs.

 Tanner Ehmke, lead grains and oilseeds economist with CoBank, said soybeans offer better profit potential than the other crops.

He figures U.S. soybean acreage will increase by 5.9 per cent over last year to reach 86 million acres.

Corn acreage will decline by 4.8 per cent and the combination of all wheats by one per cent.