By Keith Currie, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Canadian agriculture and our trading opportunities are in a very precarious position as trade negotiations between Mexico and the U.S. appear to be moving forward. It’s an extremely unfortunate situation for our industry and our country, as Mexico appears to have caved under the undoubtedly heavy handed approach of the U.S. These latest negotiations excluded Canada – even though we are a much more significant trading partner. For the past many months, Canada has been at the table in an attempt to negotiate a new trilateral trade agreement with the U.S. and Mexico – to replace the 24-year old North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that U.S. President Trump believes is grossly unfair…only for Americans. Mexico and the U.S. have recently agreed in principle to a new bilateral U.S./Mexico Free Trade Agreement. The basic content of the agreement was released in statements this week by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The deal is far from done but the fundamentals are there. The vaguely worded agreement includes new provisions between the U.S. and Mexico that cover trade in several manufacturing sectors, and its release included a document entitled “Strengthening NAFTA for Agriculture” that states “while agriculture has generally performed well under NAFTA, important improvements in the agreement will enable food and agriculture to trade more fairly.” These are the details that catch the attention of Canadian negotiators as they scramble to understand the deal to determine if the terms are acceptable to Canada as part of a new NAFTA framework. Canadian trade interests will also need to be incorporated. For the first time, the U.S./Mexico agreement specifically addresses agricultural biotechnology – with the two countries agreeing to enhance information exchange and cooperate on ag biotech trade-related matters. Another first is an agreement by the U.S. to not restrict market access in Mexico for certain U.S. labelled cheeses. Likewise, whiskey and tequila will be recognized as distinctive products with no market restrictions to the U.S. from Mexico. Canada, on the other hand, is clearly in a game of catch up. It’s critical for Canadian negotiators to dig into the details to quickly understand and adapt the U.S./Mexico agreement to secure the continuation of a truly North American trade agreement. The markets of our three countries are integrated to such a degree and level of complexity that multiple bilateral agreements would be confusing and costly. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture urges the Government of Canada to secure a new NAFTA that protects the interests of Canadian farmers, food processors and manufacturers. A trade deal without supply management is a deal breaker for Canadian agriculture. -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
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By Pat Jilesen, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Ontario is ripe with agri-food opportunities for farmers, food processors and entrepreneurs. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is a strong promoter of farming and of value-added initiatives through our awareness and advocacy work with government, policy advisors and municipal planners. OFA’s board of directors recently toured Northumberland County for a firsthand look at the innovative farms and value-added agri-food businesses in the region. Tour stops included local producers and the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre (OAFVC). Farm locations included a maple syrup and honey producer who is creating new food products like maple syrup vinegar. We also learned about a local hops farm and a purebred Shropshire sheep operation involved in a unique breeding program. The OAFVC, located in Colborne, is a unique facility that brings together food enthusiasts, start-up companies and farmers in a small-batch food processing facility. The 15,000 square foot facility was built to support area farmers in starting up value-added opportunities that would increase farm revenue. Opened in 2015, the facility is operated by the local municipality. It contributes to the local community and agricultural industry by opening up product development, marketing and processing opportunities at low risk to local farmers. The facility also helps “foodies” with recipe development and food processing start-up companies. With a full suite of facilities, including cooking, chilling, freezing and packaging equipment, OAFVC is a one-stop shop for local farmers and food entrepreneurs. The local agri-food centre is a great demonstration of a working partnership between the local municipality, regional supporters and the local farming community. This facility exemplifies the tremendous opportunities OFA sees within its Producing Prosperity campaign to promote local economic development. OFA was very encouraged to see this local initiative providing Ontario farmers with innovative opportunities that offer long-term potential to diversify and strengthen the economic sustainability of our agri-food industry. -30- For more information, contact: Pat Jilesen Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-386-1330 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 By Louis Roesch, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Farmers and community partners are taking action to keep waterways safe with a science-based approach. Four new on-farm test sites will be added this fall in southwestern Ontario, thanks to new funding, to collect real-time data on phosphorus and nitrogen loss into waterways, as part of the Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative (PRC). A recent federal funding announcement has helped the group expand their research. One is already operating, and four more will be added with the new funding. The project sites will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of phosphorus removal technologies at the edge of agricultural fields and in municipal drains that collect agricultural runoff in the Thames River Basin area. Administered by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, the PRC works with farmers, drainage engineers, conservation authorities, Indigenous people and universities to develop practical, cost-effective water management and drainage strategies for both urban and agricultural areas. OFA has been involved in many water quality projects, led research projects and advised on water policies and legislation. Through the PRC, OFA is participating in this proactive monitoring and data collection project to evaluate nutrients entering waterways from farms and the development of new water management technologies for Ontario farmers. All five test sites are located on farms of different agricultural practices and soil types, and all participants are OFA members. Phosphorus sources include runoff from cities and towns, agricultural sources, sewage treatment plants, airborne particles, septic systems and industrial discharges. Phosphorus entering waterways contributes to the growth of harmful algal blooms in the Thames River and Lake Erie, and recent rains and hot summer weather could further contribute to an algal bloom in the lake. Taking a proactive approach to researching on-farm water quality management in the Thames River area and Lake Erie is an important step to preventing further algal blooms and maintaining safe and healthy waterways. For more information, contact: Louis Roesch Director Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-351-7711 Neil Currie General Manager Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 |
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