For the second year in a row, Oxford County is poised to scale back its farm tax ratio – something other rural Ontario municipalities have not done, despite pressure from agricultural lobby organizations. Why it matters: Farmers have seen double digit increases in their tax bills due to the most recent round of MPAC evaluations, […] Read more
Tag Archives ontario federation of agriculture — page 4
Oxford County stands apart for tax ratio review
Committee recommends decreasing ratio for second year running
Agriculture and supply chain part of essential service list
COVID-19 driven shut down of non-essential Ontario businesses to start at the end of Tuesday
Updated March 23, 9 p.m. to include details about essential service listing and agriculture businesses. Ontario’s non-essential businesses will be shut down as of midnight Tuesday night in order to continue to fight COVID-19. Alist released late Monday, March 23 includes farmers and the agriculture supply chain on the essential list. Ontario Premier Doug Ford […] Read more
Crop input availability should be normal despite COVID-19
Farmers should take steps to limit risk of future disruption, says GFO CEO
Barring some changes to business interaction behaviours, producers should be able to access production inputs as usual this growing season – but accessing seasonal labour is another story. Why it matters: Currently, the supply of fertilizer, chemicals, seed, and other inputs remain unaffected by the spread COVID-19 and subsequent mitigation efforts. Keith Currie, president […] Read more
More technology tested for phosphorus removal
The latest innovation will filter water at a pumping station, from tile and surface runoff
The Thames River Phosphorus Reduction Collaborative (PRC) is moving ahead with the testing of additional technologies that intercept and remove phosphorus from agricultural runoff. Phosphorus entering the system contributes to the growth of harmful algal blooms in the Thames River and Lake Erie. In one of the projects west of Chatham, a removal and recovery […] Read more
Pushing back against pot
The rapid expansion of cannabis production in rural areas has prompted residents, farmers and municipalities to call for a slowdown in growth
Ontario’s rapidly growing cannabis production sector is facing a backlash after the addition of many new growing facilities has resulted in interim control bylaws from municipalities and the formation of local protest groups unhappy with smell and traffic. Why it matters: Cannabis production in Canada has grown quickly since legalization a year ago last October. […] Read more
The fine line between protest and provocation
The Ontario Provincial Police says it has farmers’ backs when it comes to trespassing, but the right to peaceful protest also has its place. “You have the right to peaceful protest. That’s part of our key message: We live in a country with freedom of expression,” says Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, of the OPP. However, once […] Read more
Currie appointed to climate change committee
The agriculture sector will have a voice on the premier’s Advisory Committee on Climate Change. Ontario Federation of Agriculture President Keith Currie was recently appointed to the new committee. “I’m pretty excited to have agriculture around the table,” said Currie in an interview. “I think agriculture is climate change’s best-kept secret.” Carbon sequestration by agriculture […] Read more
Ontario introduces farm trespass act
The legislation aims to protect farmers from trespassers and damage they might cause
Updated Dec. 2 The Ontario government introduced a bill Dec. 2 aimed at discouraging people who would interfere with livestock production and transportation. The legislation, Security From Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act, 2019, will increase fines for trespassers, protect farmers from civil liability from people injured while trespassing, and limit the interaction protesters are […] Read more
Fence disputes to fall to municipalities to resolve
The Line Fences Act has provided a province-wide system for fence dispute resolution
The provincial government is eliminating the Line Fences Act, which has kept the peace relating to property border fences in rural Ontario for generations. The act will be eliminated in two years if Bill 132, a large piece of legislation designed to reduce government regulation across 15 ministries – called an omnibus bill – passes. […] Read more
Currie wins fourth term as Ontario Federation of Agriculture president
Peggy Brekveld and Mark Reusser were re-elected as vice-presidents for the next year
Keith Currie is back as president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). Currie won a fourth one-year term as president at the OFA annual meeting Nov. 18, 2019 in Hamilton. The Simcoe County farmer won a close election over Peggy Brekveld, who has been an OFA vice president for the past five years. She […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
