Farming News

OFRF Announces New Process & Schedule for Next Grant Round

June 18, 2018—OFRF is pleased to announce their next round of research funding beginning with a request for letters of intent on July 15th. The new deadline, which is earlier than in past years, provides additional time for applicants to submit project ideas for review prior to submitting full proposals.

“We are proud of the impact our grants have made over the years and excited about this update to improve our grantmaking process,” says OFRF’s Executive Director, Brise Tencer.

Taking the Next Steps for Organic in the Farm Bill

In a sweeping show of bipartisanship, the Senate voted 86-11 to pass their version of the Farm Bill. With the House passing a different version of the bill without Democratic support, lawmakers will meet later this summer to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate bills. With the current Farm Bill set to expire on September 30, 2018 there is a lot riding on this process. 

Here is a comparison of some of the organic provisions.

Investing in quality cheese production capacity in Quebec

The dairy sector is an important contributor to Canada's economy, contributing $24 billion through sales by farmers and food processors, including over $7 billion in Quebec. The Government of Canada knows the importance of supporting a strong and competitive dairy industry that will ensure Canadian families continue to benefit from high-quality products while creating well-paying jobs for Canadians.

Hog industry applauds new investment in research

Over the next 5 years, up to $18.5 million dollars will be invested by the federal government and industry partners in research to further the development of the Canadian pork industry. Swine Innovation Porc and the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) welcomed Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (AAFC), Lawrence MacAulay’s announcement this morning, highlighting that up to $12.7 million will be invested by the federal government. Swine Innovation Porc and its partners will also contribute $5.8 million, making a total investment of up to $18.5 million in research over a five-year period.