It looks like Ontario's corn crop will not see the shrinking acreage that many predicted as planting drags into June. That's the word from Brian Hall, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's canola and edible bean specialist. Hall reports that the consensus coming out of a meeting of agronomists from across central Ontario this week... Read More

The agriculture and food industry lives and breathes in rural Ontario. While farmers have their eyes sharply focused on the needs of their business, they're also concerned about the Ontario government's vision for small town economies and the services farmers and rural people require. In this Ontario Election 2014 podcast, RealAgriculture.com's Bernard Tobin speaks with... Read More

Another day, another petition pushing for a ban of biotechnology in a region. The latest that crossed my desk is one out of Prince Edward Island, seeking support to convert the entire island-province to organic production, banning GMOs and non-organic-approved pesticides. There's choosing not to consume GMOs (genetically modified organisms) or support conventional agriculture —... Read More

A plant disease caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, ergot, is nothing new, nor is its affect on animals who consume it. In fact, humans who ingested the fungus in the middle ages were said to have a problem known as "St. Anthony's fire," whereby narrowing of blood vessels would occur, and would often lead... Read More

If you have any Farmers Feed Cities memorabilia hanging around, treat it with respect. As of Monday, it became collectible. Just as the first ever Local Food Week was getting underway in Ontario, Farmers Feed Cities, one of the most successful agriculture awareness programs in recent memory, wound down. The Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO),... Read More

JoAnne Buth has been named as the new CEO of Cigi (the Canadian International Grains Institute). She takes over from Earl Geddes who is retiring on September 8, 2014. Buth is well known in the domestic and international grain industry, having spent most of her professional life in agriculture. She was with the Canola Council... Read More

In November 2013, CropLife Canada announced Ted Menzies, a long-time Alberta farmer and former Member of Parliament, was set to take the role of CEO and president of the organization on January 1, 2014. Menzies owned and operated a 5000-acre farm and was heavily involved in agricultural groups, including the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, Grain... Read More