Imported Kendamil infant formula is under recall.
It is certified organic and made from either cow or goat milk.
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Infant formula on recall
Friday, February 20, 2026
PDCoV outbreak in Huron
Swine Health Ontario reports an outbreak of porcine deltacoronavus at a finisher barn in Huron County.
Supreme Court strikes down tariffs
The United State. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Donald Trump lacked the authority to impose sweeping global tariffs under a 1977 emergency powers law, reinforcing Congress’ constitutional role over tariffs.
In a majority opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court held that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the president unilateral authority to levy broad, indefinite tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners.
Trump used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose a 10 per cent global tariff and higher “reciprocal” tariffs on certain nations after declaring the U.S. trade deficit a national emergency.
The Constitution assigns the power to set tariffs to Congress, while IEEPA authorizes the president to “regulate” imports and exports in response to an “unusual and extraordinary threat.”
The law does not specifically mention tariffs — an omission that proved central to the dispute.
The decision has only a minor impact on Canadian exports, most of them exempted because they are covered by the Canada-United States-Mexico (CUSMA) free trade agreement.
Nestlé spinning off ice cream division
Nestlé is preparing to separate its global ice cream business, marking a significant strategic change for one of the world’s largest dairy and food manufacturers.
PDCoV outbreak in Huron
Thursday, February 19, 2026
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.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
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.
Corn acreage will decline by 4.8 per cent and the combination of all wheats by one per cent.
U.S. relaxes line speeds at hog-packing plants
The United States Department of Agriculture has implemented new regulations which lift restrictions on line speeds at pork processing plants.
There have been limits since a court ruling in 2021.
Since then only some plants have been allowed to operate faster line speeds under close supervision.
The Meat Institute said plant employees in swine slaughter establishments conduct manual sorting activities to remove defects in carcasses and parts prior to FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) inspection, making inspection more efficient. Critically, FSIS inspects 100 per cent of live animals prior to slaughter and all carcasses after slaughter in all regulated facilities., including allowing staff to cut away portions from carcasses before they are presented for inspectors’ scrutiny.”
“With this long overdue regulatory certainty, our member companies can invest in their operations to continue growth of the processing sector which benefits the consumer with more affordable and nutritious food,” said the Meat Institute.
Monday, February 16, 2026
Willow Creek Colony wins appeal
Willow Creek Colony in Manitoba has won an appeal against a $40,000 fine levied by Health Canada.
Emily Crocco, chair of the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal, found that Health Canada inspectors lacked proof that the pest control products found on the colony’s 6,000-acre property was owned and placed by any of the 150 members of the colony.
Because the public had access to the road where the bait was found, it could have been anyone other than a colony member who put it there.
The colony said it would not be likely to put it there because it would poison the colony’s bees and contaminate the canola crop which their children eat.
Health Canada laid charges after it found carbofuran and chlorpyrifos bait and dead animals that later tested positive with the poison bait.
But a search of multiple colony buildings did not find any of the poison products.
The Health Canada investigation began after Manitoba’s Department of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures found several dead wildlife animals on colony property. There had been wildlife damage to colony crops.
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Quarantine lifted in Strathroy-Caradoc
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has lifted a quarantine in an area in Strathroy-Caradoc municipality where a turkey flock was hit by highly-pathogenic avian influenza. It’s the second quarantine zone in the area of turkey farms that has been lifted.
Friday, February 13, 2026
Moonfleet wins another appeal
Moonfleet Poultry Inc. of Harriston has notched another appeal tribunal victory over the Canadian Food Inspection Agency which was trying to impose a $10.000 fine.
Patrician Farnese of the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal ruled that a chicken that died on route to the slaughter plant could have suffered because of a number of causes besides a damaged crate cited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
There was a two-hour delay on the trip to the packing plant because of a mechanical breakdown.
Moonfleet handled loading of 5488 chickens into 784 crates.
Laplante Poultry Farms Inc. handled the transportation.
Moonfleet won two tribunal victories against the. Canadian Food Inspection Agency in October.
U.S. scraps vehicle emissions standards
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has scrapped its vehicle emissions standards and a 2009 study that outlined the dangers the emissions pose.
Lee Zeldin , head of the EPA, called it the “single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history” and said it will save consumers $1.3 trillion.
EPA is eliminating both the 2009 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding and all subsequent federal GHG emission standards for all vehicles and engines of model years 2012 to 2027 and beyond. The action also eliminates all off-cycle credits, including for the start-stop feature.
“EPA’s historic move restores consumer choice, makes more affordable vehicles available for American families, and decreases the cost of living on all products by lowering the cost of trucks,” EPA said in a release.
Former President Barack Obama said the announcement means “we’ll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change — all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.”
Cargill closes Minneapolis plant
Cargill said it is closing its meat-packing plant in Minneapolis.
Makes me wonder it ICE seized too many of its employees.
U.S. scraps vehicle emissions standards
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has scrapped its vehicle emissions standards and a 2009 study that outlined the dangers the emissions pose.
Lee Zeldin , head of the EPA, called it the “single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history” and said it will save consumers $1.3 trillion.
EPA is eliminating both the 2009 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding and all subsequent federal GHG emission standards for all vehicles and engines of model years 2012 to 2027 and beyond. The action also eliminates all off-cycle credits, including for the start-stop feature.
“EPA’s historic move restores consumer choice, makes more affordable vehicles available for American families, and decreases the cost of living on all products by lowering the cost of trucks,” EPA said in a release.
Former President Barack Obama said the announcement means “we’ll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change — all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.”
Meanwhile, an audit in Canada said governments last year missed every emissions-reduction goal they announced.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Kraft-Heinz split shelved
The new boss for Kraft-Heinz has shelved plans to split the company and is instead implementing a plan he hopes will fix it.
Chief executive officer Steve Cahillane took over in January and said he believes many of its problems can be fixed.
“My number one priority is returning the business to profitable growth, which will require ensuring all resources are fully focused on the execution of our operating plan. As a result, we believe it is prudent to pause work related to the separation, and we will no longer incur related dis-synergies this year.”
The previous plan was to spin off some businesses, including Oscar Meyer and its lunchables brand,
He will invest $600 million across marketing, sales and research and development.
Ten years ago Kraft and Heinz were merged for $46 billion.
But then U.S. sales declined and it took writedowns on several iconic brands including Oscar Mayer.
The company has now reported fourth-quarter earnings that were down by nearly 60 per cent and sales down by 3.4 per cent.
Warren Buffet orchestrated the merger in which he holds controlling interest, but turned over management to partner 3G Capital from Brazil which had a track record or cutting costs immediately after purchasing a company. That would boost short-term profits, but then result in a decline in sales.
Tim Horton’s chain is another of its acquisitions and there, too, the leaders from Brazil cut costs by dismissing a majority of its top and mid-level managers.
Its Restaurant Brands Inc. also owns Burger King, Popeye’s and YUM! Brands which in turn owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.
Hog diseases continue to pop up
There have been outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in finisher bans in Huron County and Haldimand-Norfolk and of porcine deltacoronavirus in a finisher barn in Huron County, reported Swine Health Ontario.
More protein, less fat wanted in milk
Milk marketing boards in Eastern Canada have announced another adjustment in milk pricing to favour protein and discourage fat.
This change is to take effect on April 1. A similar adjustment came into effect Jan. 1.
The Ontario milk marketing board said the April 1 change increases the price for SNF (solids, not fat) by $2 and reduces the price for butterfat by $1.80.
The Jan. 1 change had little impact, but after April 1 observers said they expect dairy farmers will react by changing rations.
U.S. farm leaders support CUSMA
A group of 40 leading agricultural organizations in the United States has told U.S. President Donald Trump that it wants the free trade deal with Canada and Mexico to continue.
The group representing farmers, ranchers, food producers and processors has launched what it calls the Agricultural Coalition for USMCA (the American acronym for the three-way trade deal).
The campaign, which includes advertising, research and lobbying, puts a heavy emphasis on how the agreement has boosted jobs and revenue in the U.S. agriculture industry. The targets include members of Congress, senior White House officials and U.S. President Donald Trump.
However, the U.S. dairy industry continues to lobby for changes in trade with Canada, including administration of tariff-reduced permits so they no longer go mainly to Canadian dairy processing companies and curbs on Canadian exports of milk ingredients at reduced prices.
On another front, Congress passed a bill calling for an end to some of Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
It means little because it would need approval from the Senate and then Trump’s signature. If he refuses to sign, it would need two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate to become law.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Farm Credit boosts funding for innovators
Farm Credit Canada has lined up 20 investors to support innovators.
FCC is putting up $325 million in new capital this fiscal year, the lender said in a news release. The 20 investors will be partners.
It said the cash will “bring new innovation to Canadian farmers through investments in innovative Canadian businesses, construction and project finance opportunities, and early-stage ag-tech companies.”
Last year it said it will offer $2 billion for investments over five years into agriculture technology innovation.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Sunterra kited cheques
Alberta judge had harsh words for Sunterra Farms Ltd. for kiting cheques between its Alberta and United States hog businesses, resulting in $35 million in losses for lender Compeer Financial PCA.
He also found president Ray Price guilty.
In a Thursday statement, Price said, “I want to be very clear about one thing: at no time did I personally benefit from the matters currently before the court, nor was there ever any intention to do so.”
All decisions, he said, were made “with the goal of sustaining the business, protecting employees and preserving a food system that supports thousands of Canadian and U.S. families.
“There were no hidden accounts, no personal enrichment and no diversion of funds for individual use.
"Any suggestion otherwise fundamentally misrepresents who I am and how I have conducted myself throughout my career,” Price said.
For a short time Sunterra owned a hog-packing plant in Clinton which was started by the Terpstra family which declared it bankrupt.
Feds add $75 million for food businesses
Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced $75 million will be on offer over five years to small and medium-sized food and fisheries businesses to seek new export markets.
The money goes to two programs announced in 2023 when $125 million was offered.
MacDonald made the announcement at an annual policy breakfast hosted by Food and Beverage Canada on the national Agriculture Day.
MacDonald said commodities affected by trade barriers will get priority: canola, pulses, pork, fish and seafoods.
The two programs are the AgriMarketing and Market Diversification for National Industry and the Market Diversification for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
He defended closing 17 research facilities.
Closing the facilities was a matter of aligning and co-ordinating the federal food strategy, he said.
A number of the centres were operating with overhead and maintenance costs of 50 to 60 per cent, he said, and others were conducting research no longer in line with Ottawa’s vision for Canadian agriculture, such as deforestation.
“I’ll put it bluntly,” he said. “The mandate we ran on was spend less and invest more. This is spending less on infrastructure and more in science and research.”
Ostrich farm wins appeal
Universal Ostrich Farm of British Columbia has won an appeal against the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, relieving it of a conviction and $10,000 fine.
The company did, however, lose all of its approximately 300 ostriches which the CFIA shot to prevent the spread of highly-infectious avian influenza that had infected some birds in the flock about two years earlier.
It took two years for the CFIA to overcome appeals and court cases so it could carry out its orders.
But it lost its case for the $10,000 fine and failure to comply with CFIA orders because Patricia Farnese of the of the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal ruled that it did not property deliver a personal notice of violation of its orders.
Farnese did not rule on a number of other issues the lawyer for the ostrich farm raised.
It argued that the NOV (notice of violation) was unfair because the conditions they were alleged to have breached were designed for quarantining poultry and were either impractical or ineffective when dealing with ostriches.
Universal also claimed that the conditions imposed to prevent wild birds from coming into contact with the ostriches, their feed and water were either impossible or impractical.
Finally, they argued that the NOV is unjust because the continuation of the quarantine order was unwarranted. It said its ostriches were no longer dying of avian influenza.
Pork research payback is eight-fold
Farmers and the Canadian public garner $8 in returns for every dollar invested in pork-industry research, according to economist Dr. Stuart Smyth of the University of Saskatchewan.
He was commissioned by Swine Innovation Porc to undertake the study of investments in pork-industry research.
He delved into more than 70 research projects funded in part by Swine Innovation Porc between 2010 and 2023.
The assessment estimates that pork research during the 15-year period generated approximately $225 million in total economic benefits for the Canadian economy.
Leading the results was improvements in feed efficiency.
Nova Scotia joins EastGen
The Nova Scotia Animal Breeders (NSAB) Co-operative members have voted 98 per cent in favour of joining EastGen.
The deal will take effect June 1.
It ends a 40-year relationship with CIAQ of Quebec - Centre d’insémination artificielle du Québec.
“The relationship between NSAB and CIAQ has been a cornerstone of our industry,” said Reg Dillman, chairman of the Nova Scotia board of directors. “We are forever grateful for the collaboration with CIAQ that allowed us to achieve so much.”
The Nova Scotia co-op will establish a Legacy Fund dedicated to supporting Canadian ruminant agricultural programs with a specific emphasis on youth, ensuring the co-operative’s 80-year history leaves a lasting impact on the next generation of farmers.
Monday, February 9, 2026
Vine crusher reduces weed pressure
Tests indicate that potato harvesting equipment designed to crush vines also crushes bugs and larger-sized weed seeds, thereby reducing insect and weed pressure on crops planted on the same field the following year.,
But it does not eliminate the need for herbicide sprays to control weeds and sprays or other methods to control bugs such as Colorado potato beetles.
Seed size played a role in how consistently the crusher worked, federal agriculture departmrnt researcher McKenzie-Gopsill said.
“It’s actually on springs, so that if a large piece of debris (such as a rock) moves through it… it allows the rollers to move out of the way to accommodate that.”
Haverkamp term extended
Samantha Haverkamp has had her directorship on the Farm Products Council of Canada extended by three years.
The council oversees national marketing agencies for chickens, eggs, turkeys and hatching eggs and promotion agencies for beef and pork.
Haverkamp has been chair of the Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg Producers Association since 2022 and has a seat on the Poultry Industry Council’s board of directors.
JBS increases global reach
JBS is paying $150 million US for 80 per cent of a meat-packing business in Oman in the Middle East.
The deal opens the door for JBS to process local chickens and source lamb and beef from countries in Africa and the Middle East.
JBS is already the world’s largest meat packer and in Canada owns the former XL Packers beef-packing plant in Alberta.
JBS chief executive officer Gilberto Tomazoni said the purchase enables the company to use the facilities in Oman as a hub for accessing other markets.
“We will continue investing because we have built a platform here.”
JBS is also expanding its poultry production in Saudi Arabia, which borders Oman.
JBS has been busy recently selling its half ownership of Jack Link’s in Brazil, a $70 million US investment in poultry iin Paraguay and controlling shareholder Wesley Batista said the European meat-packing industry is ripe for takeovers because it is fragmented.
OECD inflation rate 3.7 per cent
Inflation rates came in at 3.7 per cent in December for countries that belong to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Canada’s rate was higher than that because a tax break the previous year was no longer in effect.
Canada’s food inflation also continued to rise whereas it held steady in Europe.
The report contains a number of qualifiers on United States figures which used to be reported by the federal labour department, but which President Donald Trump gutted because he didn’t like the numbers.
Friday, February 6, 2026
Quarantine zone lifted
The first of several quarantine sones established around turkey farms in Strathroy-Caradoc has been lifted.
Juilie Henderson named manager at OSCIA
Julie Henderson has been appointed general manager at the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association.
She will be the organization’s link to the board of directors and will lead a team of four department heads.
Gabriella Visontai Perry will be the director of IT(Information Technology) and shared services.
Nicole Mackellar will be the director of member services and business development.
Two directors remain to be named: director of programs and a director of research and knowledge transfer.
The changes come as a result of a two-year organization review.
The OSCIA administers a number of government programs dealing with soils and crops.
Julie Henderson
Beef leaders not consulted on Lacombe closure
The Beef Cattle Research Council was not consulted before the federal agriculture department announced it will close the research station at Lacombe, Alta.
It did research on cattle and pastures and on hog genetics, rations and management.
Dr. Howard Fredeen, who developed the Lacombe hog breed, was among high-profile researchers who worked there.
Reynold Bergen, science director with the Beef Cattle Research Council, said “we weren’t consulted, but we were kind of expecting that the votes of confidence we have put in in the past based on past funding decisions or funding investments in these programs would indicate where our priorities are and those priorities don’t line up with the decisions that have been made here.
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Nitrogen leaf spray unveiled
Tidal Grow AgriScience has announced a nitrogen product that can be sprayed on leaves to boost yields of canola, corn and wheat.
The company said the technology results in maximum crop uptake of 18-0-0 fertiluizer.
“Canadian growers now have a new way to protect their precious fertilizer investments,” said Norm Davy, president and chief commercial officer for Tidal Grow AgriScience.
The company said trials it conducted indicate wheat yields can be increased by 22 per cent and canola by 10 per cent and improve net returns by $15 to $35 per acre.
AGCO sales, profits slump
AGCO reported a 10 per cent decline in tractor sales and 27 per cent decline for combines in North America last year.
In dollars, sales in North America were down by 7.8 per cent,
But Eric Hansolia put a brave face in the financial report, saying “AGCO delivered strong fourth quarter results . . .”, reduced dealer inventories and gained market share.
Sales were also down in its divisions for Brazil and Western Europe.
The outlook for this year is for production and sales to hold steady.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Strychnine denied registration
Grain Growers of Canada is disappointed that the Pest Management Regulatory Agency has denied emergency use registration for two per cent liquid strychnine to Alberta and Saskatchewan and is seeking a reconsideration.
Grain growers in Alberta and Saskatchewan wanted to use it to rid fields of gophers that are destroying crops.
Grain Growers of Canada said it recognizes the importance of strong environmental and health protections, but said the Pest Management Regulatory Agency should also ground its decisions in sound science and reflect on-farm realities.
“Farmers are responsible stewards of the land and depend on practical, effective pest-management tools to maintain sustainable production and protect Canada’s food supply.” Grain Growers of Canada said.
It said the application included enhanced stewardship measures, targeted application windows, and additional safeguards to mitigate risks to non-target species.
It said that by rejecting this request, the current regulatory approach disregards both on-farm realities and the need to maintain agricultural competitiveness and food system resilience.
In its request for reconsideration, it noted that there is a Prime Minister’s initiative to make regulations more sensitive to the needs of the economy.
Land market cooled
The red-hot market for farm land cooled off last year, according to the annual report from Valco Consultants.
Ryan Parker, who wrote the report, said some farms listed for sale did not find a buyer, particularly south-west of London and along the shore of Lake Erie.
He said some of that is sellers asking for prices that were too high and another part was lower profits from crops.
Prices remain highly variable by location.
His report said:
- $27, 258 – average per acre value across all 11 counties in 2025 compared with $6,000 in 2010.
- $38,000 – average per acre value in Perth and Oxford.
- $20,000 – average per acre value in Essex County.
- 10.7 per cent – average annual value change from 2010 to 2025.
- 2.7 per cent – overall value increase from 2024 to 2025.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Kimberly Earls heads Rural Ontario Institute
Kimberly Earls heads Rural Ontario Institute
Kimberly Earls has been chosen executive director of the Rural Ontario Institute.
She has worked in the business community in Norfolk County and served on a number of provincial and federal advisory boards.
She has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Western Ontario and teaches at Fanshawe College.
She takes over from Gabe Ferguson who has been acting executive director.
Farmers’ confidence shaken
Farmers’ confidence is being shaken by lower profits, according to the monthly survey conducted by Purdue to calculate its Ag Economy Barometer.
Farm sentiment dropped sharply in January – by 23 points to 113.
Half of the farmers said their financial conditions have worsened from a year ago and 30 per cent believe things will worsen this year.
Producers reported worsening financial conditions compared to a year ago, with half indicating operations were worse off. Thirty percent expect Operating loans are rising, often due to carryover debt from prior years, signaling increasing financial pressure, the report said.
Concerns about U.S. agricultural exports also grew, particularly for soybeans, with competition from Brazil weighing heavily on producers.
Five named to Hall of Fame
Five people will be added to the Ontario Agriculture Hall of Fame in June.
They are Senator Rob Black, Scott Graham, Brian O’Connor, and the late Dr. Helen Fisher and the late Percy Hodgetts.
Black is chairman of the Senate’s committee on agriculture. He was named a senator after serving as the founding chief executive officer of the Rural Ontario Institute, program director for the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program and transitioning 4-H Ontario into an independent charitable organization.
O’Connor is EastGen’s founding general manager which he helped create by merging Gencor with Eastern Breeders Inc.
At Gencor he set up Gencor Foods to take over a Kitchener beef-packing plant to provide a market for cull cows which were banned from their traditional markets in the United States because bovine spongiform encephalopathy turned up in Alberta. He also used EastGen to support the revival of Thornloe Cheese. Both businesses subsequently folded.
Scott Graham was chairman of Egg Farmers of Ontario marketing board and was instrumental in developing an egg quality assurance program and a quota transfer system. He became a marketing board director when his father retired.
Dr. Helen Fisher helped Ontario grape growers to transition vineyards from labrusca to vinifera grapes which have earned an international reputation for wine excellence.
Percy Hodgetts spent 41 years at Ontario’s Department of Agriculture and 35 as the first director of the Ontario Fruit Branch, transforming household orchards into a thriving commercial industry. He was Ontario’s first specialized apiarist and entomologist and he establishment the Horticultural Experimental Station at Vineland.
He standardized box packing, cold-storage infrastructure, and “Big O” brand, conducted many training programs, provided growers with vital knowledge and laid a strong foundation for the industry’s resilience and adaptability even during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
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