U.S. probing farm machinery industry

The United States Federal Trade Commission and Department of Agriculture are looking for public input as they investigate farm equipment dealers and manufacturers.

The joint Request for Information comes in response to the increasing number of complaints the agriculture department has received from farmers facing multiple barriers when purchasing machinery or accessing the parts and services required to keep equipment operating

Federal regulators are encouraging farmers, independent repair providers and former employees of agricultural equipment manufacturers and dealers to share their experiences. The FTC and USDA are seeking public input on:

• Any relevant business models, policies, agreements or contractual terms.
• Any firsthand experiences or documented cases of restrictions, penalties or retaliation.
• Broader competitive implications — how these practices might impact pricing, market entry, innovation, farmer welfare or rural economic resilience.

According to the agencies, this input will help them ensure the market place for agricultural equipment remains, “fair and that farmers can continue to put food on Americans’ tables.”

Ag Discovery Centre seeks input

The Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre group held an open house event in Listowel on Wednesday to get feedback from the community on the project.

Chairman Steve Dolson says they wanted to get insight from people to help plan what will be included in the centre.

But they also want the provincial and federal government to chip in for the project which is estimated to cost $50 million. So far the only government support has come from the local municipality.

 

Dolson said the open house was "very much an opportunity for them to weigh in on what's important to them as far as what's in the centre for exhibits and experiences. So what else do people want to see in there, both inside and outside the centre? That's what we want to know."

Reitch and Petch, a Canadian-based international multidisciplinary design firm, held the open house.

It has worked on the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Science North in Sudbury and the London Children’s Museum.

Dolson says a huge part of the centre will be teaching people about the importance and impact of the agricultural industry on all our lives.

"The farm population is less than two per cent of the Canadian population, but one in nine Canadians are employed in this industry, they're part of it. Their jobs and their economies of their local communities in rural Ontario and beyond, from one end to the other, it's dependent on our industry," he said.

        

PED persists after truck washing

 Thirty-eight per cent of the hog-hauling trucks that went through truck washes with disinfectant still had evidence of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, a new study found.

The researchers also found that sick pigs typically carry multiple infectious agents.

The study also found that most pigs shrug off the virus that remains in trucks after they are washed and disinfected, but said genetics, environment and age are other factors involved in outbreaks.

In Canada, studies have found that thorough cleaning and high temperature treatments are effective in stopping the trucking spread of the virus.

 

Butch Clare escapes fee

 

Walter Richard (Butch) Clare and his Aylmer Meats Ltd. stuck Harrison Pensa law firm of London, Ont., with a $1.7 bill for legal fees related to the closure of his meat-packing business for breaking Canadian Food Inspection regulations.

He was fined a total of $15,000 and Aylmer Meats $110,000.

But then he won a lawsuit against the province and was awarded $3,5 million.

When Harrison Pensa sued for its money, the court ruled it couldn’t tap into the $3.5 million because that lawsuit was filed by other lawyers Clare hired.

Sweda egg case still active

 

Fifteen years after Svante Lind and his Sweda Farms Ltd. business filed suit against Burnbrae Farms, L.H. Gray and Sons Ltd. and the Ontario egg marketing board, the courts have yet to set a trial date.

But the lawyers are getting closer; the court might set a trial date when it meets in December. The estimate is that a trial would involve 44 witnesses and take 75 days.

The most recent court action is around how much money those involved need to post in case they lose.

Lind is already on the hook for $250,000 and now a judge is requiring another $950,000.

Lind had to pay Burnbrae Farms Ltd. $520,000 in legal costs when Burnbrae succeeded in being dismissed from the case.

Lind’s claims against L.H. Gray and Sons Ltd. and the egg board now total $45 million.

Lind’s lawyers asked the court to ensure that L.H. Gray and Sons Ltd. and the egg board to post security in case they lose.

Mazzarolo wins butcher award

Marco Mazzarolo of Herrington’s Quality Butchers in Port Perry has been named Ontario’s Finest Butcher .

Hosted by Meat & Poultry Ontario, the competition brought together 11 butchers from across the province, showcasing the technical skill, craftsmanship and merchandising expertise behind Ontario’s meat industry.

The three finalists were Connor Stewart of J&G Quality Meats, Nick Projkovski of Metro and Mazzarolo.

Ground broken for poultry centre

 

 

There was a ground-breaking ceremony recently for a $30-million poultry research centre at the Elora Research Centre run by the University of Guelph.

The Ontario government is putting up $24 million and the poultry marketing boards $6 million.