During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is closely monitoring updates and recommendations from government and public health officials.

OFA staff are working from home offices and will be available during regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to serve members at 1-800-668-3276. Visit the OFA staff directory or a listing of all Member Service Representatives (MSR) for contact information.

We have compiled key information on this webpage to assist the agri-food sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business Resources

OFA’s Guide for Direct Sales to Consumers During COVID-19 and Beyond provides ideas for alternative market channels, safety protocols when selling direct, and how to market your operation using social media and other online tools.

OFA’s Guide to Operating your Essential Farm Business during COVID-19 includes how to safely facilitate business interactions and how to respond to COVID-19 exposure on your farm.

Farm Life and OFA’s Crisis Management Tools for contingency planning consist of a farm succession readiness indicator, emergency transition indicator, and farm life crisis tip sheet.

Ontario’s Agriculture Health and Safety During COVID-19 webpage provides resources and information to help keep farm business operations and workers safe during COVID-19, and is also available in Spanish and Thai.

Ontario’s COVID-19: Help for businesses in Ontario webpage provides information about government programs and supports during COVID-19.

Ontario’s Resources to Prevent COVID-19 in the Workplace webpage provides guidance as well as posters for your workplace.

Agricorp’s News webpage provides all the latest updates on Agricorp programs and deadlines.

Ontario’s Pesticides training and certification webpage provides information regarding pesticide certification during COVID-19.

Workforce/Human Resources

OFA’s Stay-at-Home Exemption Letter, updated on January 14, 2021, can be filled out and printed to identify that your business is permitted to stay open, your employees are able to travel, and the list of essential activities related to agriculture that are exempt. The template letter is available in both English and French.

Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association COVID-19 and Ontario’s Fruit and Vegetable Sector webpage provides information and resources to support fruit and vegetable growers and workers during COVID-19, such as a list of hotel accommodations for seasonal workers.

Ontario’s Working with farm operators to stop the spread of COVID-19 on farms webpage provides information on how to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak on the farm and how farm workers can get tested, including posters on voluntary testing in a number of languages.

OFA’s Feeding Your Future initiative offers free virtual career fairs, webinars, training and information to support agri-food employers during COVID-19 and beyond.

Ontario’s Agri-Food Jobs Portal is designed to help the agri-food sector find workers.

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services COVID-19 Resources for Agriculture webpage provides information, training and resources to ensure the safety of workers during COVID-19. Their COVID-19 resource hub includes resource sheets with guidance and safety tips.

Employment and Social Development Canada COVID-19: A Guide for Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada provides information about COVID-19 for Temporary Foreign Workers and is also available in French and Spanish.

Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council AgriHR Toolkit provides employers with HR templates and resources and is available to OFA members as a free annual membership using the discount code OFA-TOOLKIT at checkout.

Ontario’s Workplace PPE Supplier Directory provides a list of companies that sell personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety supplies.

Funding Programs

OFA’s Summary of Government Financial Assistance for Ontario Farm Businesses provides a list of federal and provincial programs and financial assistance that may be relevant to farm businesses.

Mental Health Resources

OFA’s Managing Stress During COVID-19 webpage provides resources to support mental health during COVID-19. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.

The 8 Domains of Well-Being…COVID-19 Style provided by Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton. This resource was designed to help stimulate ideas for well-being activities during COVID-19.

General COVID-19 Resources

• Ontario COVID-19 webpage
• Ontario COVID-19 testing locations
• Sector-specific guidelines
• Local public health units
• Public Health Canada
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA)
• Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC)
• Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS)