DUNDAS FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE (DFA)
  • Home
  • About DFA
    • Board Members
    • Constitution
    • Calendar of Events
    • Meeting Minutes
  • DFA News
  • Agricultural Hall of Fame
    • 2019 Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductions
    • 2017 Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductions
  • Pictures
    • DFA Pictures
    • Dundas Soil & Crop Pictures
  • Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA)
  • Partner Sites
  • Contact Us

DFA NEWS

News updates about DFA events and agriculture in Dundas County and Ontario.

Vote for the next Zone 11 DirectorDundas, Frontenac, Grenville & Leeds

7/31/2017

0 Comments

 

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.
0 Comments

Mixed news for Ontario agriculture in new federal investment program

7/28/2017

0 Comments

 
​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
 
0 Comments

Attention Custom applicators- Everything you need to know when when applying in a Source Water Protection Zone-Free Workshop

7/14/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
0 Comments

Talking about mental wellness on the farm

7/14/2017

0 Comments

 
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

 
 
0 Comments

Speak up for ag this summer

7/7/2017

0 Comments

 
 
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
 
0 Comments

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About DFA
    • Board Members
    • Constitution
    • Calendar of Events
    • Meeting Minutes
  • DFA News
  • Agricultural Hall of Fame
    • 2019 Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductions
    • 2017 Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductions
  • Pictures
    • DFA Pictures
    • Dundas Soil & Crop Pictures
  • Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA)
  • Partner Sites
  • Contact Us