The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has launched an advocacy campaign called Home Grown in an effort to decrease the loss of farmland to development. “Once it’s paved over, it’s gone forever,” the organization says. Home Grown focuses on protecting and preserving farmland and domestic food production, and is designed to increase awareness on the issue and… Read More
Addressing the growing labour and talent shortage in Canadian agriculture is going to require a multi-pronged approach of awareness, education and training, and connection between job seekers and job opportunities. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is building off a successful first year of the Feeding Your Future initiative with a full year of virtual… Read More
Three of Ontario’s ministries (Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Health; and Labour, Training and Skills Development) have committed to a strategy to prevent COVID-19 transmission, and protect workers and the province’s food supply chain ahead of next year’s growing season. The joint government-industry Prevention, Control and Outbreak Support Strategy for COVID-19 in Ontario’s Farm Workers… Read More
A Freedom of Information request filed earlier this year asking for the names and business numbers of all farm businesses in Ontario has been withdrawn. A joint release put out by all three of the province’s general farm organizations states that, following a lengthy period of mediation, the request for the list of names has… Read More
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada) recently presented to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit to advocate for better health and safety protections for migrant workers labouring in the Windsor, Ont., area. The county and area has been hard hit by COVID-19 at local farms and farm businesses, including hundreds of positive cases… Read More
The Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) has been accepted as an organizational member of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). The OFA is one of three farm policy organizations in Ontario, and represents 38,000 farm members. OFA has 51 County Federations of Agriculture and includes 31 organizational members and affiliates representing a majority of Ontario’s… Read More
Following the retirement of Neil Currie come the end of August, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has announced its new general manager. Cathy Lennon will take over, bringing a “plethora of experience.” “OFA is grateful to the long-term leadership of retiring general manager Neil Currie,” says Keith Currie, OFA president. “He had led our… Read More
The news Ontario’s new government, led by Premier Doug Ford, has announced its plan to expand natural gas access to families and businesses throughout rural and Northern Ontario. Speaking at the 2018 International Plowing Match & Rural Expo this week, Premier Food says he plans to introduce legislation to develop a new natural gas program. If passed,… Read More
Our lives and businesses all depend on not just decent cell service, but also useful Internet speeds. It’s not just our homes and farms that need real Internet — the businesses and services farmers and ranchers depend on require high-speed Internet to stay competitive and relevant, too. Those who live and work in rural areas… Read More
While the deficit amount as a percentage of GDP is small, the real number is large. Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government unveiled its 2018 budget which includes a $6.7 billion deficit, with planned deficits for the next six years. Rolling out $20.3 billion in new spending over three years, this pre-election budget is focused on health… Read More
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is building support for its vision of Ontario agriculture and food and it’s banking on a new partnership with other key stakeholders to make politicians take notice. With a provincial election campaign just over three months away, OFA travelled to Queen’s Park last week to ask politicians to spread… Read More
If you need any more evidence that times are changing in farming, look no further than a new partnership between the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and an activist group called Environmental Defence. You likely know the former. The OFA describes itself as Canada’s largest voluntary farm organization, representing more than 36,000 farm families across… Read More
It’s estimated that an average of 350 acres of arable land per day are gobbled up in Ontario alone. While urban sprawl may have less of an acres-per-day impact in less populous provinces, the permanent loss of farmland is and should be a major concern not just for farmers, but for urbanites, too. When’s the last… Read More
New Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) president Keith Currie is anxious to bring the Ontario agriculture industry together and rebuild trust in the OFA. The general farm organization’s leadership has come under fire from farmers and other provincial commodity groups in recent years for playing too nice with the Ontario government. “There’s some fracturing that’s… Read More
Keith Currie, who farms at Collingwood, Ont., is currently one of two vice presidents of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). Early next week, he’ll stand in front of the membership and ask them to vote him in as the new president, following two years of leadership under Don McCabe. It’s a critical time for policy… Read More