By Larry Davis, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
In recent months, farmers and county federations of agriculture have banded together to show their generosity, spread positivity and offer support to their local communities across the province. Despite the extensive pressures and challenges faced by Ontario’s agriculture and food industry throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it did not deter the agriculture community from continuing to find ways to help those in need and support our rural communities.
The nature of farming results in farmers being faced with tough situations on a regular basis. They’re forced to make difficult decisions that impact the future of their business. However, farmers have an innate ability to adapt, evolve and persevere through uncertainty, and the COVID-19 crisis was no exception. Farmers forged through spring planting season and a pandemic to continue producing healthy, safe and affordable food for all Ontarians. Their resiliency and optimism carried into new measures this spring, expanding beyond individual farm operations, with countless examples of community support and contributions across the province.
Media outlets featured stories on local federations collaborating with community members, agri-food businesses and organizations across the sector to spread goodwill and support those in need. Contributions included organizing tractor parade tributes in support of our frontline workers, generous donations of funds and surplus food products for food banks, retirement homes, healthcare facilities and assisting with the production of non-medical face shields and masks. On social media, videos were shared of donations being mailed to food banks, and photos highlighting pop-up events such as local food drives and county-wide non-perishable food collection days. In northern Ontario, a map that had initially been prepared for use at upcoming fairs and festivals promoting local food was distributed by mail as well as being converted into an online resource to promote direct to consumer sales. Local federation representatives also found new ways to make personal deliveries, donning masks and respecting social distancing protocols to express their gratitude towards essential healthcare workers.
Once the reality of the lockdown set in, the reaction from the agricultural community was swift. Farmers found alternative ways to pay it forward to ensure our healthcare system was supported and that Ontarians could rely on our value chain to keep food on their tables. County and regional federations focus a handful of their events and initiatives on in-person consumer outreach, as a result of the pandemic, federations were forced to adjust their efforts, allowing our members to act in support of our communities in new ways.
These local federations were not alone in their generosity as many developed new partnerships and alliances as a result of COVID-19. Agri-businesses, commodity groups, farm organizations, community associations and farm families have been donating their time, money, resources and support throughout this crisis. Meat processing facilities have been receiving meals from their local communities in a show of appreciation for their ability to keep fresh meat products on our grocery store shelves. Transporters have been recognized for their vital role along the value chain and retailers have been applauded for their ability to adapt and provide us with their frontline services. Agriculture at all levels has banded together to spread goodwill and positivity in a challenging time.
Earlier this spring, OFA launched the #OntAgProud social media campaign to share positive stories, recognize those involved in our dynamic sector and build pride in our industry. The efforts displayed by Ontario agriculture to make our communities stronger and more connected fit into this campaign seamlessly. Each example of community engagement stems from a time of uncertainty, but spreads optimism and hope throughout our rural communities.
We have all experienced the pressures, challenges and changes as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. However, the pandemic has also brought generosity, kindness and positivity to the forefront of our industry. Thank you to the members, federations and networks that have joined together to support one another and make our rural communities stronger.
For more information, contact:
Larry Davis
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-758-7693
Cathy Lennon
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883

​ 
By Jackie Kelly-Pemberton, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
 
Employers in the agriculture, food and beverage sector are looking for passionate, qualified candidates to fill diverse roles across the industry. 
 
While the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted a wide range of sectors with lost jobs and layoffs, the Ontario agri-food sector continued to employ over 837,000 people as an essential service to produce food for the province and beyond.
 
However, in order to keep the agri-food sector strong and reliable, we need a dependable workforce.
 
That’s why the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) partnered with industry stakeholders to apply for Canadian Agricultural Partnership funding to help bridge the gap and connect job seekers to the many opportunities available across the value chain.
 
The Feeding Your Future initiative has coordinated a support system to help make it easier for employers to find, train and retain the employees they need, as well as help employ Ontarians with meaningful jobs during COVID-19 and beyond.
 
The project includes a free job matching concierge service, nine virtual career fairs, a series of 10 webinars, and specialized training opportunities. 
 
Through our partnership with AgCareers.com and CareersInFood.com, the job matching concierge helps agri-food businesses set up an online account, post job openings and manage applications. Whether it’s a small-scale farm business operation interested in hiring one person, or a medium to large food processing operation looking to recruit several job seekers with varying skill sets, the concierge can provide much needed support. Organizations have the opportunity to post their production and support jobs affected by COVID-19 for free using the online code: AgriFoodONT20.
 
OFA is also collaborating with industry partners across the province to organize and host virtual career fairs, webinars and online training.
 
Feeding Your Future’s first virtual career fair was held on June 19, 2020. The event welcomed more than 100 attendees, visiting more than 20 exhibitors. Approximately 75 different positions were featured at the career fair, including exhibitors such as Scotiabank, Cargill, Dairy Lane Systems Ltd., Buurma Acres and LaSalle Agri.
 
The initiative has a lot of exciting engagement opportunities for employers and job seekers throughout the summer months. There will be two virtual career fairs held province-wide on July 8 and August 25 as well as regional career fairs in northern, western and eastern Ontario in August and September.
 
Throughout the summer, 10 webinars have been scheduled targeting both job seekers and employers in the agri-food sector. Topics range from how to land a job in agri-food, how to retain talent, ‘ask an employer’ panel sessions, and health and safety regulations to keep your essential workforce safe.
 
In addition to AgCareers.com and CareersInFood.com, partners such as the Ontario Agri-Business Association, South Central Ontario Region Economic Development Corporation, Middlesex Workforce Development Partnership, the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College, commodity partners, workforce and agri-food industry associations are key to the project’s success.
 
The Feeding Your Future initiative wouldn’t be possible without these vital partnerships and the support of the provincial and federal governments. We recognize the need to work together to address these workforce challenges and identify opportunities to continue to grow Ontario’s agri-food sector, which is the cornerstone of our economy. We know the dynamic and vibrant agri-food industry can be a solution to helping our economy rebound and recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
 
Together, we can help support employers from field-to-fork to fill labour shortages and encourage job seekers across the province to consider a career in agriculture and food.
 
For more information, visit ofa.on.ca/FeedingYourFuture and follow us on social media at @FeedYourFuture.
 
This project was funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
 
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For more information, contact:
 
Jackie Kelly-Pemberton
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
613-774-5914
 
Cathy Lennon
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883
 

By Peggy Brekveld, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Essential foreign workers are valued members of Ontario’s farming community. Do you know them? These men and women are integrated into the fabric of our family farms, and in many cases, become an extension of our farm family.
For example, Marco is a married man, who goes to church and calls his wife every day. On the other side, Ricardo enjoys going to bars and clubs in his time off. These are two very different men with one main common characteristic, they are both professionals working in the agriculture industry. My son had the pleasure of working alongside Marco and Ricardo for a short time on a dairy farm in southern Ontario and built a positive relationship with both. For the purposes of this story, the names have been altered to protect the privacy and security of these men.
They were kind and showed my son what hard work looks like. They made him wish he had studied Spanish rather than French – although they did teach him a few Spanish phrases that should not be repeated in front of his mother! They shared a lot of laughs that went beyond language too. They are also migrant workers who chose Ontario as a place to live and work, to be able to send money home and create a better life for themselves and their families. And many migrant workers have chosen to come back year after year.
Trees are pruned, vegetables are planted, cows are milked, and vegetables are harvested – all because these professionals came to Ontario. The agri-food sector employs approximately 20,000 essential foreign workers on farms and in processing plants across the province. In my experience, farmers who hire migrant workers on their farms develop relationships and know these men and women on a personal level. Yes, they value their skills, dedication and work ethic. Yes, they have provided workers with housing and access to healthcare along with all of the other requirements. But it’s important to note, these farmers have also learned Spanish, celebrated birthdays together, and work hard to bring the same people back on an annual basis because they have built a relationship with each other. To these farmers, the men and women who come are more than just essential workers.
This year, during the COVID-19 crisis, we are also reminded of something else – migrant workers are ordinary people, no different than you or I. In the battle against a virus that does not discriminate between where we were born or what job we have, it has taken a toll on these communities. Farmers have worked hard to protect their health and safety. Working with the province and local health authorities to establish new health and safety protocols, providing our workforce with personal protective equipment, improving workstations, isolating as necessary and monitoring their health on a regular basis. And yet, the community spread of COVID-19 has still managed to land on our doorsteps.
On behalf of the agricultural community, we offer our deepest condolences to the families of the two young men who recently passed away due to COVID-19. I cannot imagine how difficult this must be for their families. We also hope and pray for all migrant workers who are fighting the coronavirus, wishing them all the best for a full recovery.
I recognize the story and experiences I’ve shared may not reflect the experience of every essential foreign worker, but I hope it sheds some light on our relationships with these integral men and women. We take the allegations that have been published in the news recently very seriously. As an organization and an industry, we will continue to work with the province and local health units to ensure the appropriate protocols are in place. Ontario agriculture depends on these valued members of the farm team, and there is a lot at stake. We assure you that the health and safety of all agricultural workers is a top priority across the province.
Simply put, migrant workers are more than just essential workers in Ontario’s dynamic agriculture and food sector. They are faces of our farming industry, integrated in our communities, and to a privileged few, they are friends and family.
For more information, contact:
Peggy Brekveld
Vice President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
807-707-2814
Cathy Lennon
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883

GUELPH, ON [May 26, 2020] – To keep Ontario’s food supply chain strong and store shelves stocked during the COVID-19 pandemic, employers along the agriculture and food value chain need support to recruit, train and connect workers to in-demand jobs across the agri-food sector.
 
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is pleased to announce the provincial and federal government’s support of OFA’s project proposal to rapidly develop a comprehensive support system for agriculture and food employers and job seekers.
 
“There is an ongoing need for workers on Canadian farms and across the agri-food sector, employing a wide range of skillsets,” said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This investment will support Ontarians to train and transition into these rewarding jobs and will help ensure that employers across the sector have the people they need to drive our economy and feed Canadians.”
“The Ontario government is committed to doing everything we can to support our farmers and food processors to meet their labour needs during this unprecedented time,” said Hon. Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “This project is one more way for us to invest in our farmers and the entire food supply chain so they can access the labour and training needed to continue delivering high-quality food to Ontario families.”
 
On April 17, the provincial and federal government opened a targeted intake for the Addressing Labour Supply and Training Challenges project category under the Place to Grow: Agri-Food Innovation Initiative.
 
The project, Enhancing Agri-Food Workforce Readiness Along the Value Chain, includes a job matching concierge, specialized agri-training, collaborative marketing, targeted regional needs, and rapid response initiatives to keep our essential food supply chain functioning.
 
OFA is partnering with AgCareers.com and CareersinFood.com to provide an enhanced job matching concierge for farmers and food and beverage processors to set up an online account, post job openings, and manage applications.
 
OFA will also partner to host virtual career fairs that dissolve geographic barriers, in partnership with several communities across the province. Beyond COVID-19, this platform will be particularly useful for rural and remote communities, where it can be difficult to congregate and recruit employees over vast geographies.
 
This project complements the provincial and federal government job portals; Ontario’s Agri-Food Jobs Portal and Canada’s Step up to the Plate – Help Feed Canadians initiative. These government portals provide excellent resources and websites that can be leveraged to streamline our efforts; ensuring the jobs are posted where job seekers will find them.
 
“We appreciate the government taking critical steps to support projects addressing labour demands and specialized training needs in our sector,” said Keith Currie, OFA President. “We are eager to work alongside our collaborative partners to deliver this project and bridge the labour gap in our industry, during COVID-19 and beyond.”
 
As the agri-food labour gap continues to widen beyond the current challenges of the pandemic, OFA aims to encourage those employed in the sector this year to consider their future prospects, with various educational opportunities for career advancement. The project will engage institutions that show leadership in agriculture and food education, and training to inform targeted program development and curriculum delivery.
 
OFA and our partners are looking forward to addressing labour challenges across commodities in every corner of the province to maintain a strong food supply chain through this pandemic. The agriculture and food sector is a driving force for economic recovery and renewal. For more details about the project, visit ofa.on.ca/feedingyourfuture.
 
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.
 
This project will receive up to $396,000 in cost-share funding through the Canadian Agriculture Partnership, a five-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
 
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For more information, contact:
 
Keith Currie
President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
keith.currie@ofa.on.ca

Cathy Lennon
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
cathy.lennon@ofa.on.ca
​

​By Paul Vickers, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
 
The importance of farm safety cannot be overstated, especially during the busy planting and harvesting seasons. Across the agri-food industry, we’ve all been touched by on-farm accidents and injuries. While farmers across the province are working tirelessly to plan and prepare for the upcoming growing season, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) encourages everyone to make farm safety a priority. 
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for communities across Ontario. As schools and childcare centres remain closed during the state of emergency, it means there will be an influx of children and youth around the farm as seed begins to go into the ground. When farm families are meeting to discuss daily or weekly farm plans, including a plan that identifies safe play areas and age appropriate chores can be a good way to keep kids safe.
In an effort to increase the importance and awareness of farm safety, OFA has launched a digital campaign sharing materials and guidelines from organizations and associations, like the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA), that provide practical hands-on resources to help keep everyone safe from planting through to harvest. With child-friendly videos from Progressive Agriculture Safety Days and training programs for young workers from Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, OFA will be providing conversation-starters to equip parents, family members and farm managers as the season unfolds. Having a conversation, educating and implementing preventative measures can be key methods to help keep everyone safe on the farm.
 
Utilizing suitable resources for kids, like the farm safety contract or toolbox talks published by CASA, can help to ensure all generations understand how to play safely around the farm. This year, communication, signage, documentation and frequent check-ins will be more important than ever. Ensuring that everyone on the farm team understands safety protocols and equipment, and that all generations are clear on their roles and responsibilities for watching young children throughout the day, will give everyone the necessary peace of mind.
 
The most valuable asset in promoting and implementing safety on the farm is the people. However, we acknowledge and understand the busy spring season is also accompanied with a heightened sense of mental stress and exhaustion, which at times, can result in accidents and injuries. OFA’s website and communications will also feature important reminders and resources for coping with exhaustion, maintaining mental health and options for reaching out for professional help in cases of extreme distress. To access these resources, visit ofa.on.ca/issues/mental-health.
 
As part of our ongoing commitment to promote farm safety, earlier this year OFA launched a photo contest encouraging members, their families and employees to submit photos that demonstrate and showcase safe farm practices on their farms and on the roads. We want to see farm and road safety at work on farms across the province. For more details about the photo contest, visit ofa.on.ca/photocontest.
 
As farmers, let’s all do our part to ensure families across the province have a safe and successful growing season. 
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For more information, contact:
Paul Vickers
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-270-5098
Cathy Lennon
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883

OFA Member Survey on Farm Business
Impacts of COVID-19 – Phase Three 
There’s no denying Ontario’s agri-food sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. Farmers across all commodities have been greatly impacted.

OFA has conducted two surveys throughout this pandemic to monitor the effects on the agri-food sector, our farm business members and to help guide our response. A benchmarking survey was launched in March, followed by a phase two survey in April. The input and feedback we receive through these surveys help us to better understand the ways in which we can support our members and the industry through these challenging and unprecedented times.
 
In Phase Three of our survey, we have included questions about employee training and knowledge exchange to better understand the challenges and needs of our membership.

The survey should take only approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Your responses will be kept anonymous and will only be reported in aggregate form.

For all the latest updates, information, announcements and resources on COVID-19, please visit OFA's central resource webpage at https://ofa.on.ca/covid-19.
 
Please click on the button below to complete the survey.
 
We appreciate your input and feedback during these difficult times.

 
 
Complete the Survey

​Posted on 5 May 2020 in NewsGUELPH, ON [May 5, 2020] – During a time of uncertainty and instability for Canada’s agri-food industry, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Government of Canada announced $252 million in financial support measures for Canadian beef and pork producers and the food processing sector.
Although the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) appreciates the recognition by Prime Minister Trudeau and the federal government to support beef and pork producers across the country with immediate financial assistance, today’s announcement falls short of the critical needs of the industry.
“We are pleased to see the efforts of the federal government to provide financial support for Canada’s agriculture and food industry, but it’s evident this doesn’t measure up to our needs,” says OFA President Keith Currie. “Without additional financial assistance across the industry, our domestic food supply and the entire food value chain is in jeopardy. This is critical to our food security and the health and well-being of all Canadians.”
OFA had recently joined the call of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) in requesting immediate financial assistance from the federal government to prevent food shortages and maintain viability of the farming and food sector. CFA identified a need of $2.6 billion in government support for the agri-food industry.
The funding announcement includes $77 million to the processing sector for expanding capacity and addressing new health and safety protocols to protect employees and our food supply. The beef and pork industries were promised $125 million split between the two sectors to help producers adjust to market unpredictability and manage surplus product. OFA looks forward to hearing more details on how and when this funding will be rolled out.
An investment of $50 million was provided to develop a surplus food purchase program that will allow farmers to be compensated for products that would otherwise go to waste due to excess amounts. It was also announced that dairy farmers would have access to a credit line to help adjust to changing market demands through the COVID-19 crisis.
“For Ontario, the investment is important in helping beef and pork producers maintain their operations through these challenging times but significant pressures remain for livestock farmers across the province,” states Currie. “It’s a good starting point for the industry, but we know many commodities in Ontario are facing unprecedented and difficult situations.”
The announced funding falls well short of addressing the critical needs of the pork industry. Ontario Pork is waiting for confirmation and details on their share of the $125 million investment and how it will impact producers.
Ontario’s pork industry, which includes 1,200 producers across the province, generates $2.8 billion in economic output and close to $950 million in gross domestic product. With 19,000 producers across the province, Ontario’s beef industry is a vital contributor to the provincial economy. The sector contributes $2.69 billion annually to Ontario’s GDP.
OFA will continue to advocate for our farm businesses in conversations with government to seek additional support that stretches across the industry. We know Ontarians rely on the agri-food system to ensure they have steady and reliable access to safe, healthy and affordable food products. The time is now for the federal government to support farmers and the entire food value chain through this crisis.
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.
For more information, contact:
Keith Currie
President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
keith.currie@ofa.on.ca
Cathy Lennon
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
cathy.lennon@ofa.on.ca

​by Drew Spoelstra, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
If your farm business is anticipating financial hardship this year due to the impacts of COVID-19 or for any additional reason, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) believes this might be the year for Ontario farmers to strongly consider enrolling in the AgriStability program.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada recently announced the deadline to enroll in the AgriStability program for 2020 has been extended from April 30 to July 3. The extension is meant to offer farm businesses additional time and flexibility to make informed decisions and assess their program coverage needs. In Ontario, AgriStability is administered by Agricorp.
OFA recognizes and understands that funding cuts to AgriStability made under the Growing Forward 2 framework reduced the utility of the program and resulted in many farmers discontinuing their enrollment. However, farm businesses across the province are facing increased challenges and pressures due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Enrollment in the program may be able to help offset increased farm operation costs, market unpredictability and production losses.
OFA continues to advocate with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and industry partners for changes to the program to make it viable for all farmers. Collectively, we’ve advocated for change in terms of restoring the payment trigger to 85% of historical margins and removing the Reference Margin Limitation (RML). In today’s climate, it’s apparent these changes are needed now more than ever.
OFA and CFA have been actively lobbying the federal and provincial governments to provide immediate financial assistance to farmers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. One way that the government can quickly and efficiently deliver immediate financial assistance is through enhancements to existing programs. Collaboratively, our call-to-action for policymakers has been to provide a government only contribution equal to 5% of Annual Net Sales (ANS) into AgriInvest accounts. This contribution would quickly provide much needed liquidity to farm businesses to help weather the storm of COVID-19.
To be eligible for the AgriStability program you must be a Canadian farmer reporting farming income or losses to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and complete a production cycle and at least six consecutive months of farming activity in the program year. The intent of AgriStability is to provide farmers with affordable, whole farm coverage. With the enhancements proposed by industry, AgriStability together with other financial assistance programs, could provide the critical support the agriculture sector needs to weather this disaster.
For more information about the program and how to apply for coverage in 2020, contact Agricorp at 1-888-247-4999 or fill out the participant form, available on agricorp.com, and submit the form by mail or fax.
For more information, contact:
Drew Spoelstra
Executive Member
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
905-379-5751
Cathy Lennon
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883

By Crispin Colvin, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Food has always been a key ingredient in bringing people together. And during these uncertain and challenging times when so many of us are apart, food is still helping us connect with each other.
Families are spending more time in the kitchen talking about where food comes from, food security and maybe even cooking together for the first time. Social distancing could see a new generation of Ontarians taking more interest in food than ever before. Food literacy, building healthy eating patterns, food safety, and how to clean, prepare, cook and serve food are all essential skills. Now that kids are spending more time at home, why not make the best of the COVID-19 situation and use this extra family time to learn more about food literacy?
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is a proud advocate for food literacy through the Six by Sixteen initiative – a resource that encourages families to use their family time in the kitchen. Six by Sixteen focuses on teaching youth how to plan and prepare six nutritious, locally sourced meals by the time they are sixteen years old. The website offers resources from OFA and supporting partners to help young people develop lifelong skills, healthy eating habits and a new appreciation for food. Fostering food literacy skills and challenging our youth to embrace and enhance their culinary skills also extends their educational studies like math and science as they measure and test ingredients. Six by Sixteen also promotes buying fresh, healthy, local Ontario-grown food to support the local economy.
The website, sixbysixteen.me offers food literacy resources for families with children and young adults of all ages, including recipes, cooking videos, how to find local, in season food, and more. OFA encourages families to share photos of their cooking activities by tagging #sixbysixteen in your social media posts. OFA is also offering families an exclusive Six by Sixteen recipe guide to help inspire the next generation to learn how to plan and prepare healthy meals. The recipe guide is available for download here. For more inspiration, follow Six by Sixteen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
OFA is proud to partner with Ontario and Canadian agricultural organizations to offer Six by Sixteen’s online resource. We’ve also partnered with education and awareness groups to bring Six by Sixteen and food literacy into local communities. Working together with 4-H Ontario, OFA’s food literacy initiative has been adapted into a 4-H club that is offered provincially. Through the club, youth members learn about knife safety, proper handwashing, how to source and prepare six meals, and the importance of food literacy for overall health. OFA has also partnered with Farm & Food Care Ontario to promote the program at their Breakfast on the Farm events.
In the fall of 2019, Six by Sixteen had the opportunity to promote food literacy to more than 2,500 students for Education Day inside the Semex Ring of Excellence. OFA representatives guided students through Kitchen Party, an interactive and educational game designed to teach kids about food literacy and shared the Six by Sixteen recipe guide.
An appreciation of food, understanding of how to safely prepare and serve it, and the pride of enjoying a meal you’ve created are all part of the Six by Sixteen experience. As more families turn to their own kitchens and spend time at home together, why not take the Six by Sixteen challenge – to learn how to plan, prepare and cook six meals by the age of sixteen. Together, we can learn to eat healthy and stay healthy.
 
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For more information, contact:

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

Cathy Lennon
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883

Coping with COVID-19 on the farm this springPosted on 9 April 2020 in Commentaries

By Drew Spoelstra, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
As spring rolls on and the pressures of COVID-19 unfold, Ontario farmers are bracing for the full impact of this pandemic. Many sectors within the agri-food value chain are already dealing with significant ramifications of the virus – from labour shortages, excess product supply and reduced processing capacity, to raw dairy products being dumped, cancelled or reduced contracts and prolonged delays in feed and supply deliveries.
The agri-food industry anticipates more challenges as the growing season moves forward with the expectation that every farm and agri-business will be impacted to some degree by disruptions along the supply chain.
A drastic shift in consumer spending and shopping patterns at grocery stores along with unexpected overnight changes in markets like restaurants, schools, community and recreational facilities has required the entire food value chain to fundamentally rebalance the distribution of products. With an excess supply of fresh products and the fluctuation in consumer demand, many Ontario farmers and agriculture organizations are donating their goods to food banks and shelters in an effort to adjust to the new realities of our supply chain. Supporting Ontarians in need through COVID-19 offers a glimmer of light and positivity during an otherwise difficult situation for our industry.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) understands the transition to the new normal of the value chain will take time, but it’s important to remember we are all in this together, and we are advocating for workable solutions to ensure production and processing across the agri-food sector is maintained. We are regularly engaging with our members and industry organizations for perspectives and insights on how COVID-19 is impacting farm businesses.
OFA members are sharing their concerns about accessing necessary inputs, safety and sanitation needs, veterinary supplies, livestock bedding and equipment parts. They are also concerned about access to farm services like agronomists, nutritionists, veterinarians and mechanics. OFA recognizes each service provider is making modifications to their businesses to keep their staff safe while serving the needs of their customers, and this new situation could result in some service delays.
CropLife Canada reports that most seed and early-season pesticides are already within the Canadian supply chain and there are no concerns about supply shortages at this time. The organization also notes their members throughout the supply chain have implemented a number of COVID-19 contingency plans to ensure employees are protected and farmers receive essential crop inputs in a timely manner throughout the growing season.
As the COVID-19 response continues to evolve, farmers may need to adopt new farm practices to manage social distancing, including video conferencing with crop specialists and sending high quality images of problem areas to their agronomists. Farmers are encouraged to be proactive and communicate with retailers to schedule deliveries and pick-ups of crop inputs.
The Ontario Agri-Business Association (OABA) offers suggestions for farmers to help the retail sector manage during these challenging circumstances.

• Reduce the number of trips, visits and contacts where possible.
• Maximize deliveries by considering what products could be delivered at the same time instead of separate shipments.
• Provide a detailed description of where deliveries should be placed. And when deliveries arrive, do not meet with delivery staff – always maintain physical distancing.

We are all living in a period of adjustment and uncertainty. We can work together to keep our businesses and industry moving with as little disruption as possible. CropLife Canada reminds growers that our industry continues to adhere to public health recommendations regarding physical distancing and hygiene and is adapting how we do business to ensure farmers get the support they need as they head into the planting season. CropLife Canada and the plant science industry is also looking at what the longer-term impacts of COVID-19 might be and are watching how the pandemic develops in places like India and China, where a significant amount of pesticide manufacturing happens.
Spring is already one of the busiest, most stressful times on the farm. This year, we all need to work patiently and understand we’re all affected in one way or another. If you have concerns about inputs and product availability, reach out to your supplier. If you’re having a hard time managing stress or coping with the unexpected, reach out and talk to someone you trust or access mental health support at ofa.on.ca/resources/managing-farm-stress-during-covid-19. OFA is working with government leaders and industry organizations to ensure the challenges and frustrations faced by our members and everyone along the agri-food supply chain are heard and considered as new accommodations and decisions are being made every day.
For more information, contact:
Drew Spoelstra
Executive Member
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
905-379-5751
Cathy Lennon
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883