By Larry Davis, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Every year in November, members of Ontario’s largest general farm organization, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), come together for their annual convention. I farm near Burford and I’ve represented farmers from Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk counties on the OFA’s provincial board of directors for more than 30 years. As directors and as an organization, our job is making sure that the voices, concerns and needs of farmers and rural communities are heard by decision-makers – a job we do through direct advocacy with elected officials, political staff and bureaucrats from all three levels of government, as well as others with similar interests or common goals. The convention, which will be in Toronto this year, is our opportunity to showcase what the OFA has done throughout the past year on behalf of its members. It’s here where our delegates from all over Ontario have the opportunity to raise issues and debate resolutions as they set policy and shape the direction of the OFA’s activities for the year ahead. The convention is also about education. Along with dealing with the business of the organization, the event always offers a good line up of interesting and topical speakers, as well as the opportunity to participate in seminars that delve more deeply into the issues of the day. This year, we’ll be hearing from Senator Rob Black, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson, and MPP John Vanthof, who is the critic for agriculture, food and rural affairs for Ontario’s official opposition. Kelly Dobson from LeaderShift Inc. will talk about how farmers can unleash the untapped potential of their farm operation, and comedian Derek Edwards will look at the lighter side of life. Workshops will focus on deadstock management, robotics in agriculture, working with land use planners and engaging with government and media. We’ll also be electing the final member of our board of directors for the coming year as delegates vote for the position of Director-at-Large and recognizing the future of our industry by presenting the five winners of the annual OFA bursary program. In addition to business and education, the convention is also a wonderful networking opportunity. It’s a chance to meet and chat with fellow farmers, as well as other industry organizations that OFA works closely with, and even representatives from OFA’s benefit program partners. I’ve been attending annual OFA conventions since the late 1980s and over the years, there has definitely been a trend towards including more educational opportunities. We’ve also added the Ontario Young Farmers’ Forum to give people aged 18 to 40 who are interested or involved in agriculture a chance to learn more about the industry. There has also been a change in the demographic of OFA convention delegates. We’re not just seeing younger people come forward to take on leadership opportunities, but the role of women has also changed significantly. As the number of female farm operators has grown – according to the latest Canadian census data, 31% of Ontario’s farmers are women – we’ve also seen more women become involved with the OFA as delegates, local leaders, and directors at the provincial level. In fact, our organization has been led for the last three years by Peggy Brekveld, a dairy farmer from Thunder Bay who has had a long involvement with the OFA in many different capacities. Agriculture is a major contributor to the provincial economy, but farmers make up only a small percentage of Ontario’s population. Organizations like the OFA give farmers an opportunity to come together, lend strength to their individual voices and help the industry shape a future that will ensure “Farms and Food Forever”. For more information about the annual meeting, check out the AGM resources below: 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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By Drew Spoelstra, Vice President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Although economic news regularly dominates headlines these days, the economy will be of particular focus on this week’s public and media calendar. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Ontario Economic Summit in Toronto this week, and the provincial government will be releasing its annual Ontario Economic and Fiscal Review, or what we more commonly know as the Fall Economic Statement. The Summit will bring together leaders and stakeholders from the public and private sectors to network, as well as discuss and learn about the current economic landscape and solutions that could help drive prosperity, encourage innovation and investment, and address pressing issues like housing, inflation, healthcare, education and economic prosperity. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) will have representatives at the Summit, and I’ll be one of them. I’m a Vice President with the OFA, the largest general farm organization in the province, representing close to 50,000 Ontario farmers and farm families. I also farm with my family near Binbrook in the city limits of Hamilton, giving me unique perspectives into both the farming community and the intersection of urban and rural issues. Many Ontarians probably don’t know that agriculture is one of the largest sectors of the provincial economy, generating more than $47 billion in economic activity every year and supporting 750,000 jobs or about 10 percent of the province’s workforce. That makes farming and rural Ontario directly connected to most if not all major segments of the provincial economy, from transportation and manufacturing to infrastructure, education and healthcare. And that’s why, for me, this is one of the most important and interesting events to attend every year. The needs of agriculture and rural communities can be quite unique, and I find it extremely valuable to learn more about where our sector intersects with others, to explore where common goals might lie, and to engage with people and organizations representing different interests and perspectives. This year, perhaps fittingly, the theme of the Summit is partnerships for prosperity which mirrors OFA’s overall mission of Farms and Food Forever and our drive to work collaboratively with sectors, organizations and individuals who share a similar vision. The government’s Fall Economic Statement will provide a snapshot of where public finances are at, as well as serving as a kick-off to Ontario’s annual provincial budget consultations. This is where Ontarians will be able to submit their ideas to the government about what they believe should be priority spending areas for the coming provincial budget year. OFA takes part in this consultation every year, making sure that the needs and priorities of farmers and rural communities are communicated to government. We present ideas for action on both short-term, immediate issues in need of solutions, as well as recommendations for larger, longer-term challenges that have impact beyond our own stakeholder community. Sound investments in rural Ontario will enhance farming, agri-business and rural economic growth, which will spillover into the rest of the provincial economy. Investing in critical infrastructure like energy, broadband internet, roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare for our communities helps distribute economic development across the province. Access to natural gas, and reliable and affordable electricity and broadband internet is essential to keep rural Ontario competitive and productive – and appealing for families. This means long-term investments in rural roads, bridges, highspeed internet, natural gas to attract new businesses and residents in rural communities. And it means social infrastructure investment in schools, healthcare and mental wellness to make rural Ontario an attractive option for families. We appreciate the critical investments the government has made in broadband services, new and updated hospital projects, and other important infrastructure. It’s essential that these projects happen quickly, and that the government continues to invest in critical infrastructure that supports rural Ontario’s residents and businesses and drives the provincial economy forward. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] By Bill Groenheide, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Farmers always worry about the weather impacting their crops, from drought and heat to flooding, hail, and high winds. However, there’s another aspect of nature that is also a source of damage and loss for agricultural crops – wildlife. Farmers who grow outdoor crops can lose whole fields or portions of fields and are left to deal with significant crop damage and yield loss due to wildlife. I farm just outside of Thunder Bay and for the northern Ontario farmers I represent on the board of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), crop damage and losses caused by sandhill cranes in particular are an ongoing source of frustration. These are birds that used to migrate south in the winter but are now increasingly staying put and as their populations are growing, their impact on agriculture is also on the rise. In the spring, for example, they’ll feast on newly planted seeds or nibble on freshly sprouted wheat or corn crops and some farmers have reported losing up to 30% of their planted acres to damage. A farmer’s only choice, if they want to harvest a crop in the fall, is to replant, which is both costly and without a guarantee that wildlife won’t overtake those plants and seeds too. In the fall, harvest-ready corn and soybeans are also an attraction. Birds aren’t the only challenge, though, and it’s not just farmers in the north who deal with this problem. Damage to crops can also be caused by a variety of other species, such as deer, raccoons, geese, migratory birds, and wild turkeys to name just a few. Not all farmers suffer from wildlife predation equally, but for farmers who are impacted, the damage can result in significant financial burdens. It’s not just about financial impacts, though. In addition to causing crop damage, white-tailed deer for example, also have the potential to transfer diseases, like Chronic Wasting Disease (a prion disease that affects deer, elk, reindeer and moose), to farmed populations of deer or other cervids. Farmers are also limited in the actions they can take to protect their crops from wildlife, as only certain activities are permitted under provincial legislation, and often only at certain times of the year. It’s important to mention, however, that damage and loss from wildlife isn’t just limited to crops. Predators are also attracted to livestock and poultry, and Ontario farmers are fortunate to have the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program that provides the opportunity to apply for payment for livestock or poultry that was killed or injured by wildlife. Unfortunately, there is no comparable compensation program for wildlife damage to crops. That’s why the OFA has been, and continues to advocate for, support for farmers whose crops are damaged by or lost to wildlife. This includes access to a compensation program similar to that available to livestock farmers, as well as support with respect to practical mitigation solutions and control options. The OFA is also actively involved in the Human-Wildlife Conflict Advisory Working Group, and the Agriculture-Wildlife Conflict Working Group. Wildlife damage is not easily controlled and can have significant impact on the productivity and profitability of a farm business, and fair and sustainable solutions will require the input and support from a variety of stakeholders. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] By Jackie Kelly-Pemberton, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Healthcare affects all Ontarians and regardless of where we live in this province, its services and resources are something we all depend on from time to time. The provincial healthcare system has long had its challenges but as we’ve all seen, those have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as our growing population. Those problems are common to all Ontarians, but the impacts in rural Ontario are even more acute. My family and I farm near Winchester, south of Ottawa, and although we have a wonderful clinic and smalltown hospital in our local area, we’ve always had to go to larger urban centres to access specialists, higher level testing and certain treatments, such as when I went through cancer diagnosis and treatment in the last several years. Our community has also always worked hard to ensure we support our hospital, such as coming together to fundraise for our new mammogram machine. What is happening with more alarming frequency now are rural hospitals having to temporarily – and sometimes even permanently – close their emergency rooms because of lack of staff or resources. And as rural doctors and other healthcare providers retire, it is becoming harder to attract those professionals to our rural communities, even as those communities grow and require additional resources. Although it’s not directly a farm issue, access to health care in rural areas is critical – access for us as patients to emergency rooms, staff and doctors, and for hospitals and clinics to be able to access innovation, technology and workers to properly treat residents in their service areas. Rural healthcare is also part of the bigger issue of rural economic development. Since the pandemic, more Ontarians are moving to rural areas or smaller hub communities and one of the big criteria is access to health care. For those communities themselves, the better their infrastructure, the better able they are to attract and retain healthcare professionals. Last fall, delegates at the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) annual convention passed a resolution that our organization work with other provincial health care stakeholders to urge the Ontario government to act more quickly and decisively in filling staffing gaps within the provincial health care system, and support legislation, tools, and activities to improve access to health care. Since then, OFA has written to Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones to raise awareness of the rural healthcare issue. Last winter, we focused on rural healthcare and the importance of taking steps to address its challenges during our Queen’s Park advocacy day where we met with MPPs of all parties. We communicated the urgency of labour shortages and the heightened risk to rural Ontario posed by emergency room closures. We’ve asked the provincial government to prioritize filling staffing gaps and making funding available to leverage innovation, technology and evaluate new patient care approaches and models that have been successful in other communities. We’ve also encouraged government to better support long-term care services across rural and northern Ontario by recruiting and retaining skilled labour and establishing adequate, predictable and stable direct care funding for these facilities. Current challenges aside, I do want to take this opportunity to thank the healthcare professionals in our system today. The work you do is hard but so very valuable and I can say from own experience with my cancer treatments that I received wonderful care and compassion from the medical staff charged with looking after me. We know that there is a lot to be done to support the future of our healthcare system and that healthcare is not the only priority file the government is tasked with addressing. However, as our population both grows and ages, the demands on healthcare in Ontario will only increase and our existing challenges and shortcomings will only become more acute. Government investments into rural infrastructure such as our hospitals will support the health of our communities and the sustainability of future generations of farmers. Many of the most impactful solutions take time to implement and work to their best capacities, so the time to start is now. 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 The deadline for Canadians to file their first return under Canada’s new Underused Housing Tax (UHT) is fast approaching. Originally set for April 30, the federal government extended the filing deadline this year to October 31 to give Canadians who own housing or residential dwellings enough time to complete the process for the first time. It is a one percent tax on the value of vacant or underused housing. Under the new legislation, individuals who aren’t Canadian citizens or permanent residents, as well as private corporations and partnerships – which includes farms – who own residential housing must file an Underused Housing Tax return even if they don’t have to pay the tax itself. At first glance, many may wonder how this affects farmers. Afterall, the tax was designed to address urban homes, condominiums and apartments that have been bought for investment purposes, often by foreign buyers, and are now unused or not used to their full extent. However, many farm corporations and farm partnerships own at least one farm with a residence. Canadian Farm Business Partners and Farm Corporations owning residential property are considered “affected owners”. Affected owners of residential property need to file to claim an exemption from paying the UHT or to calculate the UHT they owe. The UHT return and election form must be filed for each property owned by an affected owner in a calendar year even if the affected owner qualifies for an exemption. And regardless of whether those homes are vacant or not, the new legislation requires that farmers must now file a separate return every year by April 30 for each property a farm partner or a farm corporation owns. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), along with our national colleagues at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, has been asking the federal government to exempt farmers from having to file a return altogether, and although that first filing deadline is only a few weeks away, this is still something that we’re advocating for when we’re meeting with politicians and other government officials. So why should agriculture be exempt? Simply put, farmers aren’t in the business of being landlords or residential real estate investors. Rather, our job is to produce food and other agricultural products, and we’re buying farmland to farm it, not for investment value of a house that may be on it. The filing paperwork required by government under this legislation is onerous and time consuming. A separate return must be filed every year for each property of an affected owner. If a farm partnership has more than one partner, each partner must file their own UHT return for each property. The penalties for non-filing are substantial: up to $10,000 or more. We understand that Ontario and Canada are in a housing crisis and that governments at all levels are trying to find solutions, such as freeing up investment housing, that will help ease the shortage. We know how important this is; after all, we also need housing options to support youth, seniors, families, workers, and newcomers in our communities. However, we’re now caught in the middle of that push for solutions and the unique realities of unintentionally having multiple dwellings not because we’re housing investors but rather through the purchase of additional farmland to grow our farm businesses. OFA and our partners are continuing the push for a filing exemption for farmers but are also encouraging all farmers to make sure to file their Underused Housing Tax return to avoid the substantial penalties. There are resources available on the OFA website to give background on the issue and we encourage farmers to contact their accountants with any questions. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] By Paul Vickers, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture This week marks Ontario Agriculture Week. Strategically selected to be just before Thanksgiving, it’s a perfect time to celebrate the abundance of locally produced food, fuel, fibre and flowers that we are lucky enough to have easy access to here in Ontario. Nowadays, less than two percent of Canada’s population is involved in farming and the closest many of us ever get to a farm is shopping at a local farmers’ market or visiting an agri-tourism attraction near an urban area – but there’s so much more to agriculture than most Ontarians realize. Ontario farmers proudly grow and produce more than 200 different food and farm commodities from grains and meat to fresh produce, honey and maple syrup for the province, the country and the world. I’m one of those farmers – my family has a dairy farm near the Georgian Bay area town of Meaford, where we also grow corn, soybeans, wheat and hay, and sell some freezer beef. I’m also a member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture board of directors, where I represent farmers from Grey and Bruce counties. This is a more rural region of our province, and agriculture is a major contributor to our local economy – not just the farms, but also all of the businesses and services that support what we do, from feed suppliers and trucking companies to veterinarians, bankers, and more. Agriculture matters in other parts of the province too, even in urban areas that wouldn’t at first glance feel like they might have a strong connection to what we do. That’s because Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector is an economic powerhouse in this province. As one of the largest economic drivers in Ontario, we contribute an estimated $47 billion to the provincial economy every year and employ more than 10 per cent of Ontario’s workforce. But farming isn’t just about jobs and the economy. It is also about housing, healthcare, environment and climate change, and food security. Let me explain what I mean. Modern technologies and new hybrid work arrangements have made many rural communities and regional hubs more accessible to urban Ontarians, offering new opportunities for families looking for increased affordability. The growth of these municipalities can relieve urban housing market pressures and offer solutions to gridlock and associated emissions concerns. Food is health. A balanced diet can go a long way to having a positive influence on human health, from fighting inflammation and metabolic syndrome to reducing the risk of conditions like cancer, heart disease or diabetes. Reducing the risk of illness or preventing people from getting sick is a key way to reduce wait times and manage ballooning healthcare costs. When it comes to environment and climate change, agriculture is one of the only sectors in the world with a built-in capacity to sequester carbon, offsetting not only its own footprint, but that of other sectors as well. Healthy farming practices – often called regenerative agriculture – and smart agri-tech innovations are in wide use on farms across Ontario. And last but certainly not least, Ontario has a remarkable ability to produce food of all kinds. The food system can be fragile, though, threatened by everything from supply chain chaos to natural disasters and world events far from home. Producing as much food as possible right here in Ontario keeps our supply chains short and nimble and protects our food security. Ontario Agriculture Week ends with the Thanksgiving holiday, and an opportunity for all of us to take a few minutes to appreciate where we live and what we have. As Ontario’s farmers, we thank all of you for supporting local food and farming, and we invite you to share the bounty of our year’s harvest this weekend as you enjoy your Thanksgiving celebrations. For more information, contact: Tyler Brooks Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-821-8883 ext. 218 [email protected] 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]. 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] |
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