By Keith Currie, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
​
As Ontario’s fall harvest continues, corn quality and the threat of moulds and mycotoxins have become a serious concern across the province. Elevated levels of vomitoxin (DON) in this year’s corn crop has growers concerned about finding a market for their grain, and in some cases, figuring out how to safely dispose of crops that cannot be marketed.
Mycotoxins and DON can cause serious health threats to livestock when ingested at concentrated levels. DON can also pose a serious health threat to farmers working with the infected grain if the mould is inhaled. Early field reports across the province are indicating higher than expected levels of DON and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) reminds all farmers to work safely during the busy harvest season, especially when dealing with DON-infected corn.
With higher levels of DON reported, this is the year to scout fields and sample grain. If you are concerned about a field, collect a sample and have it tested for mycotoxins before harvesting, storing or feeding to livestock. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) also recommends harvesting and drying corn as quickly as possible, especially susceptible hybrids. Leaving diseased corn in the field allows the fungi to keep growing, increasing the risk of mouldy kernels and mycotoxin contamination throughout the field. Mould and mycotoxin development stops when corn moisture is less than 15%.
Be safe when handling DON-infected corn because inhaling the fungi-derived poison can have serious health implications, restricting airways and proper lung function. Prevent exposure by using protective gloves and eye protection, wear a mask and only work in well-ventilated areas. The greatest risks of exposure can occur in semi-enclosed places like grain bins and the areas around operating combines and loading wagons.
Finding a market for corn with higher levels of DON is a problem. There are few options for disposal, but research and on-farm trials continue across the province. For more information visit omafra.gov.on.ca.
Any farmer who discovers DON in their crop is encouraged to call Agricorp as soon as possible at 1-888-247-4999. Agricorp can discuss the best practices for handling, sorting, and if necessary, destroying high DON corn, and review the coverage available to farmers experiencing losses due to DON. OFA will continue to work closely with Agricorp and the Grain Farmers of Ontario to assist farmers suffering losses from DON in anyway we can.
 

For more information, contact:

Keith Currie
President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
705-441-3362

Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883

By Crispin Colvin, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
​
Ontario went to the polls for the second time this year with the municipal elections on October 22. While municipal politics may not be as high on some people’s radar as what happens at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill, agriculture and our rural communities depend on sound municipal government for many aspects of our day-to-day farm businesses and lives in rural Ontario.
Politics can be a thankless calling. OFA salutes all the candidates who put their name on a ballot with a desire to serve in public office and we congratulate all those who were successful. Municipal leadership is a vital cornerstone of successful and sustainable communities across Ontario.
Municipal government manages local services, facilities, safety and infrastructure for our communities. The decisions made in council chambers impact many aspects of daily life, including education, land use planning and development, permits, inspections, municipal tax rates, parks, public utilities and services. 
OFA members and local county federations regularly engage with municipal council to advocate for local decisions impacting farmers and rural living. In the weeks leading up to the October 22 election, many local federations hosted meetings with candidates and all-candidate events. Issues that impact farmers were discussed and opportunities were identified where communities can work closer with the local agri-food sector to leverage economic development in their areas. 
OFA members also took the election process as a reminder to candidates about the important role agriculture and food play in their communities. The economic contribution and employment opportunities farmers, food processors and agri-businesses provide – especially in rural communities – is enormous, with tremendous potential for growth.
To help position our sector to newly elected or re-elected municipal politicians, OFA developed a new resource – Agriculture Matters – a Guide for Municipal Councillors and Staff – to support advocacy efforts at the local level. The guide provides an overview of issues affecting farmers today and identifies opportunities for local communities. OFA is encouraging members and local county federations to continue to use this resource, taking the opportunity to introduce new councillors to the guide as they begin their new term in municipal leadership.
 
Now is the time to keep the agri-food sector top of mind with our municipal leaders to ensure we receive the recognition, support and opportunities to keep us driving the provincial economy. 
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For more information, contact:

Crispin Colvin
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-868-7317

Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883
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​By Mark Wales, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Every year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has the opportunity to make a formal presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance, in advance of the federal government’s spring release of its annual budget. We used this recent forum with the committee to remind the government about the investments needed to continue to drive the economic powerhouse that is our agri-food sector and our rural communities.
The government’s own Barton Report, released in 2017, clearly identified the agri-food industry as one of the key sectors to drive growth and create jobs. But we can only really succeed with strategic investments in rural Canada that will support our ability to operate in a competitive marketplace.
We are all aware of the production sacrificed by our dairy, poultry and egg sectors in the new USMCA trade deal. But other agricultural sectors continue to struggle under ongoing tariff wars.
That’s ample evidence for the federal government to step up and support our entire sector so we can unleash new and innovative growth for agri-food and our rural communities. 
OFA’s submission to the Standing Committee on Finance, in advance of the spring 2019 federal budget, reiterated the call for continued investment in natural gas expansion, creation of greater access to broadband, support for transportation infrastructure, addressing farm labour shortages and training needs, and improving our tax and trade competitiveness.
It shouldn’t be news to anyone in government that Canada’s agri-food industry – from primary producers through the entire value-add supply chain – is an economic powerhouse for the entire country. OFA will continue to push the federal government to recognize the tremendous contributions of our sector and match that recognition with strategic investments that truly support and promote the competitiveness of Canada’s agri-food sector.
 

For more information, contact:

Mark Wales
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-773-6706

Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883
 

Click here to OFA Commentary: September 27, 2018
OFA sends policy opportunities to key provincial ministries
By Mark Reusser, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Over the past few weeks, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) delivered 13 priority letters to several provincial ministries outlining the key issues and concerns for Ontario agriculture and our rural communities. These letters outline the short-term areas on which OFA feels the ministers can make quick improvements for the benefit of our farm members.
Since the PC government took power in Ontario this summer, OFA has been working to introduce the new government to the agri-food sector – highlighting the depth and diversity of our economic powerhouse. We also continue to work on a long-term investment strategy by working with government policymakers to support economic growth and competitiveness in our industry and in our rural communities.
OFA’s letters follow a simple format – providing a context for the issues governed by the ministry and OFA’s request for action and next steps. We’ve covered issues from rural economic development, rural school closures, the state of rural roadways, excess soil management, the proposed high-speed rail line, farm property tax and farm labour.
We have delivered letters to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Labour.
Two issues have been touched on in recent government announcements, providing positive news for the agriculture sector – addressing the concerns raised by farmers with the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program and proposed new legislation to expand access to natural gas in rural and northern Ontario.
We look forward to continuing to make inroads for Ontario farmers and rural communities across the range of provincial ministries that impact life, work and business in rural Ontario.
OFA priority letters are at ofa.on.ca under the Resources section.
 
 
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For more information, contact:

Mark Reusser
Vice President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-591-4223

Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883
​.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
​
September 10, 2018 (Guelph, Ontario) – On behalf of their combined membership of 60,000 farmers, the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO), Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), are pleased by the changes made to the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program (OWDCP) announced today by The Honourable Ernie Hardeman, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The three leadership organizations are also encouraged by the Minister’s stated commitment to introduce further program improvements in the coming months, in consultation with industry stakeholders.
The OWDCP is an important program for livestock farmers in Ontario, particularly for those in the beef and sheep sectors where conflicts with wildlife are common, and result in significant economic losses for both farmers and the broader agri-food economy. 
“We are encouraged by Minister Hardeman’s swift response to begin addressing some of the concerns that have been raised by farmers and industry with respect to the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program,” says BFO President, Joe Hill. “We have heard loud and clear from our membership that the current operation of the program is producing frustrating and unpredictable results.”
The three organizations issued a set of recommendations and a summary of key concerns to the province in February of this year. The submission was developed jointly and informed by consultation with farmers, livestock investigators, municipalities, and subject matter experts from across Canada and the United States.  The respective organizations also participated in OMAFRA-led program evaluation focus group sessions that were held this past winter.
“Today’s announcement is a positive step in the right direction, and an important signal to farm groups that the province is serious about making meaningful program changes that ensure farmers are provided fair and responsive compensation for losses incurred due to conflicts with predators,” shares OSF Chair, Robert Scott.
“OFA would like to thank the government for taking swift action to address the Farm Business Registration requirement that was denying livestock farmers legitimate claims due to a technicality, and we look forward to working with the government to implement all of the changes required to restore producer confidence in the program,” states OFA President, Keith Currie. 
 
The three farm groups look forward to continued discussion with Minister Hardeman and his staff on this file.

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For more information: 

LeaAnne Wuermli, BFO Manager of Communications & Marketing
519.824.0334
leaanne@ontariobeef.com
 
Heather Hargrave, OSF Communications Coordinator
519.836-0043
hhargrave@ontariosheep.org

Keith Currie, OFA President
705.441.3362
keith.currie@ofa.on.ca
 

By Keith Currie, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
​
Canadian agriculture and our trading opportunities are in a very precarious position as trade negotiations between Mexico and the U.S. appear to be moving forward. It’s an extremely unfortunate situation for our industry and our country, as Mexico appears to have caved under the undoubtedly heavy handed approach of the U.S.  These latest negotiations excluded Canada – even though we are a much more significant trading partner.
For the past many months, Canada has been at the table in an attempt to negotiate a new trilateral trade agreement with the U.S. and Mexico – to replace the 24-year old North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that U.S. President Trump believes is grossly unfair…only for Americans.
Mexico and the U.S. have recently agreed in principle to a new bilateral U.S./Mexico Free Trade Agreement. The basic content of the agreement was released in statements this week by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The deal is far from done but the fundamentals are there.
The vaguely worded agreement includes new provisions between the U.S. and Mexico that cover trade in several manufacturing sectors, and its release included a document entitled “Strengthening NAFTA for Agriculture” that states “while agriculture has generally performed well under NAFTA, important improvements in the agreement will enable food and agriculture to trade more fairly.”
These are the details that catch the attention of Canadian negotiators as they scramble to understand the deal to determine if the terms are acceptable to Canada as part of a new NAFTA framework. Canadian trade interests will also need to be incorporated.
For the first time, the U.S./Mexico agreement specifically addresses agricultural biotechnology – with the two countries agreeing to enhance information exchange and cooperate on ag biotech trade-related matters. Another first is an agreement by the U.S. to not restrict market access in Mexico for certain U.S. labelled cheeses. Likewise, whiskey and tequila will be recognized as distinctive products with no market restrictions to the U.S. from Mexico.
Canada, on the other hand, is clearly in a game of catch up. It’s critical for Canadian negotiators to dig into the details to quickly understand and adapt the U.S./Mexico agreement to secure the continuation of a truly North American trade agreement. The markets of our three countries are integrated to such a degree and level of complexity that multiple bilateral agreements would be confusing and costly. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture urges the Government of Canada to secure a new NAFTA that protects the interests of Canadian farmers, food processors and manufacturers. A trade deal without supply management is a deal breaker for Canadian agriculture.
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For more information, contact:

Keith Currie
President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
705-441-3362

Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883
 

​By Pat Jilesen, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Ontario is ripe with agri-food opportunities for farmers, food processors and entrepreneurs. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is a strong promoter of farming and of value-added initiatives through our awareness and advocacy work with government, policy advisors and municipal planners.
 
OFA’s board of directors recently toured Northumberland County for a firsthand look at the innovative farms and value-added agri-food businesses in the region.
 
Tour stops included local producers and the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre (OAFVC). Farm locations included a maple syrup and honey producer who is creating new food products like maple syrup vinegar.  We also learned about a local hops farm and a purebred Shropshire sheep operation involved in a unique breeding program. 
 
The OAFVC, located in Colborne, is a unique facility that brings together food enthusiasts, start-up companies and farmers in a small-batch food processing facility. The 15,000 square foot facility was built to support area farmers in starting up value-added opportunities that would increase farm revenue. Opened in 2015, the facility is operated by the local municipality. It contributes to the local community and agricultural industry by opening up product development, marketing and processing opportunities at low risk to local farmers. The facility also helps “foodies” with recipe development and food processing start-up companies. With a full suite of facilities, including cooking, chilling, freezing and packaging equipment, OAFVC is a one-stop shop for local farmers and food entrepreneurs. 
 
The local agri-food centre is a great demonstration of a working partnership between the local municipality, regional supporters and the local farming community. This facility exemplifies the tremendous opportunities OFA sees within its Producing Prosperity campaign to promote local economic development. OFA was very encouraged to see this local initiative providing Ontario farmers with innovative opportunities that offer long-term potential to diversify and strengthen the economic sustainability of our agri-food industry.
 
 
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For more information, contact:

Pat Jilesen
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-386-1330

Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883
 

By Louis Roesch, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Farmers and community partners are taking action to keep waterways safe with a science-based approach. Four new on-farm test sites will be added this fall in southwestern Ontario, thanks to new funding, to collect real-time data on phosphorus and nitrogen loss into waterways, as part of the Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative (PRC).
A recent federal funding announcement has helped the group expand their research. One is already operating, and four more will be added with the new funding. The project sites will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of phosphorus removal technologies at the edge of agricultural fields and in municipal drains that collect agricultural runoff in the Thames River Basin area.
Administered by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, the PRC works with farmers, drainage engineers, conservation authorities, Indigenous people and universities to develop practical, cost-effective water management and drainage strategies for both urban and agricultural areas.
OFA has been involved in many water quality projects, led research projects and advised on water policies and legislation. Through the PRC, OFA is participating in this proactive monitoring and data collection project to evaluate nutrients entering waterways from farms and the development of new water management technologies for Ontario farmers. All five test sites are located on farms of different agricultural practices and soil types, and all participants are OFA members.
Phosphorus sources include runoff from cities and towns, agricultural sources, sewage treatment plants, airborne particles, septic systems and industrial discharges. Phosphorus entering waterways contributes to the growth of harmful algal blooms in the Thames River and Lake Erie, and recent rains and hot summer weather could further contribute to an algal bloom in the lake.
Taking a proactive approach to researching on-farm water quality management in the Thames River area and Lake Erie is an important step to preventing further algal blooms and maintaining safe and healthy waterways.
For more information, contact:
Louis Roesch
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-351-7711
Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883

OFA Commentary: July 20, 2018
​By Brent Royce, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Every community across Ontario has dreamed up, created and carried out interesting programs and events to support their local agri-food sector. These local initiatives are powered by volunteers, and anything that helps get these ideas and projects off the ground saves valuable time and energy.
 
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has created a new online resource to give communities and local municipalities a head start on their next project. It’s an idea bank full of existing projects, programs and tools that any community can access to help with a local initiative. The Agri-Food Initiatives Ontario Directory was created to encourage the pay-it-forward premise – sharing resources to encourage others to get a great idea off the ground. By sharing, you can avoid duplication, avoid pitfalls or challenges, and use limited resources more efficiently.
 
The new directory includes more than 700 resources available to the public in an interactive directory including zoning bylaws, local food studies and funding programs. The directory is designed to help connect ideas and information between communities across Ontario. If you have an idea for a new event or program in your area, chances are that somebody has already done some of the legwork for a project somewhere else in the province. The directory is the link that can help avoid duplicating some of the planning and execution around an idea by connecting communities with resources that already exist from a similar activity.
 
There were three key drivers for OFA to pull this directory of resources together. To support economic development activities by sharing best practices across the province. To showcase the work communities are doing to promote and support their agri-food sector. And to provide examples of projects that will support the work done by local county federations.
 
There are more than 400 municipalities in Ontario, and OFA has already catalogued more than 700 initiatives that might be just what your community needs to get the next agri-food event or project underway. The new directory of existing resources encourages greater collaboration between communities and will build more capacity for agricultural activities across Ontario to showcase our innovative and dynamic sector.
 
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For more information, contact:

Brent Royce
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-291-8279

Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883