Ontario farmers doubt Canada's ag policy boosts business, a new survey suggests Wednesday, July 11, 2012 by SUSAN MANNForty-three per cent of Ontario agri-business owners participating in a business organization’s survey said the current national agricultural policy agreement was ineffective in boosting the competitiveness of their businesses.And only one per cent of the 400 Ontario responses in the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s Future of Agriculture Policy survey said the Growing Forward policy framework met their expectations, says Marilyn Braun-Pollon, the federation’s vice-president, prairie and agri-business.Another 22 per cent said the framework was somewhat effective in enhancing the competitiveness of their businesses.So what are farmers looking for in the next national policy agreement, called Growing Forward 2, being negotiated now by the federal, provincial and territorial governments?Ontario farmers are on board with their counterparts across Canada in calling for governments to focus on regulatory reform, total tax burden reduction and market access improvements for Canadian farm products as part of the next agreement that governments want to finalize by this fall. Growing Forward 2 will replace the current Growing Forward agreement when it expires on March 31, 2013.“These are the top priorities for government action in Growing Forward 2,” she says. “We want Growing Forward 2 to reflect these priorities.”Braun-Pollon says they hope these key items are the focus of discussions at the upcoming agriculture ministers’ meetings in September in Whitehorse, Yukon.The federation has already sent its report, Fostering Ag Competitiveness, to the federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers in June so they can digest it and “hopefully implement some of the suggested changes,” she says. The federation will be sharing the report and its priorities at the consultations being planned now for Ontario farmers and the provincial and federal agriculture ministers.“We’re calling on the government to ensure Growing Forward 2 drives productivity in the ag sector,” she says. About business risk management programs within Growing Forward 2, 42 per cent of survey respondents nationally said governments should design more responsive programs.Braun-Pollon says business risk management tools are a last resort but when farmers need them they have to work. “Our agri-business members have consistently called for more responsive, transparent, accessible, predictable and timely” business risk management programs.The survey results were part of the federation’s Fostering Ag Competitiveness report. A total of 1,049 agri-business owner members of the federation from across Canada completed the survey. It was done between January and March 2011.The federation has 7,200 independently owned and operated agri-business members. Seventy-five per cent of those are primary producers. A total of 2,800 of the 7,200 are from Ontario. BF Markets already resisting higher corn and soybean prices Invasive species strategy a 'great start'
RaboResearch says tariffs are disrupting global pork trade Wednesday, May 21, 2025 According to a recent report from Rabobank, pork prices have rebounded and remain strong despite shifting trade flows and growing economic and consumer uncertainties. Rabobank is a Dutch multinational banking and financial services company specializing in the global food and agricultural... Read this article online
Northern Ontario Farms Get Ag Plastic Recycling Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Northern Ontario agriculture communities have compacted 27 metric tons of agricultural plastics. The Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA), in partnership with the northern caucus of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), is proud to announce major progress in its... Read this article online
Ontario's Foodbelt: A Bold Move to Protect Farmland and Food Security Tuesday, May 13, 2025 The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the National Farmers Union, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, and Ontario Farmland Trust are collaborating with Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner and Haldimand-Norfolk independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady to introduce legislation aimed at... Read this article online
Protecting Plant Health Supports All Life Monday, May 12, 2025 Healthy plants are vital to the survival and well-being of people, animals, and nature. They clean the air, support biodiversity, and are the foundation of food and economic systems. On May 12, Canadians celebrate International Day of Plant Health. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)... Read this article online
V6 Agronomy Joins Port of Johnstown Deal Monday, May 12, 2025 V6 Agronomy has partnered with the Port of Johnstown (100 kilometres south of Ottawa) to build a national fertilizer hub. This long-term collaboration should support Canada’s food security, reduce input costs for farmers, and modernize the fertilizer supply chain using clean... Read this article online