Grain farmers seek diesel price relief

Grain Growers of Canada asked the federal government for a 50-cents per litre diesel subsidy 18 days before United States President Donald Trump announced a $8-billion diesel subsidy for farmers.

Grain Growers said in its letter to federal finance minister Francois-Philippe Champagne that it wants immediate help, but failing that, help when Champagne tables his budget Nov.8. 

“This is just highlighting that other countries are recognizing it as an issue as well,” said Kate Sauser, executive director of Grain Growers.

Grain Growers calculated that a Class 8 combine consuming 70 litres of diesel per hour, seven days a week over 30 harvest days, would use 16,800 litres of fuel.

“This calculation excludes fuel used by grain carts, trucks and other equipment supporting harvest,” Grain Growers stated in its letter.

At the proposed rebate of 50 cents per litre would be $8,400 for that one combine.

Farm Credit Canada estimates that a 5,000-acre farm in Saskatchewan

is experiencing an increase in its fuel bill of between $68,000 and $106,000 in 2026, not including the increase in trucking costs and rail freight.

                  

Conagra plans to leave Dresden tomato plant

Conagra is planning to either sell or close its tomato plant in Dresden. It said it is in discussions with Highbury Canco of Leamington.

Highbury Canco emerged when Heinz closed its tomato-processing plant.

The plant in Dresden has been in business since 1947.

Conagra didn't explain why it plans to leave the area, only that its decision was made after a careful review.

Steve Pinsonneault, the provincial member of the legislature for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, said “the potential closure of the Conagra tomato processing facility in Dresden would have a significant impact on the local community and surrounding agricultural sector. I understand the potential consequences extend well beyond the facility itself. Local tomato growers, employees, suppliers, and other businesses all have a stake in its future, and the effects would be felt throughout the community." 

In 2022 Conagra said it employed 175 workers at the plant full time and roughly 225 seasonally.

Chicken consumption increasing

 

Per capita chicken consumption in Canada is at record levels and expected to climb further, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

In its annual report on the Canadian poultry market, the agency projects 2026 chicken meat consumption at a record 39.5 kilograms (87.1 pounds) per person, still about 16 pounds below U.S. per capita consumption, leaving room to grow. Canadian prices are more than two times higher than the U.S.

The Canadian data represents a 10.3 per cent increase per person from a decade ago and 5.6 per cent in the last two years. FAS is forecasting another increase next year by 0.8 per cent to 39.8 kilograms.

“Total chicken meat consumption in Canada has nearly tripled over the last 35 years, due in part to the country’s steady population growth, which peaked in 2025 at 41.6 million people, up from nearly 28 million in 1990,” FAS’s Ottawa bureau said in the report.

Chicken has been steadily available and cost less than beef and lamb and Muslims and Jews shun pork. Rising per capita consumption is expected to keep the country’s total demand rising. The federal government is about to announce updated immigration targets.

Total Canadian domestic consumption is projected to increase by 1.7 per cent to 1.63 million tonnes in 2027.

“Increased chicken consumption can also be attributed to the proliferation of chicken-based quick-service offerings, as well as Canada’s changing ethnic composition,” FAS wrote.

“Canada’s immigrant population increasingly originates from countries with stronger dietary preferences for chicken rather than beef or pork.” said FAS. “Rising diversity has also expanded the range of foodservice outlets offering chicken-based dishes. As in the United States, chicken’s popularity in foodservice and at retail is indisputable.”

U.S. exporters last year sold 191,000 tonnes of poultry worth $609 million to Canada. Exports through August are 1.8 per cent behind the 2025 pace. 

Canada’s chicken marketing agency has repeatedly raised concerns about spent fowl imports that escape tariffs, noting that the total have at times exceeded total U.S. supply of spent fowl.

FAS also said a significant fraction of U.S. chicken exports to Canada receive further processing for re-export to the United States, as well as some other markets. The only other meaningful source of Canadian chicken imports are Brazil, Thailand and Chile, which has only gained a notable market share since 2023.

PED in Perth County

 

Swine Health Ontario reported an outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus at a finisher barn in Perth County.

Chicken demand remains strong

 

Because consumer demand for chicken remains strong, the national supply management agency is calling for production at 4.5 per cent above base quota for the period from Feb. 7 to April 3.

Ontario’s production target is 4.7 per cent above base, putting it back in the lead after two quota periods of lagging the national targets.

The Ontario board said on its website that “demand for chicken continues to be strong. This is supported by competing meat prices, steady per capita consumption and overall positive economic indicators.”

Americans challenge Trump’s Canada tariffs

 

Gellert Global Group of New York has filed a court challenge against United States President Donald Trump’s most recent tariffs on Canada, including his ban on Canadian dairy products.

The court filing argues Trump lacks authority to use a Depression-era law to impose the tariffs which hit thousands of small Canadian businesses with a 50 per cent import tax.

Global Group argues that Trump’s tariffs are not justified by the use of the old law, but are a response to provincial bans on U.S. liquors, to dairy supply management and auto trade.

Canada and the U.S have long trading relationships underlined by the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement negotiated during 
Trump’s first term as president.

“These tariffs disrupt those relationships overnight and create costs and uncertainty that ripple through the entire supply chain,” said a news release from the Gellert Global Group.

John Weber dead at 95

 

John Weber, a farmer in the Elmira area, has died. He was 95.

He was active in agriculture and community organizations and opened his farm to host school children.

He was a president of the Ontario Maple Syrup Association and a founding member of the Elmira Syrup Festival, the largest event of its kind in Canada and perhaps North America.

He lived 92 of his 95 years on the family farm.