Top 10 Ontario articles on Farms.com in 2022
1) International Plowing Match names 2023 location
In August, the Ontario Plowmen’s Association revealed the location of the 2023 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo.
The Municipalities of Amaranth and Grand Valley will host the event between Sept. 19 and 23, 2023.
Farmers’ fields surrounding the Bowling Green and Laurel area will be transformed into a tented city, RV park, plowing competition venues and parking areas.
2) FCC provides farmland rental rates data
In April, a Farm Credit Canada report showed Canadian farmland values reached an all-time high in 2021.
Low federal interest rates and strong commodity prices contributed to the increase.
3) Ontario farmer named as Order of Canada recipient
In January, Kenneth W. Knox, a farmer from Hampton, Ont., received the Order of Canada “for fostering a culture of innovation that influences the Ontario Public Service over the past few decades, notably in the agricultural sector.”
Knox, who owns a 500-acre cash crop and pumpkin farm, spent 27 years with OMAFRA, including serving as deputy minister and assistant deputy minister.
4) Bergen announces changes to Conservative shadow cabinet
In February, Candice Bergen, then-interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, made changes to her shadow cabinet.
Alberta MP Shannon Stubbs replaced Ontario MP Lianne Rood as the shadow minister for rural economic development and rural broadband.
Ontario MPs Ben Lobb, Kyle Seeback and Marilyn Gladu also received shadow portfolios as part of the changes.
5) 2022 Ontario corn yield expected to be the 2nd largest ever after last year’s record
In September, the 2022 Great Ontario Yield Tour projected the year’s crop yield to come in well above average.
Moe Agostino and Greg Stewart predicted an average yield of 186.6 bushels per acre for corn, above Agricorp’s average of 175.50 bushels per acre.
6) OMAFRA disappointed in fed gov’t fertilizer decision
In July, Lisa Thompson, Ontario’s minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, voiced her disappointment with the federal government’s approach to fertilizer emission reduction targets.
“The federal government needs to be true partners, rather than simply imposing targets that make it harder,” Thompson said.
7) Avian flu devastates Quebec duck producer
In April, a duck farm in Quebec suffered extensive losses because of an avian flu outbreak.
Three of 11 facilities at Brome Lake Ducks farm in Knowlton, Que., were affected by the disease, forcing the farm to cull 150,000 birds and 400,000 Peking duck eggs.
In addition, 300 members of the farm’s staff were laid off for at least five weeks.
8) Police said pigs stolen from Stratford farm
In July, Ontario Provincial Police were tasked with investigating an alleged theft of 44 pigs from a farm in the Stratford area.
The value of the stolen pigs had an estimated value of $12,000.
9) The 2022 Great Ontario Yield Tour – what the harvest says
In October, the Great Ontario Yield Tour provided Ontario growers with an idea of how crops performed in 2022.
At the time, the Farms.com Risk Management team estimated about 80 per cent of the 2022 soybean harvest was complete, with an average yield of 50.3 bushels per acre.
10) Temporary farm worker dies on Ontario farm
In August, Gavin Yapp, a 57-year-old farm worker from Jamaica, suffered fatal injuries while operating farm equipment on a farm in Norfolk County.