Ontario’s Drainage Act is one of the oldest and most unique pieces of legislation in the province. For more than 160 years, farmers have relied on the Drainage Act to regulate the construction, maintenance and repair of municipal drains.

In principle we all want the same thing – clean water and a healthy environment. Ontario is home to one of the most diverse natural landscapes and environments in the country. We’re fortunate to have an expanse of natural watercourses and wetlands that protect and sustain our ecosystems, provide wildlife habitat, manage floods and weather events, and so much more.

As an agricultural industry, we are making significant strides in breaking down barriers and stigma around mental health. Dr. Andria Bitton-Jones and her PhD student, Briana Hagen helped to propel this issue into mainstream conversation and were recognized this week at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s Annual General Meeting with Brigid Rivoire Award for Champions of Agricultural Mental Health, nominated for this award by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).

The second rail service interruption in a matter of months is creating serious economic, social and animal welfare concerns for Ontario farmers and rural communities. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), along with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and fellow agricultural and agri-business organizations, are calling on the federal government to find an immediate solution to the disrupted rail service.

Land use planning and the policies governing it are of keen interest to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and our farming members – primarily from the perspective of preserving productive agricultural land for its broadest uses.

Ontario’s farmers are leaders in innovation and adaptation. This is evidenced not only in the way we embrace technology, but also the farm practices we use to ensure that we are competitive, sustainable and profitable – not just for 2020, but for the future generations that farm after us.

Pushing for sound public investments in rural Ontario is a priority for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). We know that investments in our rural communities will jump-start growth, farming, agri-businesses, and in turn stimulate the entire provincial economy. And it’s our job to remind government of these necessary investments – in roads and bridges, broadband, access to affordable energy, schools and healthcare.

Behind every agricultural policy decision, there are real people affected. Real farmers. Near the end of 2019, the provincial government announced critical changes to how processing tomatoes and carrots are marketed in Ontario.

The Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act came into effect January 1, 2020. This new statute replaces the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and brings with it an updated, more uniform approach to delivering animal welfare enforcement in Ontario.

Clean, safe drinking water is one of the most essential resources on a farm and in a home. Here in Ontario, we’re fortunate to have an ample supply of fresh, safe and sustainable groundwater. Ontario’s groundwater is monitored through the Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network, that shares the responsibility with conservation authorities, municipalities and cities to regularly test and monitor the quality and safety of our provincial drinking water. Regular water quality testing of private wells is the responsibility of the property or well owner.