​By Larry Davis, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Land use planning and the policies governing it are of keen interest to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and our farming members – primarily from the perspective of preserving productive agricultural land for its broadest uses.
Municipal land use in Ontario is guided by the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), first adopted in 1996/1997 and most recently updated in 2019. Municipalities use the PPS as the minimum standard on land use policies, including lot creation policies. Municipalities cannot establish local land use planning policies that are less restrictive than in the PPS or one of the ‘space-based’ land use plans. Land use policies in some areas of the province are also guided by ‘space-based’ land use plans, including the Greenbelt Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Niagara Escarpment Plan and the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario.
Rural severances were once common practice in municipalities across rural Ontario when lots were severed for residential use, farm retirement lots or to create a surplus residence for a farm operation. Today, after several changes to the PPS, with the exception of residence surplus to a farming operation, the creation of new non-farm residential lots in prime agricultural areas is not permitted.
OFA supports this land use policy and opposes residential lot creation in prime agricultural areas. OFA developed a Consolidated Agricultural Land Use Policy Statement in 2001, combining provincial land use planning-related policies, statements and submissions. In this statement, OFA clearly opposed non-farm lot creation in prime agricultural areas – a position we continue to hold today.
OFA’s position is based on solid rationale and not just the loss of productive agricultural land. A variety of studies – including OFA’s Cost of Community Services case study – found that scattered rural residential development actually cost more for municipalities to provide services for than the property tax revenue received. There are also Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) consequences when non-farming developments occur in agricultural areas. For example, a one-acre, non-farming lot in a prime agricultural area effectively sterilizes the surrounding 250 acres from hosting a new livestock barn or manure storage facility. It may also limit the expansion of an existing livestock or poultry farm within that 250-acre area.
Data from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in the 1990s indicated that farm retirement lots only stayed in the hands of the retired farmer for approximately two to three years before they were sold, often to non-farmers. Conflict can then arise when residents who are unfamiliar with the realities of farming and farm practices move to rural areas. While the Farming and Food Production Protection Act helps farmers manage nuisance complaints about odours, dusts, noises, etc., farmers must still manage complaints from neighbours and defend their farm practices.
Severing agricultural land for non-farm residential or commercial building lots removes farmland from production forever. The ongoing loss of prime agricultural land in Ontario can’t be ignored. Census data from 1996 to 2016 shows a steady decline in farmland area – from 13.8 million acres to 12.3 million acres over this 20-year period. Today, Ontario’s farmland represents less than 5% of the province’s overall land area.
Living in Ontario’s rural countryside is a privilege. As farmers, we appreciate the open spaces, fresh air and stunning landscapes that rural living offers. The reality is, if we are to preserve these agricultural lands for future farms and food production, and responsibly manage population growth and urban expansion, we can’t permit rural lot severances in Ontario. It’s in everyone’s best interest to preserve our land.
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 Drew Spoelstra, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Ontario’s farmers are leaders in innovation and adaptation. This is evidenced not only in the way we embrace technology, but also the farm practices we use to ensure that we are competitive, sustainable and profitable – not just for 2020, but for the future generations that farm after us.
Many Ontario farmers have invested significantly in environmental stewardship initiatives to mitigate the impact of climate change, that also provide positive long-term benefits to our water, soil and air quality. Conservation tillage, using cover crops in rotations and planting wind breaks are activities that the farming community has largely embraced. These actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to not only improving soil health but also to sequester carbon to help address climate change concerns.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is working to ensure farmers and the agri-food industry are recognized, and fairly compensated for their work to mitigate the effects of climate change. On-farm stewardship activities have been generating carbon offsets for many years. OFA is particularly focused on raising awareness throughout the industry and all levels of government about the positive contributions agriculture makes in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Current carbon pricing policies are intended to provide economic disincentives to carbon emitters to encourage a reduction in their emissions, but little is being done to compensate those who already follow practices to sequester carbon and reduce emissions. Because there are currently no replacements for fossil fuels for agricultural production, the current carbon tax system cannot drive conservation efforts on farms, it serves only to reduce already thin farm margins. OFA along with our provincial counterparts will continue to advocate with provincial and federal governments to ensure farmers are fairly compensated and incentivized for driving necessary environmental enhancements to address climate change.
Adoption of precision agriculture tools across the industry have helped to manage water resources in cropping systems, and result in the most accurate, efficient use of fertilizers and crop inputs in our history. While Ontario farmers have embraced the adoption of farm practices to improve the environment and reduce the impact of climate change, there are areas where we can do more. Precision agriculture tools offer some of the latest, most advanced technology for field crops and livestock management systems, but we shouldn’t let the adoption rate be limited by the availability and reliability of broadband and cellular coverage in rural Ontario. Reliable, affordable broadband access to rural and remote areas of Ontario, is critical to enable more farmers to incorporate these environmental benefits to their everyday practices.
Tree planting, planting wind breaks and proper woodlot management are also environmental practices farmers use to improve our environment, air, water and soil conditions. Many Ontario farms have woodlots that, when managed properly, can offer significant environmental benefits. These benefits include carbon sequestration, reduced soil erosion and watershed and wildlife habitat protection. As part of our pre-budget submission, OFA has asked the provincial government to expand the current Farm Forestry Exemption provisions within the Assessment Act to incentivize more farmers to retain and manage their on-farm woodlots.
OFA continues to advocate for the positive role agriculture has in addressing climate change and recognition of the contribution farmers are making to mitigate environmental impacts. We’re fortunate to have a leading voice at the decision table with government. OFA President Keith Currie was appointed to the Ontario Advisory Panel on Climate Change in November 2019 and is one of 10 members of the group. Keith’s role on the panel will ensure agriculture is part of every conversation and decision, and most importantly, acknowledged for our ongoing role in managing climate change.
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 Mark Reusser, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Pushing for sound public investments in rural Ontario is a priority for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). We know that investments in our rural communities will jump-start growth, farming, agri-businesses, and in turn stimulate the entire provincial economy. And it’s our job to remind government of these necessary investments – in roads and bridges, broadband, access to affordable energy, schools and healthcare.
OFA continues to advocate for strategic public investments in building rural Ontario’s infrastructure through our Producing Prosperity in Ontario campaign, securing distributed economic development throughout the province.
Our most recent opportunity came at the annual Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference earlier in January. OFA representatives, including board members and staff, attended the conference and met with Minister Hardeman and representatives from the provincial Ministry of Finance.
ROMA is made up of rural municipal governments and, similar to OFA, directs their activities to policy, research and advocacy. The organization focuses on matters that affect rural communities, bringing issues to the attention of provincial and federal governments.
Premier Ford attended the event, announcing a new intake round for the Rural Economic Development program to bring growth, jobs and local opportunities to rural Ontario. He also reminded conference attendees of Ontario’s commitment to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Rural and Northern Communities Funding Stream. OFA is encouraged by these, along with other recent government funding announcements directed at building rural Ontario infrastructure.
OFA is also encouraged by the recent federal and provincial government announcements that have committed infrastructure spending for broadband, natural gas and rural economic development. In 2019, the Ontario government announced extended support for broadband service in rural and northern Ontario. The Natural Gas Expansion Support Program continues to promise overdue support for access to lower cost energy. And the most recent announcements from the provincial government saw funding investments of $200 million to build and repair local roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure in small, rural and northern communities, and proposed changes to the Drainage Act to reduce costs and paperwork.
These announcements align with OFA’s ongoing advocacy efforts and messaging to government. Every announcement and commitment to invest in our rural communities is an opportunity for OFA to engage with government to ensure programs properly consider farms, farm families and rural residents and push for long-term commitments. It’s our job to make sure these programs work for OFA members and rural communities.
The recent ROMA conference also provided a forum to demonstrate support for Bill 156, Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2019 within agriculture and rural Ontario communities. OFA encourages all Ontario municipalities to join our farm community in speaking in support of Bill 156. Individuals can sign their letter of support through OFA’s Act Now campaign site.
OFA is heartened to see our advocacy for investment in agriculture and our rural communities is resonating with government and organizations like ROMA. We look forward to continuing the conversation about Producing Prosperity in Ontario.
For more information, contact:
Mark Reusser
Vice President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-591-4223
Cathy Lennon
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883