A Source Protection Committee was established in accordance with the Clean Water Act, 2006 and has developed a locally driven, science-based Source Protection Plan that aims to reduce the risk of contamination and overuse of our drinking water sources.
The role of the Committee is to guide the review and updates of the Source Protection Plan using a science-based approach and to ensure that all relevant information is considered. The Source Protection Committee is comprised of 15 members, 4 liaisons, and the Chair. The Committee reserves 3 seats specifically for the agriculture sector, and due to the unfortunate passing of one of the Committee members earlier this year, there is a vacancy for an agricultural representative to be filled. At this stage of the recruiting process, the Committee is reaching out to Agricultural Organizations to share this message with their membership and for recommendations of qualified, experienced and interested candidates that live and work in the agriculture community to fill the position. A job description, eligibility requirements, application forms and other information about the Committee and the Drinking Water Source Protection Program are available at yourdrinkingwater.ca. Eligible candidates who reside within the Raisin-South Nation Source Protection Region and who are interested in representing the Agricultural Sector, having an extensive agricultural background, knowledge of local jurisdictions and drinking water issues are invited to submit their application by September 29th, 2023 to: [email protected].
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By Drew Spoelstra, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture As climate change dominates conversations, there is widespread understanding that action should be taken to minimize its impact. However, how exactly Ontarians are experiencing and will continue to experience impacts of climate change has until now been difficult to assess. To get a baseline understanding of the issue that is supported by evidence and data, Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks commissioned the Climate Risk Institute to prepare a climate change impact assessment. The final report highlights potential significant negative impacts on our agriculture sector and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is pleased to see the release of the final report earlier this month as it brings the gravity of the issue and the need for responsible action to the forefront. My family and I farm within the city limits of Hamilton, and I was part of the advisory panel for this report, providing perspectives of the agricultural sector. For farmers, dealing with the weather is second nature as it impacts everything we do to raise livestock, grow crops and produce food, fuel, fibre and flowers. We know the importance of healthy soils, fresh air, and clean sources of water. From that perspective, the report didn’t identify any new risks from climate change that we were not aware of previously. We are already dealing with its impacts in the form of extreme weather events, soaring temperatures and droughts, and new crop diseases and pests that can suddenly flourish here as temperatures warm up. However, the severity and intensity of these impacts looking out to 2080 is concerning and we hope that it will drive additional discussions and actions on climate change between farmers, government, and the people of Ontario. Farming is a very complex and dynamic system, and it is very difficult to capture that complexity in a provincial-scale climate change impact assessment – especially in the context of the work farmers are already doing to prepare their farms for climate change. I know first-hand from my own experience milking cows and growing field crops on our farm that the nature of agricultural production and the need to react to growing conditions that are different every year mean that Ontario farmers are inherently an innovative, resilient, and adaptable group. In fact, adaption is key for us, and stewardship of the land is a responsibility we take seriously. As farmers, we know there are best practices that can mitigate our impact on the environment – and many of these have long been in place on Ontario farms already. These are things like reducing tillage and soil erosion, protecting wetlands and watersheds, planting trees, and responsible management of nutrients like manure and fertilizer. Not only does this benefit the environment, but it also helps farms be both sustainable and profitable. There is more work to be done, however, and responding to the results of this report and the long-term outlook for climate change impacts will require strong collaboration and respect between the agricultural sector, government, and the people of Ontario. We will need to focus on building the capacity of farms to recognize the potential impacts of climate change to their farm businesses and developing tailored approaches to mitigating those impacts. Many of these activities often come with a public benefit and farmers will need technical and financial support if we are to remain competitive in a global marketplace and maintain our ability to produce as much of our own food as we can. Maintaining a strong and healthy supply of land in agricultural production is vital going forward to ensure we have that adaptive capacity that will let us meet the goals and targets in this impact report. The province will also need to make ongoing investments to ensure our critical infrastructure – from hydro and energy to roads, bridges and dikes – can withstand and be resilient in the face of the challenges climate change will bring. Farmers are and want to continue to be part of the solution. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] By Tracey Arts, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture As harvest time in Ontario ramps up at this time of year, all of us are likely to see a lot more tractors, combines, and other farm-related vehicles on our roads and highways. In fact, next to spring planting season, harvest is the busiest time of year for farmers as we travel on roadways between multiple locations. My family and I farm in Oxford County, an area located approximately between Woodstock and London in Southwestern Ontario. It’s where a lot of corn and soybeans are grown, so we know there will be plenty of tractors, wagons and trucks on the road hauling those crops to grain elevators and on-farm storages in the coming weeks. This makes traffic safety for both farmers and motorists absolutely essential so we can avoid accidents on our roads and highways. At the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), we’re always active at this time of year in particular to encourage drivers to be patient and alert around slow moving vehicles as well as remind farmers to be cautious and courteous when they’re taking equipment on the road. OFA is supportive of activities that help promote the importance of road safety; it’s something we do all year long with billboard, radio, news and social media messaging. We all have families and friends we want to get home to safely. Operating large farm equipment on the road runs a higher risk than most at any time of the year, but when roadways become busier, traffic gets heavier and the weather begins to impact visibility, it’s imperative we keep that top of mind throughout harvest season. According to federal government data, slow moving vehicles are 3.8 to 4.8 times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision per kilometre on the road than other motor vehicles. OPP statistics show that farm slow moving vehicle injuries and fatalities are mostly related to rollovers and these generally occur while entering, exiting, or crossing roadways, veering off the shoulder and accidents involving a motor. We recognize the high speed pace of today’s world, whether it’s commuting for work, travelling for school or running around for sports and recreational activities – and it needs to be a priority to take the extra few seconds or minutes to pass farm equipment safely. Passenger vehicles incorrectly passing farm equipment result in serious accidents or death. Shockingly, eight out of 10 accidents occur during the day and seven out of 10 occur on dry road conditions. Motorists, here’s what you can do to prevent road accidents this harvest season:
Farmers have a vital role to play in road safety as well. This includes:
Together, we can make our roads safer, our communities stronger and support our farmers to continue providing the food, fuel, flowers and fibre we all depend on. Let’s make sure everyone returns home safe and sound this harvest season. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] By Teresa Van Raay, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture September means fall harvest on the farm. And while that’s a busy time of year, the Ontario agriculture industry also makes time for two of the biggest agricultural shows on its calendar: Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) and the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM). COFS is an annual three-day outdoor show held at Discovery Farm Woodstock, taking place this year September 12 to 14. For almost 30 years, the event has showcased the newest and most innovative products and technologies in agriculture to Ontario’s farm community. From crop plots and cattle handling demonstrations to the latest in robotic technology and automated farming, Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show is a chance for farmers to see, hear, touch, and ask questions about farming tools, practices and innovations. The IPM takes place a week later and is hosted in a different Ontario community each year. This year, Bowling Green, near Orangeville is home to the five-day event, which will take place September 19-23. Just like its name implies, the IPM features plowing competitions, but it offers much more than that, including many opportunities to learn about food and farming. For the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), both events are a great opportunity to host visitors at our booth, Federation House and we look forward to having you stop by for a visit and a cup of coffee or cider. OFA board members and staff, including Member Service Representatives, will be at Federation House, ready and willing to speak with members about their farms, issues, concerns and more. I farm with my family in Huron County near Dashwood, and I’ve always loved attending agriculture industry events like COFS or the IPM. I’ve always enjoyed making connections with people, and there’s something unique about the atmosphere at a farm show that encourages new ideas and helps people get excited about agriculture. Now that I’m a director on the OFA board, I enjoy being part of our booth at Federation House and getting to meet members and fellow farmers face to face. The relaxed show environment encourages conversations, which aren’t always just about the farm. Yes, we’re directors representing the OFA, but we are also part of a community who care for each other and want to celebrate who we are, where we live and what we do. The International Plowing Match often also attracts politicians from all levels of government, and it’s a great experience to introduce someone to our industry who doesn’t know much about agriculture and give them some first-hand glimpses into the life and business that is farming. My own personal connection to the IPM goes back to 1999 when the event has hosted in my home county of Huron. I was a volunteer at that event and enjoyed it so much that I signed up again when the match came back to Huron County in 2017. The IPM is a volunteer-run event, and being part of that is a great opportunity to meet people, and to enjoy the unique sense of community spirit that’s present when people come together for a common cause. The OFA is a member-driven organization, and we rely on the input and feedback from our members to help identify issues that matter to Ontario farmers and guide our advocacy efforts. Whether at COFS, the IPM or any of the other smaller events OFA will be attending this fall, we encourage you to make time to catch up with us and let us know what’s on your mind – we’re looking forward to seeing you. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] By Crispin Colvin, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture This Viewpoint is available in French. Click here to read the French version. This year’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario annual general meeting and conference attracted over 2,500 municipal leaders, government officials, civil servants as well as other interested stakeholders. Among those other stakeholders were a wide range of companies and organizations who are connected to municipalities in some capacity – including the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). The event is one of the most important public policy conferences in Ontario, and as a farmer and former municipal leader, I was pleased to be part of the OFA delegation and have this opportunity to engage with participants at the event. OFA advocates on behalf of farmers on a wide range of issues, from rural health care and energy policy to land use, economic development and more, and building relationships with related sectors can help deepen our understanding of those issues and lets us do a better job at advocating for the agriculture industry and rural communities. For example, I had the chance to meet delegates who aren’t from municipalities but have strong interests in municipal affairs, such as natural gas supplier Enbridge and the Independent Electricity System Operator, which delivers key services across our provincial electrical sector. Through our advocacy work, OFA interacts with government officials, particularly at the provincial and federal levels, on an ongoing basis, but this conference provides a unique opportunity to get to know many municipal representatives from across the province that we don’t otherwise have the chance to meet. Many municipal delegates come from large, urban communities with little direct connection to agriculture and food production, for example, and are unaware of the many issues we have in common, from infrastructure, housing and healthcare to jobs, the food supply chain, and budgetary constraints. They’re also often surprised at the level of farmland loss in Ontario – an average of 319 acres a day according to the latest census data – and interested in knowing more about how critical it is to all of our futures that we maintain our ability to produce our own food, fuel, fibre and flowers as much as possible. Here are some of the main issues we were able to discuss with AMO delegates where we share common goals that support our collective economic growth: Improving rural infrastructure and services: Ontario’s rural economy relies on well-functioning roads, bridges and drainage to support the production and transportation of goods and services. Investments into transportation infrastructure, access to affordable energy, broadband and increased social services — including schools, healthcare and community centres — will keep businesses in rural communities as well as encourage newcomers to establish themselves. The OFA can be a key partner working with government and local municipalities to identify ways and means to prioritize, build and maintain critical infrastructure that is needed in our communities. For example, OFA has partnered with six rural municipalities on Cost of Community Services studies to help identify costs and benefits of various land use types and support those municipalities in developing growth strategies that can provide a high quality of life for residents while also protecting natural resources. Planning for housing affordability and long-term land use: We support the government’s goals of building more homes over the next 10 years to address the housing supply shortage that affects all Ontarians including the agriculture sector. Our focus has been to encourage an approach that balances increased housing and economic growth with ensuring that we are protecting the agricultural and environmental lands we depend on for local food production and healthy communities. Solutions include intensification of residential development within the existing urban footprint in the context of complete and liveable communities and supporting the distribution of economic development province wide. Strengthening economic development and community health: OFA sees tremendous value in developing and encouraging policies that enable direct farm marketing and agritourism to improve urban and rural connections and provide healthy outdoor activities and access to local food for families. Last year, OFA conducted a local food and agritourism survey, where 38% of respondents noted that although they don’t currently offer agritourism experiences on their farms, they would consider doing so. OFA partnered with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario on the 2022 State of the Ontario Tourism Industry Report. The report provides several recommendations for all three levels of government, covering topics such as the economy, labour, infrastructure, and the future of (agri)tourism. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] |
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