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Ontario Agriculture Week Marks 15 Years

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

The week prior to Thanksgiving Day every year is proclaimed as Ontario Agriculture Week. It serves as a period of time to pay tribute to the bounties of food and farming in the province.

It was established in 1998, 15 years ago, through a Private Member’s Bill introduced by Ontario PC MPP Bert Johnson. Since that time, it has become a tradition to recognize Ontario farmers and the food that they produce.

While the commemorative week has been widely embraced by Ontarians, there has been a proposal to change the week to ‘Local Food Week.’ The idea was dreamed up by the current government, the Ontario Liberals as a way to tie-in their local food agenda.

Several MPPs have been vocal about their disapproval of such a proposal moving forward. Perhaps the biggest advocates for keeping the status quo are the Ontario PC’s, not surprising since one of their own brought forth the idea 15 years ago.  

Farms.com will be speaking to Ontario PC Agriculture Critic MPP Ernie Hardeman this week to find out about the ways in which his party is looking to preserve Ontario Agriculture Week. In the meantime, don’t forget to celebrate by thanking a farmer or satisfying your taste buds with some Ontario food!
 


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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.