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Bring on the Love: 2013 Food Freedom Day falls on Valentine’s Day

Ontario Federation of Agriculture commentary focuses on importance of Food Freedom Day

By , Farms.com

This week’s Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) commentary highlights the importance of the upcoming Food Freedom Day. This year, Food Freedom day falls on the most romantic day of the year – Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2013.

Food Freedom Day is the day in the year by which the average Canadian would have earned enough income to pay their grocery bill for the entire year. According to Statistics Canada, in 2012 Canadian’s spent 12.3% of their disposable income on food, which also includes beverages and tobacco.

Food Freedom Day should be a celebrated day not only for consumers but farmers as well. It’s an opportunity to be thankful for the safe, affordable food that Canadian farmers produce across the country. In Ontario, the agri-food sector contributes $33 billion annually to the local economy and represents 10% of the province’s workforce.

The OFA, which is the largest general farm organization in the province works with policy makers advocating for the agriculture industry to ensure that the agriculture sector remains a profitable business for Ontario farmers.


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Funds Ditch Ag Commodities, Chase Stocks Amid an End to Middle East War, & Trade Deal Buzz

Video: Funds Ditch Ag Commodities, Chase Stocks Amid an End to Middle East War, & Trade Deal Buzz


The 12-day war between Iran-Israel came to an end sending crude oil futures plunging as the big fund speculators removed the war risk premium.

The weather risk premium in the Ag complex is sending corn, wheat and soybean futures lower on month-end selling ahead of the market moving USDA quarterly grain stocks and acreage reports on June 30th.

Instead, funds were chasing and sending tech stocks higher with the S&P 500/NASDAQ indexes setting new all-time record highs!

June 1 USDA Hogs and pigs report was slightly bearish while the U.S. $ Index traded to new contract lows as the de-dollarization that began in 2014 continues.

Feed in the form of soybean meal futures for livestock producers got cheaper, trading to new contract lows.

The Stats Canada seeded acreage update was bullish canola and wheat.