By Mark Reusser, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
 
New work is underway to reduce phosphorus and algal blooms in the southwestern Ontario watershed and Lake Erie. The recently announced Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative is a working group of farmers and municipalities developing innovative tools, practices and technologies to reduce phosphorus entering into southwestern Ontario waterways.
 
Phosphorus levels in Lake Erie and surrounding waterways are an increasing concern, and agricultural practices have been identified as a potential source of phosphorus. Excess phosphorous from U.S. and Canadian sources that runs into municipal drains can promote the growth of algal blooms in downstream water bodies, like Lake Erie. The western basin on Lake Erie has experienced several algal bloom incidents in recent years, disrupting the ecosystem, causing the closure of beaches, and resulting in a ban on city drinking water in Toledo, Ohio.
 
The new Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative group is focusing on creating a suite of tools and practices farmers can use to address different circumstances. The group has already gathered best practices from around the world and is looking into how they can be applied in Ontario. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is part of this new collaborative group, providing support and representing farmers to ensure the tools and practices developed are effective and make sense to implement on Ontario farms. OFA is already working with similar groups organized across the province to evaluate agronomic practices to reduce nutrient loss. Ontario farmers are already implementing Best Management Practices, 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles, growing cover crops and timing nutrient applications to reduce phosphorus loads in watersheds.
 
The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system on Earth, holding 20% of the planet’s fresh water. A new government proposed plan, The Domestic Action Plan, was developed by the federal and Ontario governments to reduce phosphorus levels in Lake Erie. The plan targets a 40% reduction in the total phosphorus entering Lake Erie and supports initiatives developed between Canada and the U.S. targeting a 40% phosphorus level reduction by 2025.
 
We all have a role to play in phosphorus reduction and progressive environmental stewardship. As farmers, we take our role seriously. OFA will continue working with groups like the Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative to address phosphorus entering waterways from Ontario farms, improve agricultural practices and preserve the health of our land and water. 
 
 For more information, contact:
 
Mark Reusser
Vice President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-591-4423

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

By Debra Pretty-Straathof, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
 
Ottawa hosted a national summit on food on June 22 and 23 to consult with Canadians on a new national food policy. Farmers, consumers, academics and government joined the Government of Canada to discuss their views on what should be included in A Food Policy for Canada.
 
Minister MacAulay first announced the development of a national food policy in early June. A Food Policy for Canada will set a long-term vision for the health, environmental, social, and economic goals related to food, while identifying actions that can be addressed in the short term. The federal government’s consultation summit focused on four closely connected themes that have a direct impact on food – increasing access to affordable food; improving health and food safety; conserving our soil, water and air; and growing more high-quality food. Canadian farmers have a direct role in all four of these themes and that put representatives from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) at the table for the Ottawa food summit.
 
OFA representatives brought the farm and agri-food industry perspective to the summit and consultation discussions, citing CFA’s National Food Strategy and the integral role farmers play in Canada’s food system. In addition to the summit and consultations, the government is asking every Canadian for their input on what our country needs in A Food Policy for Canada. OFA encourages all our members to participate in the online survey (www.canada.ca/en/campaign/food-policy.html) to help set a long-term vision for the health, environmental, social and economic goals related to our nation’s food.
 
Collaboration on a topic as important as food is critical to creating a policy. Canadians want to make healthy food choices. They depend on sufficient access to affordable, nutritious and safe food, and require information to make healthy food choices. We must protect Canada’s natural resources to be able to deliver safe, affordable food that supports and grows our agriculture and food sector. As farmers, we’re on board with a food policy that includes all of these elements. OFA will be at the table at every opportunity to provide input, feedback and advice on how farmers can play a role as this policy develops and to ensure the policy is fair to Canadian farmers.
 
 
For more information, contact:
 
Debra Pretty-Straathof
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
613-371-8840

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

​By Bruce Buttar, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
 
Canada needs a national food policy. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), together with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has long been focused on creating a vision for the future of food in Canada. A unified food policy dedicated to food security, accessibility and sustainability is long overdue and now, with a directive from Prime Minister Trudeau in his 2015 mandate letter to Minister MacAulay, the federal government is launching a comprehensive consultation to create A Food Policy for Canada.
 
Work has already begun on the policy, gathering input from Canadians and representatives along the food chain with an online survey and an upcoming consultation Food Summit in June, all organized by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The government is gathering input and views on the entire food chain, focusing on areas related to increasing access to affordable food, improving health and food safety, conserving our soil, water, and air and growing more high quality food.
 
OFA will be participating in all consultations on the development of A Food Policy for Canada. We’ll be bringing our perspective on what Canada needs in a food policy, including nine objectives set out in the CFA’s National Food Strategy® to secure a sustainable food future for Canada. The National Food Strategy was developed with input from the food industry and government and was released in 2011.
 
Every part of the food value chain needs to be accounted for in a national policy – beginning with farmers and ranchers who produce the food across Canada. OFA, together with CFA, will ensure our primary producers are represented in every aspect of the consultation process. We encourage everyone to participate in the online survey, now available at www.canada.ca/food-policy.
 
We’re fortunate to have one of the most safe, secure and abundant food supplies in Canada. OFA expects that careful planning and the appropriate policies can help us sustain our food system and we look forward to being part of the development of A Food Policy for Canada.
 
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For more information, contact:
 
Bruce Buttar
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
905-373-6175

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