For immediate release
OFA appreciates swift action of provincial government to support northwestern Ontario farmers GUELPH, ON [July 27, 2021] – Relief is on the way for farmers in northwestern Ontario impacted by severe drought conditions. The Ontario government has announced a $2 million investment through the Northwestern Livestock Emergency Assistance Initiative to support farmers in the region to ensure they have the resources they need to maintain their livelihoods. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is grateful for the prompt financial assistance to ensure farmers in Rainy River, Kenora and Dryden have access to water and feed to sustain their herds. It will also ensure the continued viability of the farming and food sector in northern Ontario. The investment, which was jointly announced by Hon. Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry and MPP for Kenora-Rainy River, designated $1.2 million for water and fencing infrastructure and up to $800,000 to Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) to handle the delivery, distribution, and sourcing feed for livestock. Agricorp will be tasked with facilitating this initiative. The financial assistance for water and fencing infrastructure will be available to livestock farmers for eligible costs incurred as a result of the dry weather retroactive to June 14, 2021. “We sincerely appreciate and respect the swift action of the Ontario government to respond to the request of the region and provide necessary support to farmers in crisis,” said Peggy Brekveld, OFA President. “This is a relief for farmers in the area, not only for their businesses, but for their mental health too, giving them peace of mind that help is on the way.” The situation in northwestern Ontario has reached a crisis level due to above seasonal temperatures through May, June and into July, combined with a lack of rainfall. It has severely impacted hay, grain crops, pasture conditions and access to water. Farmers expressed serious concerns and illustrated the severity of the crisis during an industry roundtable last week hosted by OFA, BFO and Grain Farmers of Ontario. It evolved into an emergency situation caused by crops burning off, pastures drying out, and in some cases, minimal access to water resulting in immediate sell-off of livestock. OFA was pleased to hear Minister Rickford confirm that farmers facing similar circumstances in nearby regions may be considered for support. We will continue working together with the provincial government and industry partners to address the needs of our northern farmers. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 38,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer. For more information, visit www.ofa.on.ca. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected]
0 Comments
By Drew Spoelstra, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Agricultural events are without a doubt an annual highlight for everyone in the sector. We circle the dates in our calendars, purchase tickets, plan day trips with loved ones, prepare livestock for exhibition and oftentimes strategically coordinate the demands of farm life around them. For the team at the Ontario Federation of Agriculture tradeshows, fairs and agricultural events are where we physically connect with our membership. We value the time spent sharing conversations face to face over coffee, meeting our members and providing support on issues. Agricultural events are also where we celebrate our membership and their accomplishments. They are where farmers showcase their crops, livestock and the next generation as rural children proudly exhibit in the show pen. It’s where the city and consumers meet the best of the country. In a normal year, our event season begins in January with the Southwest Agricultural Conference, and we engage with members across the province until the conclusion of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in mid-November. COVID-19 continues to hinder in person gatherings and has led to another year of cancelled industry events. We wholeheartedly miss interacting with our farming families, commodity partners and industry stakeholders at in-person shows. Historically, farming is an isolating career and the pandemic has further amplified the physical distance between us. We encourage everyone to keep communication lines open as we continue to navigate the pandemic. Keep in touch with friends, family, neighbors and coworkers to ensure everyone feels connected. This month, we were notified of the in-person cancellation of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, the International Ploughing Match and The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. We know the level of planning, heart and dedication that goes into organizing these events. We share event organizer’s disappointment and frustration of navigating all these uncertainties in order to maintain health protocols. Agricultural societies have also had to cancel or pivot their events because of COVID-19. They rely heavily on funding raised by hosting large events and fundraising has been nearly impossible during the pandemic. The provincial government’s $1.1 million in additional funding announcement was welcome news to agricultural and horticulture societies impacted by the pandemic. Eligible agricultural societies can access up to $5000, whereas horticulture societies can access up to $1,500. The funding aims to help support agricultural and horticultural societies effected by cancelled events in 2020. As the former President of my local agricultural society, I would like to thank the Ontario government for their support which will allow societies to invest in their facilities and maintain their footholds in the community. Hopefully, it will position them to come back stronger than ever once restrictions ease and we can celebrate all the wonderful things agriculture has to offer at fall fairs again. Annual fairs play an important role in the community as they promote the rural way of life and showcase the sector’s contribution to the community. They facilitate informal discussions about livestock, crops and modern-day farming practices through educational displays and exhibits. Most importantly, fairs bring both urban and rural together under one roof to celebrate the growing season. It has been a long marathon for event organizers, agricultural societies and the farming community as we all wait for the greenlight to organize large gatherings safely again. Team OFA looks forward to exhibiting in 2022, when we can all be together celebrating our sector’s and members’ amazing contributions. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] By Larry Davis, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture A lot of the problems that occur on a farm are tangible, meaning there is a direct cause and effect as to what the problem is. For example, a dysfunctional grain leg, broken-down equipment or a fence that needs mending. These are all obvious issues that we try to resolve right away to prevent a lack of productivity. But, what about the issues we don’t see? Stray voltage and ground current are persistent electrical issues for livestock farmers that can be highly misunderstood, misidentified and cause severe negative impacts to the health of both livestock and farmers. I have seen the impact on cattle, poultry, swine and other animals, as well as farm families. When I was youngster working in my parents’ dairy barn, I could feel it when I cleaned out the water bowls. We called it tingle voltage or stray voltage. It wasn’t until years later that I understood what it really was and how serious it can be to the health of our livestock. When animals are exposed to low-level currents travelling through the ground, especially over a long period of time, their well-being and life span is directly impacted. To avoid the current, animals may refuse to eat or drink, cows may refuse to enter milking stations, reproductive issues can occur, low birth weight and even death can persist among a herd. The impact of uncontrolled electricity is heightened when an animal has open sores by intensifying the sensation and increasing pain at the site. This chronic suffering can bring mental anguish to many farmers because at the end of the day, we all want to raise healthy, content livestock which is highly influenced by living conditions. Additionally, a decline of productivity in livestock adds a financial burden to farm businesses and has the potential to threaten the viability of the farm. From experience with our family farm business, we were not able to identify and overcome the stray voltage challenge which put us out of business. The Uncontrolled Electricity Working Group (UEWG) was formed to help tackle and mitigate issues related to chronic exposure of uncontrolled electricity. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is a key member of this working group, tasked with addressing electrical issues that have been a serious concern for some farmers for decades. The mission of the UEWG is to ensure the health and well-being of Ontario livestock by working to mitigate issues related to chronic exposure of uncontrolled electricity. The goal is also to bring greater awareness to this issue, which has persisted for decades and fails to acquire adequate attention. Beginning our work in 2007, the UEWG has made significant progress improving communication and understanding between farmers and the Ontario Energy Board (OEB). Distribution System Code Appendix H was published, which acknowledges stray voltage and standardizes the way farms are tested. Until this group was established, stray voltage was not recognized as an issue and once the farming community became aware of the problem, it was difficult to explain to electrical service groups. Stray voltage on farms typically amounts to no more than one volt. Although this amount of current has negative effects on livestock, electrical service groups typically deal with thousands of uncontrolled volts along the distribution system. Testing of stray voltage would show there was less than one volt of uncontrolled electricity, which by the Electrical Safety Code, does not require a call for action. The UEWG worked with Hydro One to develop their Farm Rapid Response Team, which includes consistently trained field staff that are experts in understanding farm related electrical issues. This creates a support system at the ground level for farmers to get in touch with and immediately respond to on-farm electrical problems. Now that our group has been established for more than eight years, we are starting to collect more data through our research. Eventually, this research may be able to point to certain areas in Ontario that stray voltage is more problematic, and what type of livestock is most impacted. It’s very difficult to see farmers within our communities experiencing this frustrating challenge. Farmers often blame themselves for poor herd health and spend a significant amount of time, finances and energy to eradicate problems among their herd. In these situations, however, it motivates us to find solutions and work with experts to ensure we mitigate this issue in the future. A growing number of farmers, industry stakeholders and electrical representatives are improving their understanding of this problem and learning how to address it. The UEWG, created by OFA, is made up of farmers, veterinarians, livestock commodity group representatives and farm organizations. Our group relies on the expertise of these rural voices as well as an electrician and electrical engineer. We work closely with the Electrical Safety Authority and the Ontario Ministries of Energy and Agriculture. Together this group offers a balanced perspective of the needs of farmers and what improvements can be made through testing and electrical infrastructure. OFA has contributed a significant amount of time, and representatives like me, have worked hard to meet the needs of farmers across Ontario. Financial contributions have been made to fund research to continue the exploration of viable options and solutions. The Member of Provincial Parliament for Chatham-Kent-Leamington, Rick Nicholls, has recently established a group within the Ontario government to develop best practices on protection from stray voltage on farms. This group also acknowledges that livestock have been suffering for decades due to uncontrolled electricity and will rely on research we have acquired over the years to improve testing and ground current monitoring. With aligning goals, our group is optimistic that immense progress will be achieved to serve the needs and priorities of Ontario farmers and their livestock. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] By Peggy Brekveld, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture As a kid, I watched a lot of Sesame Street. Children’s shows have an entertaining way of teaching life lessons. Muppets still make me laugh when I think about crumbs in the bed and the fly in the soup. In between the skits were life skills. One had a catchy tune that I can still hum to this day – “one of these things is not like the others…” The screen would show balloons or shapes and challenge viewers to find the one that didn’t fit. Oftentimes, the outlier was obvious. From an early age, we are taught to look for differences. But what happens when you’re identified as the outlier or the one that doesn’t belong? For most of my life, I’ve been lucky; I know what it is to fit in. I’m white, heterosexual, Christian and have Dutch ancestral roots. All of which is relatively common in the farming community, and readily accepted. However, I also know what it feels like to represent a minority in the sector. There have been many times where I was the only woman in the photo, or the only northern Ontario farmer on a conference call, or the youngest farmer in the room (although that is changing!) and sometimes the only farmer in a room full of government representatives. This year, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture adopted a new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy to ensure we follow the principles and values necessary to help make our sector more inclusive. Our organization believes that we are stronger when we not only celebrate our many differences and values but listen to them, respect them and include them in our practices. Many of us have grown up with privileges that allow us to thrive and blend in. Inclusiveness is not only an action but also a feeling. It’s making everyone feel welcome in the same space and being aware of how our language can impact others. It’s those who do not have the same privileges as we do that, we need to be cognizant of. We need to ensure the ones that do not have the same privileges we have are genuinely heard, respected and recognized in a manner that makes them feel included and represented as part of our dynamic industry. It’s important that we as an industry understand how our words, images and actions represent diversity and inclusion in agriculture. Being labelled as different can have its consequences. I know what it is like to be bullied, harassed and harmed because of who I am. Most of the time though, I can still blend in. Others cannot change their creed, colour, race, gender, sexuality, where they come from or who they are on the inside. I recognize that others experience so much more pain and discrimination on a continual basis. Recent events have highlighted our country’s long history of racism and discrimination that unfortunately continues to exist today. All of us have experienced the feeling of not fitting in, which is why as a sector we need to collectively commit to making everyone feel seen, heard and valued. For the past month, five OFA representatives, including me, have participated in diversity, equity and inclusion training hosted by the Beef Farmers of Ontario. We have considered how we identify others and ourselves, how to advocate for and support those who feel discriminated against for various reasons. We are learning updated vocabulary, what privilege means and how to identify it and how to honour and respect the history behind other people’s unique experiences. Our questions are being answered in a safe space as we continue learning and practicing new approaches. If you have not taken DEI training, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so. Our grassroots voices and boardroom discussions are stronger when they include viewpoints from differing backgrounds and life experiences. DEI training helps us learn how to see and understand differences as well as how to work with them effectively. I’m often asked, “What factors led to your current role as President of OFA?” I am proud to say that I was encouraged by others who identified me as a leader, saw who I was and valued my different perspective. Not only did they identify me as different, but they encouraged my uniqueness and wanted my voice at the table. Great things happen when people feel important, valued and accepted for who they are. I’m fortunate to have the role I do today because I stepped into an encouraging and welcoming environment. That type of surrounding made a world of difference in my story. This is an evolving process as we strive to improve, model inclusivity and reflect the diversity of our province. We are actively listening, learning and growing our understanding and awareness of DEI. Our recent OFA policy and training are two steps the organization has taken towards a more diverse and inclusive industry. As we approach OFA’s regional meetings and the fall director-at-large nominations, I encourage members to identify those in your community that have unique perspectives, backgrounds, opinions and voices to speak up and take on leadership roles. Like our farms, our boardrooms and grassroots are more dynamic, resilient and sustainable when we diversify. OFA is committed to being a leader in this space and continuing to bring diversity, equity and inclusion to the forefront of our industry. Everyone has a seat and voice at our table. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] |
Archives
February 2024
Categories |