Ontario’s hog producers are hanging in limbo on when or whether the pork board will lose its single-desk marketing powers April 1. Things might get clearer after a pre-hearing conference by the Ontar io Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs tribunal March 9. One of the key issues is whether all of the changes at Ontario
Future Of Ontario Single Desk In Limbo
Guelph Organic Conference Becomes Canada’s Largest
The January organic conference at Guelph has consolidated its hold as the biggest in Canada, attracting more than 2,000 people, more than 160 exhibitors and more than 45 program speakers over the four days. “In these so-called recession times, the organic crowds are still pretty inspiring,” said conference manager Tom Nimmo. “We call it Organic
Options program out of money
There are a lot of disappointed farmers across Canada after the federal government ran out of money for the highly touted Farming Families Options Program. Chuck Strahl, who was agriculture minister when it was announced in July 2005, said it would help farmers to boost their incomes. They had to take courses to improve their
Turkey entrepreneur dies at 76
Milo Shantz, who began with 500 turkey poults and developed Hybrid Turkeys into one of four companies that dominated global markets, died of cancer Jan. 6 at age 76. Hybrid Turkeys of Kitchener, Ont., is now one of two global turkey-breeding companies, each with half of the market. After Shantz and his brother, Ross, sold
Pigeon King summoned to court
James and Wilma Wiersma have become the centre of attention for about 450 people who hold personal contracts with Arlen Galbraith, the Pigeon King from Waterloo, Ont. The Wiersmas have done what many hoped someone could do: petition Galbraith into personal bankruptcy. Galbraith, however, is fighting the petition and his lawyer is preparing for a
Insurance company says farmers need more insurance
Farmers can expect to be named in lawsuits arising from food poisonings, a lawyer from Hanover told a food safety and traceability forum organized by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs here recently. Bryan Hicks said “we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg” in class-action lawsuits so far, and also said
Wily McCain settles class-action suits
Michael H. McCain is a wily strategist. First, as president and chief executive officer of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., he made a big deal of dismissing advice from the company’s lawyers and accountants to not admit any liability for Canada’s most notorious case of food poisoning last summer. He won praise from business reporters and
Ontario cities ban cage eggs
Orillia and Pickering have bowed to pressure from the Humane Society of Canada to ban the sale of eggs from caged hens in all municipal facilities. The Humane Society calls it a landmark decision. It follows similar bans in university cafeterias, including the University of Guelph. The Humane Society says the councils are also encouraging
Air filters can help contain disease
Air filters are working to keep pigs safe from porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (PRRS), Dr. Scott Dee of the University of Minnesota told a recent industry day organized by the Ontario Pork Industry Council (OPIC). The lab and research farm results are confirmed by farm experience, said veterinarian Darwin Reicks of the nine-veterinarian Swine
Investors chase Pigeon King
Pigeon King Arlan Galbraith told bankruptcy officials here recently that he will hire a lawyer to fight a move by James Wiersma to petition him into personal bankruptcy. The next step is a hearing Dec. 9 and it’s likely that a bankruptcy court hearing will be scheduled then for sometime in January. In the meantime,
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
