The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is a provincial organization that represents Ontario’s farmers on the issues that matter to them. Most of those issues are provincial in nature, and we work with governments at the municipal and provincial levels to raise awareness and find solution to matters that impact farmers.

It’s that time of year again when many of us turn our attention to numbers and columns. For the Ontario government, it means turning its focus to the next provincial budget. As part of that process, they hold consultations to find out what Ontarians feel is important and to get input into where and how different groups and sectors of the economy think budget funding should be allocated.

Ontarians have long been supporters of local food, buying directly from farmers at on-farm markets, visiting the ever-growing number of farmers’ markets in the province, or encouraging local retailers to stock local products.

Last week marked the annual conference of the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA). For an advocacy organization like the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), the ROMA conference is a key event on the annual calendar. It’s where rural municipal leaders, rural stakeholders and government representatives come together to meet, network and discuss issues of importance to rural Ontario.

Earlier this month, John Deere, one of the world’s largest farm equipment manufacturers, signed a “right to repair” memorandum of understanding with the American Farm Bureau. This means farmers in the United States now have the right to fix their John Deere tractors and other farm equipment either themselves or through an independent third party.

A new year is upon us and for Ontario’s farmers, that means it’s time to renew their Farm Business Registration (FBR) for another year. It’s required by provincial law for any farm business in Ontario with gross income of at least $7,000 and brings with it a variety of benefits for farmers.

The start of a new year is often a time for resolution and goal setting. Whether that goal is to walk more steps each day, grow a better tomato or win first place at the 4-H club show, each one requires us to look at what we want to achieve and find ways to get there.

As the year comes to a close, farmers are wrapping up the last of the field work and preparing their farms for the winter. It’s also time to start focusing on getting ready for tax season. That means getting bookwork caught up, receipts and paperwork gathered and taking time to generally take stock of how the farm has performed from a business and financial standpoint over the past year.

When an athlete wins a major tournament, an Olympic medal or a world championship, it’s that sweet moment of victory and triumph that makes the headlines. It’s less often that you hear about the years of hard work, sacrifice and determination that helped them reach that level of success – and even rarer to hear about times of trial and failure.

It’s no secret that our world is facing some big challenges. Issues like climate change, environmental sustainability and food security are complex and far-reaching – and impacts are already being felt to varying degrees around the world. Farming can be a source of solutions for many of these challenges, but research and innovation are critical to helping make that happen.