Whether you are new to farming or exploring new opportunities, OFA has gathered these resources to help you start and grow your farm business.
Accessing Farmland
If you want to start a farm business or are interested in expanding, you will need to explore options for renting or purchasing land. Below are some resources that can help you get started in finding land zoned for agricultural use:
Resources
- To buy land, contact a real estate agent in the area you wish to buy
- Farms.com maintains a list of land available in North America
- Farmlink.net maintains a nationwide inventory of farm opportunities
- Findfarmland.ca maintains a provincewide inventory of farm opportunities
- Ontario Farmer Marketplace section includes real estate ads
- Applicant’s Guide to applying for Crown land for agriculture purposes in Northern Ontario – Learn about the requirements to purchase Crown land for farming in the North
Navigating Taxes
Ontario farm businesses are required to navigate through several unique tax situations. From selling crops or livestock to passing the farm down to the next generation, almost every decision made by farmers have some type of tax implication. OFA has resources to help you navigate these situations.
A farm business registration (FBR) number is not needed to begin farming in Ontario. Farm businesses that gross more than $7,000 in farm income are required to register their farm business with Agricorp to obtain an FBR. Having an FBR provides additional benefits, such as access to funding programs and eligibility for the Farm Property Tax Class Rate Program. If you are new to the industry and your business has not yet grossed $7,000 in gross farm income, you can still be eligible for the farm tax rate by applying for an income exemption to the FBR requirement.
Farmers are advised to seek advice from a tax expert who specializes in agriculture to handle complex tax situations, such as HST registration, tax treatment of farm equipment, or succession planning.
Resources
- OFA Taxation Issue Page
- OFA Farmland Tax Puzzle
- Agricorp is the provincial agency responsible for delivering risk management programs and administering the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program
Exploring Market Opportunities
Just starting out or looking to expand your farm? Consider what types of farm products you would like to produce, and how you will market your products. Ontario is home to many commodity and agricultural organizations that provide support and information.
Resources
- Commodity and Agriculture Organizations – OMAFA keeps a directory of local boards, marketing boards and representative associations
- Agriculture and Food – OMAFA provides information on crop and livestock production
- Farm business decision calculators – OMAFA provides crops and livestock budgeting tools
- OFA Cultivating Local – Check out OFA’s workshops for information on selling direct to consumers, including local food, agritourism, and value-added ventures.
Managing Your Farm Business
Your farm is a business. Budgeting, recordkeeping, and market analysis all go into building strong business plans that help you decide what activities to pursue, what to expand and what to reduce or eliminate to make your business a success.
Resources
- OFA Member Benefits - OFA’s Benefit Program offers a wide range of services and promotions exclusively for OFA members, delivering additional value to your farm business
- Cost of production for crops and livestock – OMAFA resource provides information on the economics and cost of production in Ontario
- Small Business Enterprise Centres – Ontario – Offers entrepreneurs all the tools they need to start and grow their businesses
- Human Resources on the Farm – Grain Farmers of Ontario share some useful resources to help make human resources on the farm easier for you
Planning for the Future
Succession/transition planning can involve the transfer of knowledge, skills, labour, management, control or ownership of the farm business. It can be tough for any farm family to sit down and start a discussion about succession planning and transitioning the family farm. Each family farm business is unique, and no single approach works for everyone.
Resources
- Talk to your financial advisor at your financial institution to learn if they offer support with succession and retirement planning
- Farm Life – Farm Life brings farm families together and works to build continuity through succession, transition and tax efficient estate plans. OFA members receive a complimentary consultation and a reduced rate.
- Let’s talk transition with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) – FCC Advisory Services is a complimentary program designed to help farm families gain clarity, identify goals and determine the next steps in their transition journey.
- Farm Succession Planning Guide – OMAFA guide to learn about the importance of farm succession planning and how to create a succession plan for your farm. This information is for commercial livestock and crop farmers in Ontario.
- Succession Planning – Scotia Bank – Scotia Farm Legacy Services offer support to develop a practical succession and retirement plan
Connecting and Networking
Connecting with other farmers and networking at events is great way to advance your learning, gain support from peers, and strengthen your mental wellness. OFA and other organizations offer many opportunities throughout the year to meet with fellow farmers.
Resources
- OFA Events Calendar – Learn about the various events throughout the year where you can connect with farmers and business support services
- Commodity and Agriculture Organizations – There are many commodity and agricultural organizations that can support you with networking and learning opportunities
- Local Federations - Ontario Federation of Agriculture – The OFA supports 51 county and regional federations across the province. Find your local federation for more information about what is going on your area or how to get involved
- Agriculture and Agri-food Economic Development Events – OMAFA maintains a community calendar for agriculture and regional economic development clients
- Junior Farmers Association of Ontario - Junior Farmers provides opportunities for young people ages 15-29 to connect with other young people committed to supporting their rural communities
- 4-H Ontario – 4-H Ontario offers programming for youth ages 6-21 to learn about a diverse range of topics, from livestock to life skills, through hands-on activities
Learning and Growing
As the agricultural sector evolves, there are always opportunities for you to learn. Agriculture organizations, like OFA, and academic institutions offer webinars and courses for farmers on a variety of topics.
Resources
- OFA Webinars – Check out past webinars hosted by OFA posted on our website. Sign up for OFA’s email list or follow us on social media to learn about upcoming events
- OFA Cultivating Local – Check out OFA’s workshops for information on selling direct to consumers, including local food, agritourism, and value-added ventures
- Environmental Farm Plan – Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association host workshops to support farmers interested in completing an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) to increase environmental awareness on the farm. After completing your EFP, you may be able to access cost-share programs to implement actions to improve environmental conditions
- OSCIA Workshops and Events – Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association host workshops and webinars on a variety of topics, including on-farm biosecurity programs
- FCC Launch: Enhance your farm business management skills – An intensive 12-week virtual learning experience for agriculture producers
- Foundations in Agricultural Management – A free online course that covers agricultural business strategy and planning, farm management, succession planning and financial fundamentals
- Ontario Colleges: Agriculture programs – Ontario Colleges host many agriculture programs, from farming and livestock management to agriculture technology and agriculture law and policy
- Farm and Food Care – Farm and Food Care offers resources aimed at building public trust in food and farming in Ontario. This includes FarmFood360 virtual farm tours for different commodities
- Farms at Work – Farms at Work offers farming resources on starting a farm, farm business financing and farm business diversification
Taking Care: Mental Wellness
You are your most important resource. Balanced mental health and wellness is crucial for farmers and their families. Livestock and equipment require regular care and maintenance and so do you. Even when the demands on the farm are high, it’s important to include yourself on the priority list.
Resources
- OFA’s Making Wellness Matter – OFA shares tools and resources to support mental health and wellness
- Agriculture Wellness Ontario – offers mental health support, education and community for Ontario agriculture
Finding Funding Programs
Through federal and provincial governments and agriculture organizations there are a wide variety of funding programs available to Ontario farmers to support your farm business.
Resources
- OFA Farm Finance and Loan Programs Issue Page
- AgPal Program and Service Finder – AgPal helps farmers and agri-businesses find relevant resources using search and navigation tools
- Agricultural Adaptation Council – AAC is an industry-led organization that stimulates growth and opportunity for Ontario's agriculture and food industry through the delivery of funding programs, facilitating connections, and developing partnerships
- Agricultural Credit Corporation (ACC) – ACC offers low-cost operating loans for planting through to market. ACC can assist new producers in facilitating operating credit to accommodate their farm business plans
- Advance Payments Program (APP) – The Advance Payments Program is a federal loan guarantee program which provides agricultural producers with easy access to low-cost cash advances.
- OSCIA Cost-Share Programs – The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association delivers several cost-share funding programs that support Ontario’s farmers in implementing best management and sustainability practices on their farms
- Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (S-CAP) – Through this Federal-Provincial-Territorial partnership, several funding opportunities are available for agriculture, agri-food and agri-based businesses
- Canadian Agricultural Loans Act Program– The federal government has a loan guarantee program designed to increase the availability of loans to farmers and agricultural co-operatives
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OFA has a strong team located strategically across the province. Visit our Contact Us page to get in touch.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) has an Agricultural Information Contact Centre (AICC). Contact the AICC for general inquiries about farms and agribusinesses by phone at (877) 424-1300 or by email at ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.
Resource and program availability change regularly. Please visit this webpage often to find the latest information.