By Steve Brackenridge, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

The deadline for membership renewal in the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is quickly approaching.

There are several ways that farmers, farm businesses and agricultural organizations can hold a membership in the OFA, which is the leading advocate and strongest voice for Ontario’s farmers.

The most common membership is Farm Business Registration. Ontario farm businesses that earned a gross income of at least $7,000 in the past year must register through Agricorp to qualify for certain programs and benefits.

These include farm vehicle license plates and the farm property class tax rate for farmland, as well as access to apply for special agricultural government programs, like compensation for crops and livestock lost to wildlife, and cost-share funding for initiatives to improve soil health and water quality or protecting species at risk.

Another OFA membership option is the Individual Farm Membership, which is open to individuals who are or have been directly involved in farming but who do not otherwise quality for Farm Business Registration.

And finally, OFA’s membership also includes more than 30 Ontario commodity and agricultural organizations, who share our belief in the strength of partnerships and working together towards achieving common goals.

Every year, when farmers complete their Farm Business Registration, they choose which of Ontario’s three accredited farm organizations they wish to belong to and support with their membership fee.

I’m a maple syrup producer and grow field crops alongside offering consulting services and equipment to fellow maple syrup producers and selling agricultural seeds and fertilizers. I’m also a director on the board of the OFA, where I represent farmers from Durham Region, Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton.

Why should farmers choose the OFA as their farm organization of choice? Most simply, we are the trusted voice that turns farmer concerns and needs into action, and we do this through:

• Advocacy – helping policymakers understand who farmers are and what we do, and what impact their decisions have on those of us who produce food, fuel, fibre and flowers.
• Partnerships – building impactful partnerships with government, other farm organizations and industry partners on tools and solutions to keep farms strong.
• Unified voice – OFA is a strong, united voice for farmers and rural communities on topics from taxation and farmland preservation to farmer wellness, rural infrastructure and more.

As Ontario’s largest general farm organization, the OFA has a depth of skill and expertise in advocacy and farm policy research that lets us respond thoughtfully and thoroughly to the ongoing stream of government legislation that may have impact on our sector.

We have strong relationships with other Ontario farm, agriculture and commodity organizations that encourage partnership and collaboration in our sector. We may not always agree on everything, but we can have healthy discussions and respect each others’ positions.

Every year, we host an outreach day at Queen’s Park where our board meets with elected representatives and political staff from all parties. This past year, we completed 34 meetings in a single day – more than we ever have before at an event like this – and everyone we met with, including cabinet ministers and party leaders were engaged and interested in learning more about agriculture and the issues we care about.

Agriculture, after all, is a leading economic driver and employer in Ontario, contributing more than $50 billion to the provincial economy and supporting jobs for 11% of the provincial workforce – which is why it’s important for the sector to have a strong advocacy organization like OFA working on its behalf.

We are also strongly engaged municipally through the Rural Ontario Municipal Association and the Association of Ontario Municipalities, where we share many of the same infrastructure goals. Roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, affordable energy and reliable internet and cellular services – farmers need this type of infrastructure as much as communities do, and here too, there is strength in united voices.

And finally, the OFA offers its members a well-rounded member benefit program, which provides discounts on products and services like vehicles, insurance, travel, media, hearing support, business management and transition planning.

We appreciate the support of our members and their trust in us to represent their interests in ways that help ensure Farms and Food Forever.

For more information, contact:

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