By Drew Spoelstra, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

We’re fully into summer across Ontario which means farmers are hard at work in fields, orchards, vineyards and greenhouses. Despite the busy season though, they’re also deeply engaged in the policy, economic and environmental issues shaping agriculture’s future.

That was made clear at two virtual Presidents’ Roundtables recently hosted by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), where leaders of local federations across the province gathered to share updates, concerns, and successes.

As provincial president of the OFA – and a farmer myself – I was pleased to be part of these meetings alongside other board members and hear firsthand what is on the minds of farmers this summer of 2025.

From northern to southern Ontario, certain themes dominated the conversation, especially land use and the need to preserve farmland in the face of development pressure, energy projects, and non-agricultural land uses.

Land use continues to be one of the most urgent and widespread issues facing Ontario farmers. Members from southern, central, eastern and northern Ontario federations of agriculture raised concerns about urban boundary expansions, expropriation, and community frustrations over lack of local input into decision-making.

Special Economic Zones and their potential to override planning protections for farmland, were also raised, as well as challenges around land severances and rural land classifications, and the implications of strong mayor powers potentially sidelining rural priorities.

Landfill expansion on agriculture land and near sensitive areas is concerning in many areas. OFA continues to advocate for better solutions in waste management that include strict requirements for site development and reduces the impact on agriculture.

There is also increasing pressure on farmland from battery energy storage and wind turbine projects, not just in terms of lost land, but also strain on local rural infrastructure, emergency services, and water resources.

Rising costs on the farm, declining market conditions across many sectors and ongoing global and North American trade uncertainty continue to be challenges that farmers are worried about. These are issues that OFA is monitoring and we are working toward supportive solutions and better risk management tools for farm members.

Farm safety and road safety were highlighted as continued priorities, especially given the tragic tally of farm-related accidents so far this year. This is particularly important in areas where farms are close to urban areas or busy cottage or recreation regions and motorists and farm vehicles have to share the roads. OFA’s Revive Fund has been supporting safety projects led by local federations in an effort to draw attention to this critical issue.

News headlines are showing the challenges of U.S. farmers who are now struggling with losing their farm workers under the Trump administration’s new approaches to immigration. Seasonal and temporary foreign workers (TFWs) are also a critical part of our food supply chain here in Ontario, particularly for fruit and vegetable growers.

During the pandemic, attempts to replace TFWs with local labour failed, resulting in unharvested crops and financial challenges for farm businesses. Simply put, much of the local produce we know, love and depend on simply couldn’t be grown without foreign workers.

Despite the challenges, there is also good news to share. Farmers across Ontario are engaging in events like breakfast meetings, political bus tours, agritourism and community banquets to foster strong relationships with all levels of government and help our elected officials gain insight into the where our food comes from and how important agriculture is to the daily lives of Ontarians.

There’s optimism in places like Prince Edward County, where grain terminal expansion is on the horizon, and Brantford, which is welcoming new food processing capacity. Farmers also applauded Hamilton City Council’s support for limiting urban sprawl to protect farmland and are welcoming the investments into the new vet school at Lakehead University that will help alleviate the critical shortage of veterinarians in Ontario.

Beyond the Presidents’ Roundtables, OFA also recently hosted a networking night with leaders from many of OFA’s member organizations who came together to share insights and strengthen partnerships.

From goat producers and greenhouse growers to pork, beef, and Christmas tree farmers, the event showcased the diversity of Ontario agriculture and the shared challenges ahead, including tariffs, trade, weather and more.

For me, the event underscored the importance of continuing to connect, of working together to address common problems and learning more about each other so that as an industry, we are better able to engage and act when challenges arise.

Despite economic uncertainty, regulatory frustration, and climate impacts, Ontario farmers are focused, engaged, and passionate about what they do – and proud to be growing food for Ontarians.

Through shared advocacy and strong collaboration, we are working together to protect farmland, improve farm safety, and help ensure a vibrant future for agriculture in every region of the province.

 

For more information, contact:

Tyler Brooks
Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-994-2578
comms@ofa.on.ca