Each year, the week leading up to Thanksgiving is Ontario Agriculture Week. With fall harvest in full swing and Ontarians marking the holiday with gatherings and special meals, it’s an ideal time to celebrate food and farming in Ontario.

It’s fall in Ontario and harvest is in full swing on farms across the province. It’s an important time of year for farmers as it’s when we bring in the crops we’ve been nurturing all season long and prepare our fields and farms for the winter season.

Fruit and vegetable growers in Canada have long been asking for the federal government to establish legislation that would ensure they get paid for their crops if a produce buyer goes bankrupt.

Fall means harvest for most farmers – and for members of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), it also means the start of what we often call meeting season. The business of our farm organizations is year-round, but events and meetings for farmers or that need farmer involvement most often take place in fall and winter when we’re least busy with activities on the farm.

Farming can be full of unexpected crises, from market volatility and crop losses due to bad weather to tragedies like barn fires. Having security and stability to ensure Ontario farmers remain profitable and protected is vital to the viability of the farming industry and the Ontario economy.

Farmers more than most people have a very close relationship with the environment. We depend on air, soil, and water to grow our crops and raise our livestock, so we know first-hand how important it is to care for and nurture our natural ecosystems as best as we can.

Fall is the opportune time to celebrate the bounty that is Ontario agriculture, the hardworking individuals that produce our food and to reconnect. As you make your pre-harvest to do list The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) encourages everyone to prioritize industry events, sourcing local and reconnecting with peers. It’s been a long two-years with cancelled events, pivots to virtual platforms and we’re greatly looking forward to re-connecting with our members in person this fall.

This year marked the return of the annual Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) board tour after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a highlight on the calendar of OFA board members as it gives us an opportunity to get an in-depth look at agriculture in a specific region of Ontario and learn about the issues and challenges facing our fellow farmers in that area.

Few outside the farming community would realize that many farmers begin to plan for the next season before the current one is done. Thoughts are already turning to next year’s crop questions, including how we will feed the crop with nutrients and ensure soil health. This means planning for fertilizer and best management practices around its use.

It might be hard to think about winter when we’re still in the middle of summer, but if you’re a livestock farmer, that’s exactly what is suggested. Specifically, it’s time now to think about how and when you’re going to get manure on the fields before the ground becomes frozen and snow-covered.