Lindsay to host in 2021 NORTH GRENVILLE — The COVID-19 pandemic has kiboshed the 2020 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (IPM), delaying the local arrival of the 600-acre agricultural extravaganza and “tented city” in…
By Brent Royce Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Every year in early June, Ontario sets aside one full week, designated as Local Food Week, to celebrate and recognize the abundance of fresh, affordable local food…
Tom Van Dusen Nation Valley News PRESCOTT — Two months after King’s Lock Craft Distillery shifted gears and began turning out hand sanitizer ahead of spirits, the sideline is still going strong and the owners…
ONTARIO — To keep Ontario’s food supply chain strong and store shelves stocked during the COVID-19 pandemic, employers along the agriculture and food value chain need support to recruit, train and connect workers to in-demand…
Tom Van Dusen Nation Valley News EDWARDS — What happens when an accountant and a librarian — not always seen as the most exciting of professions — put their heads together to come up with…
Kelsey Smith Nation Valley News WINCHESTER SPRINGS — A Gloucester Kindergarten class was surprised to see some cute furry, and feathery animals on their screens during their weekly web chat last Friday. Ruth Vanderlaan owner…
by Peggy Brekveld, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture If there is one thing that has remained constant throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that farmers are experts at adapting to evolving situations and persevering through…
Above, Laurie McCannell with bee hives on her rural property. Tom Van Dusen Nation Valley News VARS — A niche farmer in rural Ottawa’s south east corner is meeting with resistance in her ongoing efforts…
Above, Sawyer Vanden Bosch and girlfriend Marley Holmes, pictured before Vanden Bosch heads out on the planter to seed the Chesterville Rotary Club’s annual crop project. CHESTERVILLE — The tradition continues. With Sawyer Vanden Bosch…
Above, Upper Canada Cider Company founder Matthew Cameron (left) and co-worker Zach Pyke promote the firm’s “Three County Cider” — made from apples sourced in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry — at ‘Tastefest’ in Moose Creek…
Around the Nation by Tom Van Dusen Hi! It’s me, Tom Van Dusen, still kicking around the news business after all these years, going back 50 actually — could that really be possible — with…
Above, Brian Vandenberg poses at Desormeaux Meats, a local Eastern Ontario abattoir recently recovered from a fire and reopened for business just as large industrial meat packing plants — hard-hit by COVID-19 outbreaks — are…
Tom Van Dusen Nation Valley News BERWICK — Even in ordinary times, we live with grief, disappointment, heartbreak and stress … COVID-19 only makes matters worse, observes the former Eastern Ontario guru of commercial organic…
NORTH DUNDAS — A young farmer lost his life in a tragic accident yesterday morning at his family’s North Dundas dairy operation. Mike Von Gunten, 29, died May 7 at the Limerick Rd. address of…
by Keith Currie President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture There’s no denying Ontario’s agri-food sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmers across all commodities have been greatly impacted by this crisis and have…
