By Tom Collins INDIAN RIVER — To handle COVID-19 concerns, managers are doing everything from postponing sales, to switching to online only, to considering tag sales or a hybrid of all three. Billy Elmhirst, of Indian River Cattle Company, says... Read more
HURON COUNTY — A London resident is facing 14 charges after two vehicle thefts in Huron County earlier this week, thanks to a number of tips from the public. Huron County OPP say a vehicle parked near a field was stolen July 19 from Belfast Road... Read more
ONTARIO — Police are warning of three recent “elaborate and organized” fraud attempts successfully targeting elderly Ontario women living in rural areas this week. Three women were called by a man claiming to be a police officer who... Read more
NORFOLK COUNTY — Vandals damaged eight tires on two combines parked in a Simcoe farmer’s field sometime in early morning hours of July 16. The “mischief” at the Queensway West address came to light later that same morning. Poli... Read more
The Raisin Region Conservation Authority (RRCA) and its partners are inviting farmers in its watershed jurisdiction to join them this August for a series of free virtual “lunch and learn” workshops, where experts in farming best mana... Read more
LINDSAY — The Victoria Beef Farmers have served up $5,000 worth of hamburger to their Lindsay-area local food bank during this pandemic. In 2020, the not-for-profit group — based in the former Victoria township — donated $2,000 in hamburger to K... Read more
HALLVILLE — Over 1,000 acres of cropland was heavily damaged July 20 by a severe thunder and hail storm that shredded corn plants and stripped the leaves from soybeans left standing as straw-like stems along Kerr’s Ridge Rd. in North Dundas Town... Read more
MOUNTAIN — Twenty-nine beef cattle died instantly as they clustered beneath a large oak tree that got struck by lightning, south of Ottawa. Read more
As they navigate a second growing season in the midst of a global pandemic, farmers will soon be left on their own by the Canadian government to shoulder escalating production costs stemming from federal COVID-19 quarantine rules for seasonal wo... Read more
Nelson Zandbergen Farmers Forum HALLVILLE — Over 1,000 acres of cropland was heavily damaged July 20 by a severe thunder and hail storm that shredded corn plants and stripped the leaves from soybeans left standing as straw-like stems along Kerr’... Read more
As they navigate a second growing season in the midst of a global pandemic, farmers will soon be left on their own by the Canadian government to shoulder escalating production costs stemming from federal COVID-19 quarantine rules for seasonal wo... Read more
SPENCERVILLE — Fifty years ago, the province bought up 10,000 acres of farmland, south of Kemptville (between Spencerville and Prescott) to make way for a future petrochemical development and jobs. It never materialized. Read more
Automobiles, stretchers, wheel chairs, hot-dog and souvenir stands clogged the main street. The world beat a path to the village of Williamsburg, between Winchester and Morrisburg ... Read more
Automobiles, stretchers, wheel chairs, hot-dog and souvenir stands clogged the main street. The world beat a path to the village of Williamsburg, between Winchester and Morrisburg ... Read more
For many years I helped man our county federation of agriculture display booth at our county plowing match events. I always enjoyed meeting and chatting with people of all ages. It’s been two years since our last event but some conversations are... Read more
According to Statistics Canada, only 39 per cent of Canadian farms have a computer for farm use. Of those farmers with a computer, only 30 per cent use it for farm bookkeeping, payroll, and/or taxes. If this doesn’t seem right, you are correct. Read more
Newly launched Seeds Canada conducted its inaugural Annual Meeting July 9-16, a virtual affair that brought together seed industry members, stakeholders, and government representatives from across the country to discuss a range of policy priorit... Read more
BRINSTON — Over 1,900 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $1.9 million were seized during a July 13 police raid at a South Dundas address. Police arrested two individuals from southern Ontario as a result of the investigation at th... Read more
Tom Schoch Small Farms Like the bully that waits for you in the school yard, every single year farmers of every stripe have to face weeds and pests, each one uglier than the last. Those using organic regenerative agriculture practices approach t... Read more
Outside of COVID-19, the headlining news is the economic recovery and rapidly rising prices on things like homes, vehicles, and building materials, as low interest rates and consumer confidence drive demand for goods. However, as we move into an... Read more
Angela Dorie Backroads According to Statistics Canada, only 39 per cent of Canadian farms have a computer for farm use. Of those farmers with a computer, only 30 per cent use it for farm bookkeeping, payroll, and/or taxes. If this doesn’t seem r... Read more
Steve Kell’s Market Minute Outside of COVID-19, the headlining news is the economic recovery and rapidly rising prices on things like homes, vehicles, and building materials, as low interest rates and consumer confidence drive demand for g... Read more
BOGOTA — It may not be the U.S. market — but the opening of Colombia’s borders to Canadian sheep and goats still marks an improvement for an industry that was collateral damage to the BSE crisis in cattle. Two decades on, international markets h... Read more
Farms specializing in hay for sale and export haven’t seen the same price surge affecting grain commodities. Rather, they’ve been commanding strong hay prices for quite a period of time already. Read more
PERTH EAST — Perth County OPP report that an unlocked pickup truck — with keys left in the ignition — was stolen July 11 from a rural farm property on Road 111. The detachment was informed of the theft shortly after 4 a.m. The stolen truck is 20... Read more
INKERMAN AND WOODSTOCK — A Canadian seed company is using yield, performance and profitability as the foundation for its soybean breeding program — efforts paying off for a growing number of Canadian farmers. Sevita International breeds soybean... Read more
HALDIMAND COUNTY — Damage is estimated at $1.4-million after fire consumed a farm outbuilding, destroying the structure and its contents July 6. Firefighters from departments in Haldimand County, Norfolk County and Six Nations responded to the b... Read more
OTTAWA — Finance officials are in for a likely grilling at the House of Commons' Finance Committee this Tuesday, following the department's delay of a new law easing the tax penalty for the owners of farms, fishing operations and small businesse... Read more
Nelson Zandbergen Farmers Forum ALVINSTON — Add farm tractors, both new and used, to the list of hot commodities in rural Ontario. Dealers report a high volume of backorders for new tractors — perhaps the most ever in living memory — with spillo... Read more
Farms specializing in hay for sale and export haven’t seen the same price surge affecting grain commodities. Rather, they’ve been commanding strong hay prices for quite a period of time already. Read more
NORTH STORMONT — Developers of the Nation Rise Wind Farm have received final approval to sell power into the grid, just as they've offloaded a majority stake in the estimated $450-million project to the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. Read more
OTTAWA — Finance officials are in for a likely grilling at the House of Commons' Finance Committee this Tuesday, following the department's delay of a new law easing the tax penalty for the owners of farms, fishing operations and small businesse... Read more
Nelson Zandbergen Farmers Forum TORONTO — The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has been iced for a second consecutive year because of pandemic uncertainty in Ontario. The board of the organization came to the “disheartening decision” J... Read more
Nelson Zandbergen Farmers Forum NORTH STORMONT — Developers of the Nation Rise Wind Farm have received final approval to sell power into the grid, just as they’ve offloaded a majority stake in the estimated $450-million project to the Algonquins... Read more
