June 6-12 is Local Food Week! It’s an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the abundance of fresh, healthy, affordable local food that we are privileged to have access to across the province.
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The Dundas Federation of Agriculture (DFA), along with Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO), the Dundas Dairy Producers Committee (DDPC), and the Dundas Soil and Crop Improvement Association (DSCIA) recognizes that many within our community need support and especially as the cost of living continues to climb with inflation.

The DFA, CFFO, DDPC and DSCIA are helping to increase access to local food by giving back to our community. Today’s donations are of $500 from each of the local agriculture groups to Community Food Share. This $2000 donation is helping our community increase their access to local food while improving local food literacy.

Our agricultural community encourages all to support local and encourage an increased use of local food by public and public sector organizations when possible, supporting our agricultural community today and into the future.

Community Food Share would like to also remind our local producers that they accept fresh produce and will work with our farmers for any donations of meat.

Ryan Devries
DFA President

By Teresa Van Raay, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Today, marks the kick-off of Local Food Week in Ontario. It’s an annual highlight for our industry and all the hardworking individuals that grow, nurture and harvest the food that nourishes Ontarians, the province and the world. This special week of recognition takes place from June 6-12 and is the opportune time to celebrate the abundance of fresh, healthy food that is grown, produced, and processed right here at home. It’s the perfect month to commemorate local food as the growing season gains momentum with early season favourites such as asparagus, field strawberries and rhubarb.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) challenges everyone to take a moment this week to pause, reflect and celebrate how lucky we are to have easy, affordable access to high-quality foods. It’s important that we recognize the critical links in the supply chain that work tirelessly to ensure Ontarians have food on the table that is proudly grown, produced or raised in Ontario. From field-to-fork, more than 10% of Ontario’s labour force is employed in the agri-food sector in our province.

Whether farmer or consumer; we can all partake in celebrating Local Food Week by sourcing, purchasing and preparing local meats, produce, grains, preserves, beverages and condiments. Visit a community farmers’ market to gather in-season goodies such as produce, flowers and herbs. Additionally, be sure to check out community butcher shops, local restaurants and bakeries.

Local food is more available and accessible than ever before. The 2021 Census of Agriculture shows marked increases in farms reporting direct to consumer sales across many categories, including farm gate sales, U-pick operations, farmers’ markets and Community Supported Agriculture. The census also captured a surging number of farms offering direct deliveries to consumers, a pandemic-driven trend that is expected to continue. Many municipalities prepare directories, maps, tours and ‘buy local’ campaigns to help consumers access local food direct from the farmer. Try a quick internet search to see what’s available in your area or check out Farm Fresh Ontario to find a local farm.

My family farm business sells direct to consumer, and we are beyond thankful for the public’s interest in local food. Ontario farmers work around the clock to provide high-quality food and meeting our customers makes all our efforts worth it. Our on-farm store provides us with the opportunity to connect with our customers and I love to answer their questions on modern-day farming practices. We truly love what we do and we couldn’t do it without the support of our community. Thank you to everyone that has taken the initiative to know their community farmers and who continues to support them through sourcing local.

Oftentimes, summer crops are featured as local and consumers are left wondering where to find local for the remainder of the year. Remember, local food is always in season and readily accessible. Local food extends beyond seasonal fruits and vegetables. It also includes a diverse range of commodities from the dairy in your fridge to the meat on your barbeque. Ontario meat, eggs, grains and dairy are in season throughout the year. Agri-food workers also go to great lengths to process frozen vegetables, jams, pickles and other high-quality products so that we can enjoy local all year round. Local food can be found in nearly every aisle of the grocery store 24-7.

Celebrate Local Food Week by utilizing OFA’s Always in Season toolkit, resources and ideas to highlight the agri-food sector year-round. To commemorate Local Food Week, Always in Season’s I ❤️ local Social Media Planning Kit provides free, public images for download to share and acknowledge the agriculture, food and beverage sector across the province. These visuals can also be shared throughout the year to show year-round support for locally grown products.

Sourcing, preparing and plating local food is the perfect family affair that teaches youth valuable food literacy skills for life. Welcome every member of the family into the kitchen to prepare delicious recipes with local food sourced from the farmers’ market, grocery store or farm gate.

OFA’s Six by Sixteen campaign aims to engage young people in preparing healthy, local food meals, and is full of resources including virtual tutorials hosted by a certified chef, recipes and fun activities for youth.

Celebrate Ontario agriculture throughout the year by consciously choosing to source and purchase local food products. Ontario’s farmers grow and produce over 200 commodities that feed our province, our country and the world. Purchasing local supports your neighbourhood farmers, processors, and small businesses while supporting the local economy and contributing to community economic recovery.

OFA encourages everyone to take advantage of all the local food products available throughout this growing season at grocery stores, farmers’ markets or farm gate stands. Let’s all celebrate this wonderful week and enjoy the best Ontario has to offer by filling your plates and cups with locally grown, produced and raised foods.

For more information, contact:
Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883 ext. 218
tyler.brooks@ofa.on.ca

By Peggy Brekveld, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

There is something exciting about all election campaigns. There’s the intense analysis, the microscope that looks at every candidate’s individual word, and activities. There’s the ups and downs of polls that inspire and discourage people as they cheer on their favourites. There’s the push to get people up out of their chairs to the local community hub to vote, vote, vote! All this ends with a result that potentially lasts for the next four years – are you engaged in this excitement?

We’re heading into the final few days of the provincial election campaign. As I look back over the last month, party leaders and candidates have brought numerous and varied issues to the forefront during campaign stops, events and public addresses. But truly, the past month has just been a piece of the work involved in bringing farm and rural issues to the forefront.

As an organization, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) began meeting with political leadership last winter so that we could have meaningful conversations with them about the issues and priorities that matter most to Ontario farmers and rural communities outside of the hustle and bustle of campaign season.

We made a point of meeting with candidates from all the major parties in both urban and rural ridings, and as the campaign has unfolded, I see the reflections of those conversations in the platforms the parties are running on.

Different parties have chosen to incorporate various aspects of rural infrastructure spending, supply chain investments and farmland preservation into their platforms because they’re issues that resonate with Ontarians across the province. Yes, they’re important to agriculture and to our rural communities, but they also directly impact everyone in Ontario.

Investing in the food chain 
When the pandemic first hit, a major concern for Ontarians was the potential collapse of our food supply chain, but Ontario’s agri-food sector rose to the challenge and ensured we continued to have access to safe, healthy and affordable locally grown food throughout this challenging time.

Agriculture will be a key part of our post-pandemic economic recovery, so it’s important that Ontario’s farm policies and regulations ensure stability and prosperity in all aspects of the agri-food supply chain, from field-to-fork.

That means ensuring we have enough food processing facilities to meet market demands, addressing the labour shortage that is plaguing the entire agri-food sector, and protecting our ability to produce food for future generations.

Farmland preservation
Ontarians are keener than ever to source locally grown produce, meats, and dairy products, and for farmers and food producers to meet that demand, we must all work together to stop the loss of our farmland. It’s a limited resource, so we need responsible long-term land use planning that takes a balanced approach to supporting economic growth and protecting agricultural land.

The latest Canadian Census of Agriculture data shows that land is now disappearing from agricultural production at a rate of 319 acres per day. That’s an increase from the previous level of 175 acres per day, and it’s simply not sustainable. That kind of loss puts the resilience of our food supply chain and our ability to produce food, fibre and fuel right here at home at risk.

Rural infrastructure spending
All Ontarians will benefit from government policies that distribute economic development opportunities more evenly across the province. Ontario’s agriculture and food industry contributes more than $47 billion to the provincial economy every year, so to keep this sector profitable and productive, we need strong rural communities with infrastructure to support growth. That includes properly constructed and maintained roads and bridges, widespread broadband, access to affordable energy and increased social infrastructure like schools, hospitals and community hubs.

Building long-term relationships
The work done during this election campaign is about more than just the future MPPs in Toronto. All the candidates running in this election are leaders who have been chosen by people in their ridings to compete for the right to represent them at Queen’s Park. Whether they win or lose, they will continue to be leaders in their communities, and I see great value in the new dialogue we’ve been able to start – and hopefully will be able to continue with them in whatever role they take on next.

I would also like to personally thank every OFA member who has taken the time to talk to candidates, hosted or attended a debate, or engaged in election conversations about food and farming in Ontario – especially during the very busy spring planting season. Those conversations make a difference.

Most of all, though, I encourage all of our members and industry partners to get out there and take part in our democracy by casting their ballots. Make your vote count for your farm and your community.

Election campaigns are intense, but as the voice of Ontario’s farmers, our work won’t end once the election is over. OFA takes meeting and working with policymakers seriously and regardless of who wins on June 2, we will continue to raise awareness for these critical issues with all levels of government.

Our mission is Farms and Food Forever, and that won’t change regardless of the election’s outcome.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883 ext. 218
tyler.brooks@ofa.on.ca

The Dundas Federation of Agriculture (DFA) will be hosting the all-candidates meeting for the upcoming provincial election on Thursday, May 26 at the Chesterville Legion. Doors will open at 6:30pm with the meeting to begin at 7:00pm. The DFA will be hosting in conjunction with the North Dundas and South Dundas Chambers of Commerce.

​The DFA encourages all to attend as an opportunity to ask questions and have your voices heard prior to the provincial election on June 2, 2022.

By Sara Wood, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Ontario’s provincial election campaign is now in full swing, and across the province, candidates are engaging with voters in hopes of capturing their support at the ballot box. In turn, voters want to know where candidates stand on the issues that matter most to them.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has been meeting candidates from all major parties for the last several months now in both urban and rural ridings to help build awareness of food, farming and how supporting economic investments in agri-food and our rural communities will provide benefit to the entire province.

As a farmer who lives in a mostly rural riding, I welcomed the opportunity to sit down and meet with candidates from urban ridings in the Greater Toronto Area. It was a chance to share the election priorities of farmers and rural communities with them, but it was also interesting to learn about what matters to their constituents – and how what we need to thrive and support economic growth will provide benefit for all Ontarians.

Agriculture is one of Ontario’s main economic drivers, contributing more than $47 billion a year to the provincial economy and supporting close to one million jobs across the province. There’s no doubt the industry will also have a vital role in our post-pandemic economic recovery, contributing to employment and growth – and government is a key partner in helping to make that happen through policy, legislation and investment.

Supply chain resilience

Ontario farmers grow and produce more than 200 different food products, supporting a wide array of food manufacturing and processing activity across the province. So, it’s important that Ontario’s farm policies and regulations ensure stability and prosperity in all aspects of the agri-food supply chain, from field-to-fork.

Food processing is essential to food security – ensuring we are able to feed ourselves – so we need to make sure we have enough food processing facilities to meet market demands. When the pandemic first hit, a leading concern of many Ontarians was that our food supply chain would collapse. That didn’t happen as Ontario’s agri-food sector rose to the challenge, persevered and showed how strong and resilient it can be. During the uncertainty of the pandemic, many commodity organizations and local federations stepped up by donating food products and contributing funds to help food banks and other groups support those in need. We applaud the efforts made by our industry to keep our supply chain strong as we navigated through these unprecedented times.

Our job now is to ensure that strength and resilience continues. That means we must address the labour shortages in the agri-food sector. The gap between the demand for workers and available labour in Ontario currently sits at 29,000 workers and growing – and it’s estimated that job vacancies cost farmers $1.5 billion in lost sales every year.

We need focused promotion of agricultural and agri-food programs and careers to Canadian youth to attract job seekers to the sector. We also need to prioritize skills development and training throughout the value chain to make it easier for employers to find, train and keep the workforce they need.

Protecting food production by preserving farmland

As resilient as our supply chain has proven to be throughout the pandemic, its success all begins with farmland. As farmers, we work hard to maintain the supply and meet the demand for locally grown produce, meat, eggs and dairy products – and without farmland, none of that can happen. We have to contain urban sprawl and preserve the valuable farmland that we have; if we don’t, who will we have to depend on in the future to grow our food when we can no longer do so ourselves?

Our province loses an average of five farms per week to development to keep pace with Ontario’s growing population. Even though farmers are continually adopting new technologies and innovations to grow more food with less resources, that kind of farmland loss is not sustainable. We need to ensure we are protecting the land that feeds our families, cities, country and the world – not just for us, but for future generations to come. The decisions we make now will directly impact the future generation’s ability to grow and produce high-quality food, fibre and fuel for our growing population.

Long-term land-use planning needs to be responsible and focused on a balance of enabling urban growth while also protecting agricultural land. We can do this by intensifying residential development in our existing urban footprint to create complete and liveable communities and by distributing economic development province-wide.

Distribution of economic development province-wide will make rural communities more attractive for families and businesses. Yes, it will require investment in high-speed internet, energy and social infrastructure like schools and hospitals, but encouraging growth and development beyond the Greater Golden Horseshoe will benefit all Ontarians.

We would like all candidates to understand the tremendous value and opportunities the agri-food sector and our rural communities have to offer. OFA encourages all voters to get involved in the election by engaging with candidates and asking about their positions on issues that matter most to Ontario’s farming and food sector.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883 ext. 218
tyler.brooks@ofa.on.ca

By Steve Brackenridge, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Throughout the last two years, farmers and farm businesses have worked hard to adapt to the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. That included ensuring Ontarians continued to have access to locally grown food and keeping farm workers and rural communities healthy and safe.

As an industry that contributes $47 billion a year to the provincial economy, agriculture is a key economic engine for Ontario. Agriculture will also be a key driver of the province’s post-pandemic economic recovery – and as candidates of all parties roll out their election campaigns, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is busy making sure the issues that matter to farmers and their communities are front and centre.

We’ve already been meeting with candidates over the last few months leading up to the provincial campaign to help build awareness of food and farming and what we need to thrive and support economic growth for all Ontarians.

I’ve participated in a few of those meetings myself to share our provincial election priorities and provide more information about how supporting farms and rural communities will provide benefit to the entire province.

Investing in rural infrastructure

We believe the key to producing prosperity for Ontario is ensuring that economic development opportunities are spread more evenly across the province than they are now. The pandemic has shown clearly how inconsistent infrastructure and services can unfairly disadvantage the non-urban regions of our province. Now, more than ever, all levels of government need to engage with the agricultural community to capitalize on the economic opportunities that the farming and food sector could additionally provide for the economy and its citizens.

Ontario’s rural economy relies on properly constructed and maintained roads, bridges, and drainage to support the growth and transportation of goods and services. Simply put, when we can’t get trucks on the road, local food doesn’t make it to Ontario stores.

Rural Ontarians pay anywhere from 30 to 100 percent more for energy than people in urban areas because many parts of the province still don’t have access to natural gas. If natural gas was available across Ontario, farmers, local businesses, and rural residents could save more than $1 billion in annual energy costs – money that could instead be used to create jobs and grow businesses.

Fast, reliable and affordable internet has become an indispensable necessity of life in our modern world. Pandemic-related restrictions that sent everything from school to social activities online certainly highlighted that need – yet also illustrated how this piece of critical infrastructure is still not yet available to everyone in Ontario, putting rural Ontario at a competitive disadvantage to the rest of the province.

That’s why we’re urging a newly elected government to make long-term investments in rural roads and bridges, reliable broadband internet, and affordable access to natural gas.

But it’s not just about physical infrastructure. To attract and keep families in rural communities, our social infrastructure needs support as well. This means schools, healthcare, recreation, businesses, community hubs and programs, and mental health and wellness resources that can meet the unique needs of rural Ontario and the agri-food sector.

Supporting responsible land use planning

 As a farmer, I believe strongly in the need for preserving farmland and protecting high quality agricultural land that is vital to our food production through responsible land-use planning – and we’ve been hearing that this is an issue that matters to many candidates too.

In Ontario, we grow and raise more than 200 hundred commodities, from grains, fruits and vegetables to milk, meat and eggs. Farmland is vital to our ability to grow food for Ontario, Canada and the world – after all, they’re not making any more of it, so it’s essential that we carefully look after this valuable resource that we have.

Through responsible land-use practices, we know that farmland preservation can go hand-in-hand with addressing the province’s housing needs. The solution is two-fold: intensification of the residential development in our existing urban footprint to create complete and liveable communities, along with the distribution of economic development province-wide.
New investments in rural communities and distribution of economic development beyond just the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area will grow existing businesses and attract new ones and make those areas appealing for new residents to raise their families and build their lives.

When you support local farmers, you are supporting the jobs and employment opportunities the agri-food sector creates, as well as the economic growth and prosperity it contributes to the province.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883 ext. 218
tyler.brooks@ofa.on.ca

By Drew Spoelstra, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

For decades, farmers have been losing prime farmland to urban sprawl. I have seen several productive farms turned into housing developments, soccer fields, shopping malls, movie theatres and highway extensions. Our Home Grown campaign paints a very concerning picture using a time-lapse to illustrate the far-reaching impacts urban development has had on specific regions across the province. As we continue the trend of losing acreage every day, I think it’s time we ask ourselves, “How do we plan on producing safe, sustainable food for a growing population if our farmers are losing the finite resources needed to grow and produce these commodities?”

On March 30, 2022, the Ontario government introduced legislation that will help support plans to increase the province’s housing supply. The government committed to completing a housing supply action plan every year for the next four years, beginning 2022-23. These legislative changes came shortly after the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force released their recommendations report.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) supports the goal of building more homes to accommodate a growing population. We recognize the challenges Ontarians face with soaring housing costs, so we believe the answer for farmers and non-farmers alike lies with smart land-use planning policy. For Ontario to continue to grow and prosper, we must have a long-term plan to preserve productive land for the purpose of food production.

With the global population projected to rise to 9.8 billion by 2050, an increase in affordable housing supply will need to be accommodated, but so too will the demand for food production.

To put this into perspective, less than 5% of Ontario’s land base can support agricultural production for human consumption. In fact, we’ve lost 1.5 million acres of farmland to development between 1996 and 2016 alone – which is the equivalent of 175 acres per day. New research also shows that southwestern Ontario lost more than 72,000 acres of prime agricultural land to urban development from 2000 to 2017. Ontario cannot sustain these continuing losses while still maintaining our ability to produce food, fibre and fuel from a limited and declining agricultural land base.

OFA has been addressing the issue of farmland preservation and local food production in recent meetings with provincial election candidates. As farmers, we’re happy to meet the demand for more local food, but that means our province needs to make preserving farmland and containing urban sprawl a priority. Long-term land-use planning must balance responsible urban growth with protecting agricultural land to ensure that future generations have the resources necessary to continue to grow food for Ontarians and Canadians right here at home.

Within my community, I have seen constant urbanization of farmland. I have known many farmers who have been forced to relocate due to urban sprawl, and only a few decades later, they are finding themselves in the same situation. Several factors outside of a farmer’s control, such as rapidly changing housing markets, planning processes, and political decisions, force them to work without the security and stability necessary to maintain a modern farm business and land base.

Many farmers are also seeing development arise in close proximity to their land, which also puts our operation at risk. Farming near urban development creates heavy traffic pressures when moving equipment around or trespass issues when our fields become mistaken for walking trails or dirt bike paths, endangering our livestock or crops. Normal farm practices, like noise, dust, odour, or flies, can also become an issue for nearby residents when urban and rural communities intersect.

Privacy also becomes a concern when urban development begins to encroach into agricultural areas resulting in farmers having to work next to residential developments. Although our day-to-day work on the farm may seem normal to us, spraying against someone’s fence or working in the late hours of the day may become an uncomfortable task when being observed.
Another concern we are facing is the unprecedented use of Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs) in municipalities that have robust land-use planning systems. MZOs have been used to quickly advance sprawl-induced housing developments, leading to further loss of farmland in Ontario. Since 2019, 2,000 acres of farmland have been lost to MZOs. Once land has been developed and paved over, it is lost forever.

OFA believes fixed, permanent urban boundaries will help limit the loss of agricultural land. By redeveloping vacant or underused space, utilizing areas with poor soils or drainage, reinventing existing infrastructure, or building higher density development, we would be able to preserve Ontario’s productive land for food production.

Urban intensification can also be utilized to protect agricultural land, by boosting economic growth, creating new jobs, providing affordable housing options, supporting municipal infrastructure systems, ensuring food security, and contributing to environmental stewardship.

We will continue to advocate for the protection of productive farmland and keep this message at the forefront of political party platforms.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883 ext. 218
tyler.brooks@ofa.on.ca

By Mark Reusser, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

As farmers, we know that it’s the finite details that make all the difference. This could be closing the latch on a gate, applying the parking brake, or checking your blind spot when making a left-hand turn. Biosecurity includes a collection of those details to maintain safety standards and protect livestock and crops from potentially devastating disease outbreaks. Biosecurity plays a critical role in the safe and sustainable production of food, fibre and fuel all around the world. A shared responsibility is required to protect the health and welfare of vulnerable populations and to avoid major economic loss.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) understands there is a shared responsibility among those across the agriculture industry, including farmers, input suppliers, farm maintenance representatives and animal welfare service providers, to implement and enforce biosecurity measures to achieve market stability in all sectors. Diseases and pests can have significant economic consequences, and have the potential to seriously damage livestock, poultry, and crop operations locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally. Biosecurity practices are essential to animal welfare, maintaining market access and preventing the occurrence of foreign animal disease in Canada. These practices demonstrate our commitment to animal health and food safety because as farmers, we work hard to supply a safe and sustainable food supply for all Canadians.

In terms of livestock, the poultry and pork sectors are most vulnerable to outbreaks. Commodity organizations in Ontario provide recommendations to their producers which include locking all entrances to barns, maintaining a daily log that records every visitor in the barn, having footwear and outerwear specific to being in the barn, and occasionally a shower-in shower-out policy. In addition, acknowledging biosecurity zones with proper signage can help instruct those who may not be familiar with the significance of biosecurity measures. Farmers must also understand that it is an obligation to report any new sickness in your barn to both the vet and commodity organization. This can act as a preventative measure to get the disease under immediate control and avoid the risk of wide circulation. Preventing wild birds or rodents from entering the barn is another important way to avoid introducing a new disease to livestock and poultry. Biosecurity is always important, but it is especially vital when disease outbreaks are occurring provincially, nationally or internationally. When a disease outbreak occurs, it is important to react immediately. This may involve implementing practices that have commonly been used in the past or turning to new tactics as the situation evolves. In the case of Avian Influenza (AI), this is an evolving situation that all poultry farmers across Ontario have heightened awareness of.

Several relevant groups are spearheading the communication to keep all producers aware of progression of this disease and ways to stop the spread. The traditional biosecurity measures, mentioned above, continue to remain priority but extra precautions exist in this space. In partnership with commodity groups, the Feather Board Command Centre recently issued a memo referencing the 2022 planting season ahead. This memo issued a reminder to be conscious of the possibility of wild birds spreading AI through planting equipment out in the field. Be conscious of footwear used between the field and the barn, and parking equipment outside of biosecurity zones. Learn more by reading the full memo here.

On my farm, we’ve noticed the effects of such a disruption to the system. Extra biosecurity measures have been implemented as a result, which sometimes interfere with other processes. Feed trucks and livestock transport have to take different routes, increasing costs, and some processing plants have faced temporary shut down, creating the inability to fulfill contracts in a timely fashion. Those impacted by this outbreak are experiencing anything ranging from minor inconveniences to devastating losses. It is important that we continue working together to mitigate risks from this disease and respond to this situation as best as possible.

If you’re in need of additional signage to address biosecurity zones, OFA can help. Farmers can visit our online store at store.ofa.on.ca to purchase biosecurity signs and have them shipped directly to their farm. We want to ensure the health and safety of all farm operations across Ontario is prioritized.

Ultimately, increasing awareness and education of shared biosecurity responsibilities for both rural and urban populations can contribute to keeping our animals healthy and food systems secure. In situations of disease outbreak, the reality of the unknown can take a toll on our mental wellness. Financial losses and the insecurity of losing livestock is difficult to face and can often be a troublesome burden to carry. If you or someone you know is struggling due to the current AI outbreak, please take advantage of the Farmer Wellness Initiative telehealth line by calling 1-866-267-6255 to speak to a professional today.

For more information, contact:
Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883 ext. 218
tyler.brooks@ofa.on.ca

By Crispin Colvin, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

For the farming community, the tell-tale signs of spring trigger the countdown for this year’s growing season. Planting across the province has already commenced for frost tolerant crops like small grains, potatoes and sweet green peas. Throughout the winter months farmers have ordered inputs, maintained equipment and eagerly anticipated getting back into the fields. For many, planting requires travelling busy and potentially dangerous roads.

As the temperatures continue to rise and roadways get busier, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) wants to remind all motorists to stay alert for farm equipment. Remember to be patient, slow down when you see the slow-moving vehicle (SMV) sign and share the road with farm machinery travelling from field-to-field. A daunting 74% of farm SMV accidents occur between summer and late harvest. Our equipment is slow, heavy, wide and we have a limited window of opportunity to get our crops in the ground.

The reality is that farm equipment on the road runs a higher risk than most. Slow-moving vehicles are 3.8 to 4.8 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision per kilometre on the road than other motor vehicles. Farm SMV injuries and fatalities are mostly related to rollovers. These occur while entering, exiting, or crossing roadways, veering off the shoulder and accidents involving a motor vehicle passing while large machinery is making a turn.

It is my hope that we can mitigate risk collaboratively through public education, partnership with municipalities and farmers modelling best practices for road safety.

This week, team OFA exhibited and presented at the 2022 Good Roads Conference. We were there to advocate on behalf of our membership for safe roads for farm equipment and shared resources on how to do so. Over the course of three days, we discussed road safety and how it pertains to agriculture with municipal councillors and staff from all corners of the province. We aim to continue the discussion with municipalities to ensure roads, overpasses and other infrastructure is designed with farm equipment in mind. We understand that road safety is a two-way street, with both farmers and the public having a responsibility in keeping our communities safe.

What does the orange triangle mean? The SMV sign on the back of our equipment, wagon, or trailer, signifies that we cannot exceed a speed of 40 km/h. It is easy to get frustrated when you find yourself behind a piece of farm equipment, but we ask all drivers to slow down, take a breath and practice patience. Additionally, do not expect the SMV vehicle to pull over on the shoulder – as this could be dangerous for a large piece of equipment. If you want to pass, you are required by law to slow down to the speed of the vehicle and only pass when it is safe to do so. We are on the roads to grow the food that feeds the province, country, and world. We want to make it home to our loved ones safely and we want the same for you too.

It is worth waiting the few seconds or minutes it takes to pass farm equipment safely. Passenger vehicles incorrectly passing farm equipment results in serious accidents or death. Shockingly, 8 out of 10 accidents occur during the day and 7 out of 10 occur with dry road conditions. Unfortunately, I can personally attest to these statistics. In 2019, my son in law’s tractor was involved in a serious accident. It was a Tuesday, just before noon, on a flat stretch of road with pristine road conditions. A motorist tried to pass him on the inside right and hit his tractor’s back tire. He was ejected from the tractor and hit his head. He spent four days in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury. He was the primary caregiver to his wife and three young children. He is still unable to work due to crippling headaches, sensitivity to bright lights and noise, and a permanent back injury.

It is important to remember that behind the wheel of that tractor or combine is someone’s loved one. We are all someone’s friend, co-worker, father, mother, daughter, son, sister, brother, uncle, aunt, niece, or nephew. Shaving a few seconds or minutes off your arrival time is not worth altering a family’s life forever.

For the farming community, it’s vital to conduct a daily 360-degree safety check before you leave the laneway. Ensure your hitches, brakes, tires, and PTOs are maintained and ready for the roads. Additionally, make sure your lights are working properly and that your SMV sign is visible and secure. Lastly, plan your route accordingly.

When on the road operating farm equipment stay alert, stay on the paved portion of the road, and stay off your smartphone. Additionally, be aware of other motorists and signal well in advance on busy roadways. To guarantee that you are visible to drivers, lights must be on farm equipment from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after sunrise.

It is important that everyone keeps these safety tips in mind throughout the growing season. Together, we can ensure everyone gets home safely. On behalf of OFA, I wish all Ontario farmers a safe and bountiful plant ’22.

For more information, contact:
Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883 ext. 218
tyler.brooks@ofa.on.ca

By Louis Roesch, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Ontario’s agriculture industry faces various challenges as our farmers work to create a stronger, more resilient sector that will sustain Ontario for generations to come. We depend on ongoing research, innovation and proactive initiatives to help find the solutions to meet these challenges. Collaboration across all facets of our sector is the key to achieving progress on evolving issues linked to the environment, rural economic development, labour and mental wellness.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) was proud show off the successful collaboration of our members, staff, board members and industry partners at our second annual Research Day. The event, which took place virtually on March 31, consisted of eight sessions and attracted over 70 participants. It provided an opportunity to educate, inform and engage attendees on current research projects OFA is involved with and supports. The virtual platform allowed members from across the province to engage with presenters during a question and answer period at the end of each session. OFA supports each of the projects that was highlighted through active partnership or financial contributions.

Ben Lefort, Senior Farm Policy Analyst with the organization, kicked off the day with an update on the Township of Mapleton Cost of Community Services (COCS) study. These types of studies offer a “snapshot in time” of each land use’s financial impact on a municipality in a particular year. They highlight the cost imposed on a municipality’s community services by farmland compared to residential land. Ultimately, COCS studies can be used by municipalities to support their strategic land-use planning. They also illustrate the economic benefit of farmland and why it must be protected. Mapleton is one of the many municipalities who have partnered with OFA to conduct COCS studies.

Producing prosperity in Ontario through the protection of farmland has always been a top priority for OFA. Farm Policy Analyst Emily Sousa and PhD candidate Pam Duesling discussed their research project Best Practices for On-Farm Diversified Uses, which focussed on the balance between farmland preservation, agricultural viability and economic development. Case studies showed that both farmers and planners see the benefit of farmland preservation and on-farm diversification.

Also in support of economic development, Tom Bowers and Megan Sipos from Ontario Greenbelt, gave a presentation to attendees on the Economic Impact of the Agri-Food Value Chain in the Greenbelt & Farm Case Studies. OFA strongly supports the Greenbelt’s work with aligning priorities of preserving valuable farmland in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region. The purpose of this study was to highlight agriculture’s significant contributions to the economy and show the complex economic relationships within the sector. Consistent challenges faced by farmers in the region include farmland loss, climate change, and loss of local service providers to support the sector.

Sarah Stadnyk from the Canadian Biogas Association presented highlights from the Agricultural Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Resource Clustering Study. This project provides farmers, developers and policymakers an understanding of how changing key factors impact the development of economically viable agricultural RNG projects. RNG clustering pools feedstock from multiple farms to support larger scale anaerobic digestion projects than an individual farm could on its own. The research found that under the right conditions, agricultural RNG clusters can make a large contribution to the generation of renewable natural gas, as well as give value to food and organic waste.

Environmental contributions also came into play through Andrew Graham’s presentation on soil health initiatives in Ontario. The Executive Director of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association outlined work concentrated in applied research, educational tools, cost-share incentive programs, advocacy and collaborative ventures. This session highlighted how we’re involved in improving soil health and creating awareness of the various initiatives available to Ontario farmers.

Dr. Amy Lemay from the Niagara Community Observatory gave a presentation on Growing Innovation – investigating the barriers and drivers to accelerate technology transfer and adoption of automation, robotics and technologies. This study is set to improve general understanding of how innovation is being adopted into the agriculture sector to increase efficiency.

The day concluded with updates about ongoing regional and organizational initiatives we’re involved with. OFA staff and partners highlighted projects that included county/regional federation Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) sign initiatives, the Resilient Fields project, 4R Nutrient Stewardship with Fertilizer Canada, Farm Plastics Recycling with Northern Ontario federations and the Farmer Wellness Initiative presented by the Canadian Mental Health Association – Ontario Division. These sessions demonstrated the level of teamwork and collaboration OFA relies on from our local federations and industry partners to implement these successful and impactful initiatives.

A final session showcased actions OFA is taking on its priority of attracting and retaining skilled labour for farm businesses across Ontario through the Feeding Your Future initiative. OFA staff members Michelle deNijs and Janice Janiec shared metrics from the two year old program that highlighted the impacts each of its services have had on our farming members, and acknowledged the strong partnerships that have been leveraged to help this project succeed.

We thank all members, industry stakeholders and supporting partners for joining us and engaging in OFA’s second annual Research Day. This event was an excellent opportunity to increase awareness of the ongoing research and initiatives OFA is involved in to address barriers and challenges facing our sector. To learn more about each session, check out this summary fact sheet.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883 ext. 218
tyler.brooks@ofa.on.ca