This year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) will be holding an election for the Zone 11 Director. The Zone Director will be elected for a three-year term, effective November 22, 2017. OFA members are eligible to vote for a Zone Director to represent their interests on the Board of Directors.
Election voting will begin on Monday, August 21 and close Friday, September 8, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. Information packages will be mailed to all eligible voters the week prior to the election. Members can vote by mail-in ballot, phone or online. One vote per IFM/FBR.
Candidate meetings have been arranged to give members an opportunity to meet and speak with the candidates for Zone 11.

OFA members are invited to attend any of the meetings listed below:
 
Dundas Federation – Wednesday, August 2 – Nelson LaPrade Centre, Chesterville – 7:30 p.m.
 
Grenville Federation – Wednesday, August 9 – Spencerville Council Chambers – 7:30 p.m.
 
Leeds Federation – Thursday, August 24 - Athens at the St Denis Catholic Church (3 George street) – 7:30 p.m.
 
Frontenac Federation – Thursday, August 31 – Glenburnie United Church Hall – 7:30 p.m.

​By Keith Currie, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
 
At last week’s annual Federal/Provincial Agriculture Minister’s talks (FPT) in St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada’s agriculture ministers reached agreement on a new five-year investment for the agri-food industry with the recent announcement of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP). The program officially begins on April 1, 2018 and involves a $3 billion investment to strengthen the agri-food sector in Canada.
 
CAP will focus on six key areas to support Canada’s agri-food sector – an industry that already contributes more than $100 billion annually and employs 2.3 million Canadians. Science, research and innovation; markets and trade; environmental sustainability and climate change; value-added agriculture and agri-food processing; public trust; and risk management are the six areas that will be supported over the five years of the program.
 
A key component of the new partnership – that picks up where the last agricultural policy framework Growing Forward 2 wraps up – is a continuation of Business Risk Management (BRM) programs. It is great news for Ontario agriculture that there was consensus among provincial ag ministers on the need for a comprehensive review of the suite of BRM programs. For several months OFA, along with industry partners, have advocated for a review and we’re very pleased to see that this is going to happen as part of the CAP announcement. We commend Minister Leal for his hard work to gain support and agreement with his provincial colleagues to make this happen.
 
While the review of BRM programming is applauded, another part of the CAP announcement is not good news for farmers. OFA shares the disappointment of other groups, including the Grain Farmers of Ontario, at the unilateral decision by Lawrence MacAuley, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food that a cutback will be made to the annual contribution limit of the AgriInvest program – a key component of the BRM programs. Announcing this change prior to doing the BRM review serves to be counter-productive to the previous announcement. Farming today can be a very unpredictable occupation. As such, farmers need an effective support system that can serve the needs of Canadian farmers’ ability to manage risk, beyond disaster relief funding. We await more details on how much this dollar-matching investment program will be impacted and will be working with Canadian Federation of Agriculture(CFA) and industry partners to remind the federal government that collaborative decisions, not unilateral ones, will serve the best interest of the industry as a whole. 
 
OFA will continue to work closely with Minister Leal and staff, along with industry partners, to ensure the needs of our members are heard and met through the BRM review.
 
More details on the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership are posted at ofa.on.ca.
 
-30-
For more information, contact:
 
Keith Currie
President
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
705-441-3362

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

By Brent Royce, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
 The taboo of talking about mental health is slowly breaking down. Celebrities and athletes started the conversation, paving the way for the rest of society to openly acknowledge the challenges we can face from the stresses of everyday life.
 And it’s no different on the farm. Farmers are well aware of the stresses they face every day. Weather that challenges our skills as farmers, sick livestock, fluctuating markets, managing diseases and pests, dealing with rising input costs and working with family are all significant stressors. Cumulatively they can have a devastating impact on our ability to cope.
 The Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph recognizes this and is researching mental wellness with Ontario producers. They are looking for participants to share their experiences with mental wellness and resilience in the agricultural community.
 Researchers would like to talk to producers, agricultural industry support staff and veterinarians working with livestock producers. Participants will have a one-on-one, in-person interview for about an hour. There will be a five to 10 minute survey to complete. For their time and input, participants will receive an honorarium.
 The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) encourages interested members to contact the OVC researchers and share their stories and experiences. Contact information is posted at ofa.on.ca.
 This year has been a particularly tough one across Ontario, and OFA encourages members to consider the mental well being of family members, employees and neighbours as you work through the busy summer season. The physical hazards on the farm can be more obvious than the stresses than impact our outlook. Be a good listener if someone you know is struggling. Take the time to check in over coffee with the people around you. Mental health is as important as physical health, even on the farm.


For more information, contact:
 Brent Royce
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-291-8279


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

 
OFA Commentary: July 6, 2017
​
By Crispin Colvin, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
 
The barbecue and summer event season is upon us. For most Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) members it’s time for catching up and enjoying local Ontario fare. This social season is also an opportunity to advocate for issues impacting Ontario agriculture and your farm business.
 
The summer barbecue season often features community events with politicians, municipal councillors and political advisors. These are excellent opportunities for OFA members to speak up and start a conversation about our agri-food industry.
 
This summer OFA is focusing our messages on three issues – phosphorus reduction in the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways, the Changing Workplaces Review and rural economic development.
 
Ontario farms and agricultural practices have been identified as a potential source of phosphorus in our waterways. High levels of phosphorus results in algae growing faster than the eco-system can handle, leading to decreased water quality and algal blooms in Lake Erie. Ontario farmers continue to modify farming practices to reduce phosphorus entering our waterways. OFA is working with government, industry partners and experts to ensure Ontario has a solid plan and proper support for farmers to take meaningful and sustainable measures to reduce phosphorus entering the Great Lakes and Ontario waterways.
 
Ontario’s agri-food industry is alarmed by the government’s Changing Workplaces Review. Farmers are employers too, and the minimum wage increase will have negative impacts on our farm businesses and Ontario’s agri-food industry. Raising minimum wage will make Ontario farmers and agri-food businesses less competitive, threaten food security and undermine the sustainability and variety of Ontario agricultural products. Farm employers need to maintain the current, flexible approach to employing farm workers within the Employment Standards Act, coming up for review in fall 2017. Any changes made to the agricultural exemptions under the Employment Standards Act will further compound the competitive pressures.
 
The provincial government needs to recognize rural Ontario’s tremendous growth potential. Rural Ontario growth is affordable with smart infrastructure investments. OFA is asking the government for reliable high speed internet, low cost energy options like natural gas, local schools and reliable social services. These basic infrastructure investments will support the viability and growth of farms, rural businesses and communities and pay dividends.
 
OFA encourages members to speak up for our agri-food industry whenever the opportunity arises. Take the opportunity this summer to attend community events and barbecues and share your reasons why rural Ontario needs support from all levels of government.
 

 
For more information, contact:
 
Crispin Colvin
Director
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-868-7317

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