Agriculture lives at the heart of our economy and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is proud to represent 51 county and regional federations and 38,000 farm business members across the province. Each farm experiences a unique set of challenges, but also many shared opportunities, which is where our federations find their unified voice.

The agriculture and food industry is a key driver of Canada’s economy, ensuring our grocery shelves stay stocked and our food supply chain strong and viable. Each day, our farmers take the extra step to ensure resiliency in the province’s food supply chain by growing healthy and sustainable food locally.

Later this year, we will be saying goodbye to three valued members of our board. Serving on a board is a great honour and these three farmers, nominated by our membership, have dedicated their time to representing the best interests of 38,000 farm families in Ontario.

In Ontario, our farmers use many strategies to support the growth of our crops while being environmentally conscious. Pesticides are a vital tool that can be used to safely manage pests that can be harmful to the health and quality of a farmer’s crop. These products are strategically used to minimize risk to beneficial species and allows for a biodiverse and robust ecological system that functions more efficiently to provide Canadians with a sustainable and secure food system.  

Farm life is busy and as we juggle its daily demands, we often forget that the farm’s most precious resource is the people behind it. Always remember, you are your farm’s most valuable asset.

COVID-19 continues to hinder in person gatherings and has led to another year of cancelled industry events. We wholeheartedly miss interacting with our farming families, commodity partners and industry stakeholders at in-person shows.

A lot of the problems that occur on a farm are tangible, meaning there is a direct cause and effect as to what the problem is. For example, a dysfunctional grain leg, broken-down equipment or a fence that needs mending. These are all obvious issues that we try to resolve right away to prevent a lack of productivity. But, what about the issues we don’t see?

As a kid, I watched a lot of Sesame Street. Children’s shows have an entertaining way of teaching life lessons. Muppets still make me laugh when I think about crumbs in the bed and the fly in the soup. In between the skits were life skills. One had a catchy tune that I can still hum to this day – “one of these things is not like the others…” The screen would show balloons or shapes and challenge viewers to find the one that didn’t fit. Oftentimes, the outlier was obvious. From an early age, we are taught to look for differences.

Sometimes, you leave a meeting and think, “That was a great meeting. I am really glad that happened.” It can be an insightful comment, an engaged group of participants, action to follow up on, or confirmation the organization is on the right track. I had one of those meetings recently.

What makes Ontario’s agri-food industry strong is the abundance of strong, confident and spirited farmers we have leading our organizations and businesses, striving towards building a bright future for the next generation. As an organization governed by grassroots, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) values the power of leadership. We understand the importance of utilizing the voice of our membership. OFA aims to develop leaders within our 51 county and regional federations, encouraging a new wave to pursue a role at the provincial level.