Regional meeting season has officially kicked-off across the province with the Kent Federation of Agriculture hosting the first event last week. These locally hosted Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) meetings offer the opportunity for members in every region across Ontario to get involved and engaged in matters that directly impact farmers, their businesses and their communities.

Rural and remote communities in Ontario are experiencing a shortage of veterinary access. What does this look like? It looks like waiting four hours or more for a veterinarian to come out to your farm – if they can come at all. It looks like being forced to euthanize livestock to uphold animal welfare standards, even though the animal could be treated if timely service were available. It also looks like veterinarians are exhausted, overworked and doing their best to provide farmers and their livestock the quality service they require and deserve.

We have all seen the recent headlines highlighting the rising cost of groceries and cost of living. Whether you live rurally or urban; everyone is feeling the impact of inflation and the increased cost to feed our families. It’s more important now more than ever before to support your community growers and producers by sourcing local.

Empty grocery store shelves in the Netherlands have made headlines recently, as farmers blocked food distribution centres in protest of strict government nutrient regulations. They’re very worried that pending legislation will not only put many of them out of business but will also affect food production – potentially making those empty store shelves a more frequent occurrence in the future.

Trespassing on private property is an ongoing concern for Ontario farmers and is unfortunately heightened during the summer season. OFA wants to remind Ontarians that farmers work hard to maintain this landscape and use it to grow and raise healthy crops and livestock to feed the world. It is important to respect this process and avoid disrupting the growth of crops or livestock at a farmers’ expense.

With summer starting up, we all look forward to the bounty of fresh foods coming in season over the next few months. Juicy strawberries, summer salads, and fresh green beans are just a few of the delicious foods that we have access to thanks to a variety of pollinators in our Ontario ecosystem.

By Jackie Kelly-Pemberton, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Three years ago, Transport Canada updated its Grade Cross Regulations with new amendments that all public and private railway crossings in Canada must follow.…

We’re all feeling it. Whether fueling up at the gas pump or making a trip to the grocery store, increasing costs of these basic goods have never been more apparent. Putting food on the table and fueling transportation, while recovering from a global pandemic, has created serious financial strain on all of us. But the price spikes don’t end there. On top of groceries and fuel, farmers are experiencing a major increase in the cost of input supplies. Not only is this increasing financial pressure on farm businesses, but also impacting stress levels and overall mental health for the farming community.

With a diverse and extensive list of challenges to address across the agriculture industry, it’s important to have leaders that bring their own unique skills, perspectives and passions to the table.

Today, marks the kick-off of Local Food Week in Ontario. It’s an annual highlight for our industry and all the hardworking individuals that grow, nurture and harvest the food that nourishes Ontarians, the province and the world. This special week of recognition takes place from June 6-12 and is the opportune time to celebrate the abundance of fresh, healthy food that is grown, produced, and processed right here at home. It’s the perfect month to commemorate local food as the growing season gains momentum with early season favourites such as asparagus, field strawberries and rhubarb.