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By Bette Jean Crews, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Summer is known by most people as the time when farmers are busiest planting, growing and harvesting crops in their fields. There’s another responsibility many farmers will be working on over the next few months – working the fields of politics, seeking ways to improve the business environment for farming in Ontario.

Politicians at both the federal and provincial levels will be back in their ridings, attending barbecues and meeting their constituents, attempting to solidify support for the next elections.

This is when leaders of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, its staff and its members get to work meeting the politicians, going over the issues that are critical to agriculture. The list is widely varied ranging from market shortfalls to regulatory concerns to environmental and business sustainability. Some issues are new and some linger.

The need for improvements to risk management tools from both levels of government still tops the list of what farmers will be seeking when they meet their MPs and MPPs. Ontario commodity organizations have calculated a need for improvements to the AgriStability program retroactive to 2008. That necessary change would inject more than $100 million per year into Ontario farm businesses and help stabilize the farm community and our rural economy.

The implementation of Business Risk Management Plans across those commodities wishing it would further sustain these sectors through the years to come.

Farmers and their businesses would also benefit from changes to the property tax system in Ontario. Farm organizations have developed a simple definition of farming activities that include value-retention   activities, but we are still pushing for the adoption of that definition to clearly identify when the farm property tax class applies. These activities include everything from production of maple syrup to pitting and sugaring of cherries to packaging vegetables. Without these activities, there is no market for such products. That simply means they are farming activities.

OFA wants the province to commit to the cost of implementing source water protection plans – an important component of Ontario’s Clean Water Act. We also need government action to overcome delays in approvals for farm drainage work.

The province’s species at risk legislation has inherent costs and difficulties for farmers and rural municipalities. We encourage the province to ensure that the legislation is administered so that protection of habitat is balanced against farm businesses continuing to operate efficiently and for communities to continue to grow and develop.  If there is impingement to farming there must be compensation.

Farmers have identified other needs from both federal and provincial governments. The Environmental Farm Plans that so many farming operations have used to mitigate agriculture’s impacts on the environment needs continued and improved funding support.

Our members throughout the Greater Toronto Area want more consideration given to the needs of agriculture. Farmers in the Greenbelt find themselves being ignored by the province with preferential treatment going to environmental groups.

Both livestock and crops producers across the province are demanding more realistic action by the provincial government to stop the carnage of lambs and calves by coyotes and crops by elk, deer and turkeys. To this point, the Ministry of Natural Resources has provided recommendations for protecting livestock from coyotes and are developing an elk hunt, but no tangible action yet that will control the wildlife populations.

OFA members – Ontario farmers have much to discuss with our political leaders this summer.  The business of farming and food processing and distribution is big business in Ontario.  Our agri-food system needs Ontario farms to survive. Together, we employ 712,000 people across Ontario. That is big.  Our governments need to understand that and start taking care of business. It is our job to motivate them to do that this summer.

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By Bette Jean Crews, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Recurring damage on farms by Ontario’s exploding elk herd is an all-too-often repeated topic facing farmers and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

Another recurring topic directly related to this is the failure of the Ministry of Natural Resources to do something about the situation. This problem – the failure of the ministry to act – has gone on so long that some farmers are selling off their livestock and leaving their farms because of the elk.

The most recent instance of elk damage on a farm occurred in North Hastings County. The elk destroyed fencing on a farm allowing cattle and horses to escape, putting themselves and humans in the area in danger and injuring one of the horses when it became entangled in the fence wire. 

We need the ministry of natural resources to recognize the dangers in these situations and implement some serious remedies before more property damage is done and people are injured or killed.

The urgency for action seems straightforward. Why does government not see that every day that passes is another opportunity for serious damage?

Elk in that area was not a problem before 1998. In fact the absence of elk was viewed by government officials as a problem. The lack of elk prompted the government to implement a program to reintroduce elk into the area – some say there had never been elk in that part of the province previously.

The reintroduction took place with no ministry plans to control an over population. When the plan was first introduced, the target number was 250 elk. At that point the ministry was expected to take action to limit further growth, including a hunt.

Now some estimate the elk population in that area has now exceeded 500 animals, and OFA and farmers continue to wait for the ministry to implement a hunting season.

Instead, we hear ministry staff saying it is not responsible for the damage being done on area farms. This is unacceptable and unconscionable. Since December, Ministry staff has been working on the details of the regulations with the next step being a posting to the EBR for consultations before final implementation. All that takes valuable time.

We feel it is absolutely imperative to immediately develop the requisite policies and procedures necessary to begin issuing farmers the needed authorizations to take action against the marauding elk.

The thought of this happening has prompted the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters to call for government action to stop what they refer to as euthanization of the elk. OFAH members instead want the government to take action to introduce an elk management plan. An OFAH letter says the elk situation has been ‘mismanaged’ by the ministry.

OFA has consulted with OFAH in the call for a hunt. But, we believe a nuisance removal hunt is imperative now. If hunters are allowed to control the elk herd size, we know the job will be done, at least.

OFA has issued a letter to MNR Minister Jeffrey to ‘act quickly and aggressively to address the problems faced by North Hastings farmers from predatory elk.’

We can’t stand by any longer as more and more farmers are forced from their chosen livelihood by elk herds gone out of control.

1.       How would you describe the value of environmental farm plans for Ontario agriculture?

Ontario’s EFP Program was established 20 years ago as an educational and awareness tool to allow farmers to conduct a voluntary, self-administered, environmental risk assessment of their farming practices and then develop an EFP Action Plan to address identified risks. The value today is that farmers who have undertaken an EFP for their farming operation are better aware of what farm practices pose an environmental risk, and, more importantly, what actions can be taken to mitigate any environmental risks identified in their EFP.

An important aspect of the EFP Program is that funding is available to farmers to offset some of the capital costs associated with implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) that will mitigate identified environmental risks. Currently the federal funding tied to the EFP Program is the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship Program. There is no doubt that cost-share funding has accelerated the rate at which BMPs have been adopted in the province. It is also noteworthy that the development and verification of agricultural BMPs, and the publication of BMP manuals aimed at a farm audience are well integrated with Ontario’s EFP Program. Finally, the EFP Program serves as the foundation for a number of companion programs that utilize the delivery system that was originally designed for EFP Program delivery. These companion programs include: Ontario Drinking Water Stewardship Program; Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program; Lake Simcoe Farm Stewardship Program; and the Greenbelt Green Energy Program for Agriculture.  

2.       Do EFP offer any marketing or competitive advantage for Ontario farmers?

The EFP was never intended to offer a marketing or competitive advantage to those who participated. The intent was simply to use the EFP as a vehicle to raise awareness in the farming community of the potential for environmental risks associated with operating a farm business.

Having said that, the EFP has been recognized globally as a particularly effective environmental risk assessment tool for the farming community, and there may be particular purchasers of agricultural products willing to pay a premium to those who can demonstrate their participation in the EFP Program.

The goal of the EFP Program as articulated in the “Our Farm Environmental Agenda” document that first proposed the EFP Program in 1991 is that eventually all Ontario farmers will have completed an EFP. We are on track to achieve that goal and once it is achieved all agricultural products can be labeled as having been produced by farmers who each conduct their business with regard to an EFP tailored to their specific farm operation.

3.       Why do you think the EFP program has been so successful in Ontario, with an estimated 70% of farmers having completed one?

While there is no doubt that the cost-share funding that is available through the program plays a significant role in attracting EFP Program participants, there is also evidence that most , if not all, participants value the education and awareness elements of the program. For example, the EFP Program attracted approximately 2,000 participants per year in the 10 years that it was offered despite the fact that the financial assistance available was limited to $1500.

Farmers have a well developed environmental ethic and truly do feel an attachment to the land that they manage. They also readily accept the concept of “continuous improvement” and are eager to learn about new techniques and technologies. The EFP Program fit well with their environmental ethic and also with their willingness to learn about how they can conduct their businesses profitably (perhaps even more profitably) with less risk to the natural environment.  

4.       What makes EFP important to the OFA?

The OFA was a lead agency in preparing the “Our Farm Environmental Agenda” that first proposed the EFP, and subsequently has been involved in the development, delivery, and ongoing refinement of the EFP Program. Initially, the EFP Program was a response by farmers to the Environmental Bill of Rights proposed by Ontario’s NDP government elected in 1990. The main objective at that time was to demonstrate in a measurable way that farmers were environmentally responsible.

In the years since the OFA has come to see the EFP Program as an important service that it provides to its members through its lobby efforts. Society expects their food to be safe, nutritious and produced in an environmentally sustainable manner. The EFP satisfies societal expectations with regard to an environmentally sustainable system of primary food production.

5.       Where would Ontario agriculture be without EFP?

A good question? The environmental ethic of Ontario farmers is not a function of the EFP Program. It has been a characteristic of Ontario farmers for a very long time. However, the EFP provided a tool that allowed farmers to do a voluntary, self-administered, environmental risk assessment of their farm operation in a systematic fashion that logically led them to an EFP Action Plan tailored to their farm operation. The EFP enabled them to more effectively achieve what most farmers were already striving for: a highly productive; yet fully sustainable farm operation.

6.       What does the level of participation say about Ontario farmers?

The level of participation of Ontario farmers in the EFP Program demonstrates their willingness to embrace techniques and technologies that will reduce the environmental risk associated with operating their farm businesses.

7.       Do you think the financial incentives are the main reason that farmers participate…why or why not?

Financial incentives certainly serve as an incentive for EFP Program participation. However, Ontario farmers have demonstrated that they place a high level of importance on the education and awareness aspects of the EFP Program, and it is clear that it is those aspects that motivate many EFP Program participants.

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By Mark Wales, Vice-President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Because agriculture is a knowledge-based industry, farmers have to take advantage of every opportunity to update their knowledge base. This is the beginning of the 2010 farm show season, and there are at least eight shows across the province for farmers to attend.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture makes a point of setting up its display and having elected and staff representatives at most of these shows. It is important that OFA be there and be equipped to answer the multitude of questions farmers have about the industry.

With all of the changes occurring in agriculture, not only from the technical side but from the regulations coming from our provincial and federal governments, anyone involved in agriculture stands to gain by attending these shows and getting answers to their questions.

The first of the shows is on in Toronto at the International Centre from February 17 to 19th and OFA will be there to talk with its many members and potential new members who attend.

We want to talk to farmers about developments with Canada’s National Food Strategy and why it is important that farmers play a role in the development of that strategy.

We also need the input of farmers about the work of the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition. It is essential that farmers express their goals and how they want OFA and their commodity organizations to proceed to securing the Business Risk Management Program that are needed.

As we talk to farmers at these shows, we can gauge their willingness to take the issues to government’s front door if that becomes necessary.

By talking with our members at these shows, we will have a more accurate impression of what the other serious issues are that they encounter daily.

Based on conversations we have with members, both in the field and in the office, we know farmers want OFA to work with livestock commodities to take action on pressures being placed on small abattoirs to upgrade their facilities. These abattoirs are a critical part of the local food chain and OFA wants to ensure they don’t disappear.

While food safety is an issue for society and OFA, we believe there can be a satisfactory compromise that will allow the small abattoirs to continue to operate, meeting the needs of farmers and turning out safe product.

Although conditions vary across the province, we need to hear from members about their experiences with coyotes and recommendations OFA must deliver to provincial government officials to reduce or eliminate this problem.

Success for OFA means effective and ongoing communications with its members. The most effective communications brings farmers and OFA together, and these farm shows make it happen for us.

We look forward to talking with farmers at the Toronto International Centre until February 19th; at the Western Fair Farm Show in London, March 10, 11 and 12th; the Can-Am Equine Show at the Western Fair Grounds in London March 19th to 21.

OFA will also be at the East Central Farm Show in Lindsay March 3 and 4th; the Ottawa Valley Farm Show in Lansdown Park, Ottawa, March 16, 17 and 18.

During the summer, OFA will be at the Ontario Pork Congress in Stratford on June 23 and 24th; at the Hastings County Plowing Match and Equipment Show on August 18th and 19th, Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show near Woodstock, Sept. 14, 15, and 16; and the International Plowing Match near St. Thomas from Sept. 21 to 25th.

Let’s communicate – see you at the 2010 farm shows.

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