​OFA Commentary: February 15, 2019
By Jacqueline Kelly-Pemberton, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

When the provincial government proposes new legislation or changes to existing regulations that could impact Ontario agriculture, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) evaluates the fine print and prepares an official response to government. These responses form the basis of our position on the issues raised.
OFA’s team of eight farm policy researchers are constantly reviewing government activities to assess the impact that regulatory changes may have on the agri-food sector and rural communities. It has been a busy year so far with official OFA submissions to various provincial government ministries to ensure that the voice of agriculture is heard and considered in any regulatory and legislative changes.
We have submitted written responses to government on issues ranging from increasing housing opportunities in Ontario, to clean fuel standards, to the government’s proposed made-in-Ontario environment plan and Bill 66.
OFA submissions reiterate the tremendous value that Ontario’s agri-food sector and rural communities contribute to the provincial economy. And to remain competitive and poised for growth we urge the government to prioritize and protect farmland from development. OFA strongly and successfully opposed the government’s open-for-business planning tool that would undercut decades of land use planning. We also disagree with the government’s position that a lack of land is behind the urban housing problem. Removing farmland for development is short sighted.
The government’s environment plan must recognize the ecological goods and services that farmland provides – for the benefit of all Ontarians.  
Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitive Act, 2018 aims to reduce red tape and regulatory burden across several existing acts. OFA is a strong advocate for reducing unnecessary red tape. We continue to urge the government to consider the implications that any and all regulatory changes will have on the agri-food sector and rural communities.
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For more information, contact:

Jacqueline Kelly-Pemberton
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
613-774-5914

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

OFA Commentary: February 7, 2019
By Mark Kunkel, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Updates to the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program were announced on February 1 that should see improvements in the claims, appeal and compensation process for Ontario livestock farmers. The changes will be implemented by the federal and provincial governments, and are a result of consultations with farmers and agricultural industry leaders, including the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).
Wildlife predation is a serious threat to livestock. Coyotes, bears, wolves and foxes are among the most common predators in Ontario that kill or maim livestock, leading to financial, animal health and disease problems. The challenges farmers face with predators and protecting livestock were compounded by their increasing frustration with the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program.
OFA and farmers across the province participated in the consultation process to amend the program. OFA is pleased the federal and provincial governments heard our concerns about challenges with the program. The consultation process has seen some improvements that will reduce unnecessary red tape in the program.
To help farmers access compensation for livestock lost to predators, the Ontario Wildlife Compensation Program now includes:

• more ways to provide evidence that is sufficient to prove wildlife predation
• a more independent and transparent appeal process
• better training for municipal investigators to assess predation
• compensation that better reflects market prices

Program changes are effective February 1, 2019 and reflect some of the asks OFA, along with our farm business members have asked for. OFA encourages all Ontario livestock farmers to review the new program and changes. We also ask for feedback, directly to OFA and to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. OFA believes there is still room for improvement, and we will continue working with government to ensure the compensation program works as efficiently and effectively as it should.
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For more information, contact:

Mark Kunkel
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
705-492-4752

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

OFA Commentary: January 31, 2019
By Steve Brackenridge, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Farm property taxes are not a new topic for Ontario agriculture, but they can be a complicated one. Property taxes are intended to pay for municipal services. The residential rate is set to pay for services required by households, including recreation, health and protection services. Farm families pay the residential tax rate on their homes because our families need those municipal services like everyone else. 
Property taxes reflect the assessed value of a property so as property values rise, so do the property taxes. This is for simplicity as well as reflecting the notion that higher value homes consume more services.
Because unserviced farmland does not demand nor consumes a lot of municipal services it is taxed at up to 25% of residential tax rates. Lower taxes are paid because less service is required.
The legislation recognizes this fact but also has flexibility built in so that farmland rates can be less than 25% of residential rates if the situation demands a new proportion. This built-in flexibility is key – and accommodates the situation that Ontario is currently facing where farmland values (and hence taxes) are escalating faster than for residences.
Since 2016, farm property taxes have risen by an average of 64% across Ontario, while residential rates in rural areas have been relatively flat. And the shift continues, with farmers paying a disproportionate amount of property taxes compared to the municipal services they use. In other words, the municipal tax burden has shifted to unserviced farmland and away from the residences and enterprises that actually need and use the municipal services.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) believes some municipalities need to adjust their farm property tax rate, and that’s why we’ve been regularly meeting with municipalities for the past two years to discuss the system.
OFA will continue to work with individual municipalities and local federations to help municipal councillors adjust to a fair farm property tax system. Higher farm taxes to pay for services that farmers (and their land) are not using is simply unfair. The legislation provides the means to correct this unfair tax burden.  We are working with municipalities to make the necessary changes to ensure competitive and sustainable farms across Ontario.
For more information on the farm property tax system visit ofa.on.ca/resources/farmland-tax-puzzle or for farm property assessment information visit ofa.on.ca/resources/farm-property-assessment-notice-information.
 
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For more information, contact:

Steve Brackenridge
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
705-872-7629

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

Guelph, ON [January 24, 2019] – The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is encouraged by the provincial government’s decision to remove Schedule 10 from the proposed Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018. This movement signals the government’s willingness to listen to the concerns of Ontario agriculture.
 
Schedule 10 proposed an amendment to the provincial Planning Act that would have given municipalities the ability to pass bylaw changes that could use primary farmland for any type of development. Schedule 10 was part of the government’s open-for-business bylaws.
 
“This announcement by the government is great news for Ontarians and the 38,000 farm families the OFA represents,” says Keith Currie, OFA president. “Farmland is a finite resource and we must do everything to protect it for food production.”
 
On January 21 OFA sent a formal letter to Economic Development Minister, Todd Smith stating its serious concerns about Schedule 10 and the impact the proposed legislative changes would have on Ontario’s agri-food sector. On January 23 Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark, announced the government would withdraw the Schedule 10 provisions under Bill 66.
 
“We will continue to work together with the Ontario government to advocate for the best interests of the agri-food sector and rural communities. Together we can create greater prosperity across Ontario that isn’t at the expense of the province’s farmland resource,” says Currie.
 
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 38,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer.
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For more information:
 
Keith Currie
President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
keith.currie@ofa.on.ca
 
Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
neil.currie@ofa.on.ca
​

​By Keith Currie, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
There’s something exciting about starting a brand new year. The opportunities and possibilities are endless, and turning the calendar allows us to start with a clean slate for another growing season. And who doesn’t want to put the harvest challenges of 2018 behind us?
At the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), we’re kicking off 2019 with a renewed focus on our advocacy work for the agri-food sector and rural communities. Many of our key areas for this year are a continuation of the advocacy we set out in our Producing Prosperity in Ontario campaign – a call for greater infrastructure investments in the agri-food sector that will build capacity and create greater economic development in our communities.
Natural gas continues to be a big priority. The provincial government has announced some plans for expanded natural gas and we are waiting for more details. We continue to push for complete access to affordable natural gas across the entire province. Our farms and rural businesses depend on it to remain competitive.
Another key infrastructure requirement to keep us connected and competitive is high speed internet in rural and northern communities. Rural Ontario continues to be disadvantaged compared to our urban neighbours, when it comes to our ability to connect for services, information, e-commerce and education.
OFA will continue to focus on the need for a stable rural school network. Schools provide a critical hub for our communities that extend beyond the school day, and we are working with government to ensure there is a solid process for evaluating and assessing rural schools.
Our communities also depend on continuous infrastructure improvements to ensure our roads and bridges support the movement of agricultural equipment.
Water quality is another key priority for OFA. As part of the Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative, we continue to work together on this team to reduce phosphorus losses to Lake Erie.
We also will be watching closely as the provincial government releases its plan for reducing red tape and regulations, to ensure the impacts on the agri-food sector are considered.
We have a busy year ahead with work on a broad range of files that impact the ability of our 38,000 farm members to operate sustainable and productive farm businesses. I’m looking forward to the prospects for a productive and prosperous year for Ontario’s agri-food sector in 2019.
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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 Mark Reusser, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Failure to plan was cited by Canada’s Auditor General as the reason the federal government has not delivered broadband access to rural and remote areas of the country. Included in the report to Parliament in late November, the Auditor General said the lack of a national strategy has hampered the implementation of the Liberal government’s Connection to Innovate program. The federal broadband program had previously allocated $500 million over five years, beginning in 2016, to extend broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across Canada.
The Auditor General’s report also stated that a government analysis in 2013 found that running high-speed internet to 99 per cent of Canadians would cost between $1.1 and $1.7 billion. Without proper planning and budget allocation it’s unlikely the federal government will deliver on its promise to connect the country.
High speed connectivity is a necessity, no matter where you live, and Canadians shouldn’t be disadvantaged for living and working in rural or remote communities. Without high speed internet, people can lose out on everything from education and job opportunities to medical treatment and business development.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has long advocated for high speed connections across all areas of Ontario, especially rural. Reliable internet is necessary to support farmers and rural communities – without it our businesses, residents and schools are at a competitive disadvantage. Farmers rely on proper broadband connection to make business decisions, operate on-farm technology, look for marketing options for farm products, access continuing education, gather farm management information and communicate with the community.
OFA agrees with the Auditor General’s report recommendation that says the federal government should set a standard for the minimum amount of internet connectivity Canadians can expect in different parts of the county, and work on a plan from there.
Two years ago, the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) declared broadband internet an essential telecommunications service. OFA believes this basic service needs to be accessible to everyone, no matter where you live. OFA will continue working with all levels of government to prioritize rural and remote access to reliable high speed internet. We need a better broadband plan for rural Ontario and we need it now.
 
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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
 

​Guelph, ON [November 20, 2018] – Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) members from across the province met this week to discuss the agri-food sector’s potential for growth, vote for leadership of the organization and address related challenges facing the industry.
 
More than 350 agricultural representatives met in Hamilton at the OFA annual general meeting (AGM) November 19-20. Keith Currie, OFA’s 31st president, was acclaimed for his third one-year term. Voting delegates re-elected Peggy Brekveld and Mark Reusser to the vice president positions. Drew Spoelstra was elected by the board as the fourth executive member.  Joining the OFA board this year is Hugh Simpson, elected at the AGM as Director-at-Large and Melissa Schneider, representing Zone 4 – Elgin and Oxford counties. Two long-time directors retired from OFA’s board this year, Mark Wales and Peter Lambrick. OFA’s Board of Directors is made up of 18 positions representing regions across Ontario.
 
“We’re proud to be a grassroots organization, and OFA’s annual meeting is the best demonstration of our strength in numbers, dedication to the industry and commitment to making the agri-food sector as successful and prosperous as it can be,” says Keith Currie, OFA president. “We’re poised for growth and positive change within our organization and within our industry. We have a clear direction from delegates at the AGM to improve infrastructure across rural Ontario, advocate for agriculture and rural communities with government, and deliver positive results for members across the province.”
 
This year’s conference theme, Prosperity Grows Here, led the discussions, speakers and workshop topics for the event. Conference attendees also voted on resolutions to address business and industry concerns, heard from Ernie Hardeman, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Premier Ford via recorded video and Andrea Horwath, leader of the NDP party and official opposition.
 
As OFA pushes for continuous improvements within our rural communities, the event’s keynote speaker Doug Griffiths gave an honest and engaging presentation entitled “13 Ways to Kill Your Community” – providing an interesting approach on what not to do as a reminder of how to actually improve our communities from within.
 
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 38,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer.
 
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For more information:
 
Keith Currie
President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
705-441-3362
 
Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883
 

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