A truth that is deemed to be universal, is the fact that the most valuable resource of any business is the people. Regardless of technology, automation or other means, human capital remains essential in ensuring the continued production of high-quality food, fibre and fuel. The entire food value chain relies on people to fill planting, production, quality control, processing and distribution roles to keep the agri-food system strong and viable.

Do you know where your food comes from? It’s a simple question with a surprisingly complex answer. Our food security and the economies that rely on it are dependent on a complicated agricultural supply chain – one that starts on the farm and ends at the dinner table.

As the days start to get warmer, farm equipment across the province will begin hitting the roadways for planting season. Many farmers spend a lot of time on the road throughout the spring, travelling long distances between fields and back to their farms.

An important aspect of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has always been our grassroots engagement through county and regional federations across the province.

Across Ontario’s agri-food sector, health and safety has always been a main priority in keeping farms, employees and customers safe. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the importance of health and safety was taken to a new level with additional practices and procedures put in place to help control and slow the spread of the coronavirus in an effort to keep businesses up and running.

In December 2020, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) announced a new project aimed at enhancing tools and resources for Francophone farmers – Our Agriculture: Cultivating Opportunities for Ontario’s Francophone Farm Families.

Each year, farm leaders, industry stakeholders and government officials gather together to discuss key issues and priorities impacting Canadian agriculture at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) Annual General Meeting.

As we approach the one-year mark of living this virtual lifestyle, access to fast, reliable broadband continues to be a hot button issue for many farmers and rural residents. People have adapted to working from home, learning from home, delivering e-commerce platforms from home and even participating in recreational activities from home.

As we balance lockdowns and restrictions, social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders, outdoor activities have become our only solace throughout COVID-19 and Mother Nature has provided Ontarians with a true Canadian winter resulting in sub-zero chills and large quantities of snow.

As we continue to work through this busy year, many farmers may find themselves so consumed in the daily demands of their farm business that government work and legislative activity isn’t always top of mind. Currently, the Ontario government is in the midst of determining where investments should be placed as priorities shift towards rebuilding an economy hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis.