Fire kills 200 cattle

About 200 cattle died in a barn fire near Arthur.

Chris Harrow, director of fire services for Wellington North and Minto, said the barn could hold more than 400 cattle.

Neighbours helped rescue about 100 of the 300 in the barn.

The barn collapsed. The loss is between $2 and $4 million.

Several fire departments responded.

ASF gene identified

Scientists from Germany and Scotland have pinpointed a gene in the DNA of pigs that is needed for infection by African Swine Fever.

The discovery at the Roslin Institute raises the possibility that gene editing could equip pigs to resist infection. 

ASF has killed more than 200 million pigs worldwide, is a major issue across Asia, and has the potential to cause major outbreaks in Europe and America. 

Canada has been working on plans for coping lest there should be an outbreak here. Canada riisks losing 70 per cent of its industry if an outbreak slams the door on pork and pig exports.

A team of researchers found that the gene, which is involved in the pig immune system, is essential for replication of the ASF virus. 

There is currently no treatment available for ASF, although Viet Nam is testing a vaccine.

Windsor Salt strike is over

Union members have voted in favour of a deal their negotiating team reached with the owners of Windsor Salt, ending a strike that began in February.

It’s a five-year contract with Stone Canyon Industries, owners of Windsor Salt and Morton Salt.

"Determination on the picket line and rock-solid support from local unions and the community at large helped us achieve a contract our members could overwhelmingly support," said Lana Payne, Unifor's national president.

The deal includes wage increases of up to $4.60 per hour and a $3,000 ratification bonus, shift premium increases, and a variety of benefits enhancements.

"We received outstanding support from Windsor residents and union members in our community," Payne added. "From autoworkers to teachers, it really felt like people in Windsor knew what was at stake and they showed up to defend workplace rights and keep picket line morale high."

Essex greenhouse expansion is stalled

Greenhouse expansion in Essex County is stalled by a lack of water and rapidly rising energy costs, prompting investors to consider the United States instead.

 Essex County’s water supply is at capacity and natural gas costs have undergone steep increases.

After seven years of growth, Ontario greenhouse space dedicated to peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes has stalled to a net-zero gain in the past 18 months.

Meanwhile they are being courted by the United States where they are offered perks and where there have been investments in infrastructure.

“The investment into agriculture is going to happen, whether or not we have the infrastructure here,” said Richard Lee, executive director of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers in an interview with the Globe and Mail. “If we don’t, it will go south of the border.”

In 2019, Heritage Farm’s parent company, One Floral, expanded a 10-acre greenhouse into 16 hectares in North Carolina. Now, One Floral is looking to grow its Heritage Farm operation – and while it has bought an extra 73 hectares in Essex County, the company is thinking of investing in the U.S. instead.

“This is where the market should be,” said Jamie Lefaive, general manager at Heritage Farms. “But at the same time, if you can’t make profits to continue to support your business and grow, you have to find alternatives.”

 The area is also a hub for highly specialized industries that focus on the fertilizer and biologicals (pest-controlling bugs) that greenhouses need to function.

With six to seven per cent growth since 2016, greenhouse growers of peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes have a farmgate value of more than $1.3-billion, producing 503 million kilograms of produce annually, or the equivalent of 300 truckloads daily.

A study done for the Ontario Greenhouse Growers Marketing board said there is a potential for growth at five per cent per year for the next 10 years.

But it won’t be happening if there’s a lack of water and energy costs remain high.

Natural gas prices have doubled in price since 2016. In Ontario, electricity prices have been steadily rising since 2006. The future of power in the province is also uncertain. Increasing demand on the system could strain the entire grid as early as 2026 and even trigger chronic shortages by 2030, according to an analysis of the entire energy system published by RBC.

“But it’s just one piece of the puzzle,” Mr. Lee said. “You still need water to make sure you can feed the plants.”

There’s also some jealousy that the federal and provincial governments have matched subsidy offers in the United States to land investments in electrical vehicle manufacturing.

Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald said it will take years to plan and build an increase in water supply and will be costly for a community of 30,000.

And there are some mixed feelings about the industry that brings in about 10,000 foreign workers and lights up the night skies. Installing curtains is an extra cost.

Some investors are attracted to the U.S. Department Agriculture’s farm loan program, which gives operating loans to farmers who cannot obtain commercial credit from a bank or other lender. The money can be used to purchase land, equipment or supplies and to construct buildings or make improvements.

U.S. municipalities will also help businesses with the costs of building roads and putting in natural gas lines. In Ontario, producers are mandated to build and pave the roads that lead to their property, without financial assistance, Lemaire said.

“Agriculture seems to be the last area of focus in many budgets, provincial or federal, especially in the fruit and vegetable side,” he said. 

“We are probably one of the most vital industries in the country relative to ensuring we put healthy foods on the market, yet we’re often seen as an afterthought.”

 

                           

 

 

Nominations open for Excellence awards

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has opened nominations for this year’s Excellence in Agriculture awards.

There are categories for:

• Excellence in Food Processing
• Excellence in Research and Innovation
• Women’s Excellence • Youth Excellence
• Excellence in Agri-Food Education
• Northern Business Excellence
• Indigenous-Owned Business or Community Excellence • Family Farm Excellence
• Agri-Food Promotional Excellence
• Supply Chain Excellence
• Excellence in Agri-Food Talent Recruitment

There is a guidebook and application forms at Excellence in Agriculture Guidebook
Excellence in Agriculture Application 

The deadline is Sept. 14.

Pine Valley Developments fined $93,750

 

Pine Valley Developments has been fined a total of $93,750 in court in Pembroke for taking aggregate from an unlicensed area.

The charges came after an investigation by the Ontario Ministry of Resources and Forestry.

The ministry is giving the conviction publicity to let the public know that a gravel pit needs to be licensed.

It is also soliciting public help to report unlicensed aggregate extraction to Crime Stoppers.

Deere announces 15 scholarship winners

Four Ontario youths are among 15 who have been awarded John Deere Canada 4-H scholarships.

Caelan DeViller of Lower Wedgeport will be working for a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia,

Amy Bishop of St. Mary’s will be studying for a Bachelor of Science degree at Memorial University in Newfoundland.

Kelsey Lennox of Kenilworth will be studying in French immersion for an honours Bachelor of Arts, Psychology at the University of Ottawa.

Ethan Ringelberg of Troy will be studying to become a motive power technician on heavy duty equipment at Conestoga College.