Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has followed through on his leadership campaign promise to reinstate PST exemptions for agriculture, life and health insurance premiums, effective Monday. The provincial sales tax was raised in last year's budget from 5 to 6 percent, and applied to goods and services that were previously exempt, such as insurance premiums. The... Read More
Category: News
Ontario farmers have a new cost-share program to help them reduce their carbon footprint and become more energy efficient. The GreenON Agriculture program, recently announced by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, is specifically aimed at producers of agricultural commodities in permanent, climate-controlled buildings. The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association will... Read More
India's government has agreed to work with Canadian officials to ease pest-related restrictions on pulse imports before the end of this year. "India and Canada will work closely together to finalize an arrangement within 2018 to enable the export of Canadian pulses to India free from pests of quarantine importance, with mutually acceptable technological protocols,"... Read More
Thin margins may have some farmers looking to cut costs, but for croppers and livestock producers alike, there's an often overlooked option for making money: forage. Whether through higher dairy and beef production efficiency, or through cash sales, recent research out of Michigan State suggests that more farmers should be taking a harder look at... Read More
Greenhouse vegetable grower Jan VanderHout will serve another one-year term as chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA). He first assumed the role in 2017 and was re-elected at the OFVGA annual general meeting earlier this week. Grape grower Bill George was re-elected as vice chair. “It will be a busy year... Read More
The rearrangement of administrative duties as Manitoba farm groups seek opportunities to collaborate continues, with Winter Cereals Manitoba announcing a management change on Thursday. The provincial winter cereals organization has contracted the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) and the National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC) to lead day-to-day operations, research activities and communications.... Read More
The Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame Association has named its five inductees for 2018. Combined, the influence of these five men spans 150 years. This year's inductees were chosen for the legacy each of their careers has left on the Ontario farm industry. The inductees are: William Harvey Beaty (1916-1994) Born in Halton Region, William... Read More
Similar to regulations introduced in Ontario in 2015, Quebec announced this week that farmers will require an agronomist's prescription before accessing any of the three neonicotinoid insecticides, chlorpyrifos (also an insecticide), and the herbicide atrazine. Isabelle Melançon, Quebec's Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change, cited the risk to pollinators as... Read More
One of two Canadians appointed to represent Ontario in the Senate of Canada on Thursday has a strong connection to the agriculture community. Robert (Rob) Black of Wellington County is a 4-H Canada past president, board member and staff member, having been involved in 4-H for over 40 years. He's also a board member for... Read More
Two years after the closure of its Medicine Hat distribution facility, PepsiCo has announced it will close the Spitz International Inc facility at Bow Island. PepsiCo first acquired the Alberta-based company ten years ago. The food and beverage giant sent this statement to RealAgriculture, February 16: "Yesterday we announced our difficult decision to close our... Read More