Mike von Massow
Average Farm Size Has Stopped Growing
By Reanna Braeker and Alfons Weersink Average farm size in Canada has fallen! In the 2021 census it was only 809 acres, down from 820...
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Mike von Massow
- Jul 12, 2022
- 3 min
Farm Numbers in Canada Continue to Fall but the Trend is Slowing
By Reanna Braeker and Alfons Weersink Farm numbers in Canada have been falling since the Great Depression and the numbers continue to...
Mike von Massow
- May 18, 2022
- 4 min
Another Look at Food Inflation Numbers
Statistics Canada released the food price index for April 2022 and the news continues to be concerning. Year over year food prices have...
Mike von Massow
- Apr 20, 2022
- 3 min
What are the newest food inflation numbers telling us?
Statistics Canada released the food price index for March 2022 and the news is much as we would have expected. Year over year food prices...
Mike von Massow
- Apr 20, 2022
- 4 min
Can Governments Control Food Prices??
The rhetoric around inflation generally and food prices specifically is growing louder. It is a point of emphasis for politicians,...
Mike von Massow
- Mar 17, 2022
- 2 min
Can Canada Make Up the Gap in Ukrainian Wheat Production?
We are hearing a lot about the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the impact on world wheat markets. Ukraine is a significant...
Mike von Massow
- Mar 5, 2022
- 4 min
Fertilizer Prices and Corn Profit Margins: What Are the Impacts of Higher Input Prices?
Nicholas Bannon, Daniel Schuurmann, and Alfons Weersink Despite the recent frigid temperatures and piles of snow, many Ontario farmers...
Mike von Massow
- Jan 31, 2022
- 3 min
Fertilizer Price Increases: Should Farmers be Worried?
Nicholas Bannon, Daniel Schuurmann, Alfons Weersink, and Ken McEwan While overall inflation is at its highest level in 30 years, this...
Mike von Massow
- Jan 24, 2022
- 5 min
Is the Food System Close to Collapse?
The simple answer is NO. In recent days we have heard about shortages in grocery stores and the potential for stores to close because of...
Mike von Massow
- Oct 21, 2021
- 4 min
Is Fertilizer Canada Crying Wolf?
Daniel Schuurmann and Alfons Weersink A report[1] released in late September claimed Canada’s emissions targets on fertilizer could cost...
Mike von Massow
- Oct 5, 2021
- 2 min
Trade a Key Component of Climate Resilience for Food System
The COVID-19 pandemic caused supply chain disruptions which included the food sector. Some of these disruptions were short term - lack...
Nicholas Bannon
- Jun 2, 2021
- 4 min
A PRICE ON CARBON AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR ONTARIO FARMERS
Nicholas Bannon, Aaron De Laporte, Daniel Schuurman and Alfons Weersink The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in March 2021 that the federal...
Mike von Massow
- Oct 28, 2020
- 3 min
Squeezing Processors Will Lead to Higher Prices and Less Choice
Food retailers are getting a lot of attention lately related to increases in supply chain fees imposed on their suppliers. These fees are...
Mike von Massow
- Oct 16, 2020
- 3 min
Ag System Labour Crisis is about Farm Security not Food Security
The COVID pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated long standing issues with respect to labour in the food system - both on farms and in...
Mike von Massow
- Aug 24, 2020
- 3 min
Precision Agriculture Survey Points to Early Success of 4R Nutrient Stewardship Initiative
By Nicholas Bannon, Sean Mitchell, and Alfons Weersink Fertilizer Canada implemented the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program...
Mike von Massow
- Aug 7, 2020
- 3 min
Barriers to Precision Agriculture Adoption Across Canada and in the United States
By Nicholas Bannon, Sean Mitchell and Alfons Weersink Farm size, crop types, topography, climate, and labour use are only some of the...
Mike von Massow
- Jul 27, 2020
- 3 min
Differences in Custom Application of Crop Inputs by Agri-Retailers across Canada
By Nicholas Bannon, Sean Mitchell, and Alfons Weersink Speak to a farmer in Ontario and a farmer in the Prairies about the role their...
Mike von Massow
- Jul 6, 2020
- 6 min
Get in, Get out! The challenges of Farmers Markets Reopening
By Laura Stortz Farmers markets are gradually reopening across Ontario. Farmers markets are considered essential workplaces so over the...
Mike von Massow
- May 17, 2020
- 3 min
Do As We Say, Not As We Do?
The Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) recently launched an advertising campaign to lobby for federal support for grains and oilseeds...
Mike von Massow
- Apr 29, 2020
- 3 min
Is the Federal Student Support Killing Ag Labour?
I have seen several commentators in the past few days criticize the federal program offering support for students and new graduates...
RELATED PROJECTS
Considering the complexity of food, it is no surprise that conversations about it can be broad and diverse. In order to better understand how people think about food, Mike is involved in several projects. Learn more about each project below.
UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANT PROJECT
Our team is a group of students, faculty and community partners that are committed to working towards a more sustainable future for the restaurant industry. Every year we hold a forum, bringing prominent speakers to the University of Guelph to discuss issues in the Canadian Restaurant Industry.
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