Showcasing a Little Part of Ontario Agriculture

Jun 29, 2012

Students from France and Normandy Make a Stop at Erbcroft Farms

Erbcroft Farms located in Perth County near Sebringville Ontario welcomed 35 agriculture students from Normandy and France where they got to learn about raising sheep. The students are touring farms across southwestern Ontario and Erbroft farms was their only stop in the region. The students will be touring more farms in Wellington, Waterloo, and Oxford counties. The tour was organized by Agri-Cultural Tours (ACT) based in Guelph Ontario.

Erbcroft Farms is a family owned operation run by Tim and Luann Erb, where they are proud to raise premium Ontario lamb in a natural free range setting. The Erb’s are accustomed to hosting visitors to their farm and teaching them about their business and often run tours throughout the year in partnership with the Perth County Visitors Association.

“I feel like it’s natural for [visitors] to come to our farm and see firsthand where their food comes from and who produces it” says Luann Erb.

The students not only had a custom tour of the Erb’s farming operation but they also were lucky enough to taste some of their home-grown lamb burgers and sausages that are very popular at local farmers markets. Erbcroft farms may be a small operation, but they make-up for it through their specialization of raising their animals from start to finish in a free-range natural way.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.