By Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Provincial and federal budgets will both be announced within two days of each other, March 27 and March 29 respectively, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), along with our parent organization, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), are awaiting the details.

OFA is proud of the solid relationship we have developed with our government through 75 years of farm advocacy, and in the recent months leading up to planning the 2012 provincial budget we have been advocating to the government for the interests of Ontario farmers. We work with the provincial government, advising them on needs of the agriculture and agri-food sector. Our messages have been simple and direct – make strategic investments and practice good government. OFA has been emphasizing the importance of investments in risk management, infrastructure, environmental stewardship, ecological goods and services, and for further regulatory reform.

In efforts to advise our federal government, CFA has also been working on behalf of farmers and members across the country to ensure continued development of a viable and vibrant agriculture and agri-food industry in Canada. They have focused federal budget advocacy on key recommendations – maintain funding for all current Growing Froward Business Risk Management programs, the removal of tax barriers that prevent a smooth transfer of farms between generations, encourage innovation and reduce regulatory burdens.

Together, the OFA and CFA are working on behalf of all our farm business members. We recognize and advise both levels of governments on the need for fiscal restraint, bringing the need for prudent investment in the agriculture and agri-food industry that will pay dividends in economic spinoffs. It’s our job to ensure that both the provincial and federal governments understand that investing in agriculture is an investment in a healthy, strong economy.   

The OFA and CFA are anticipating the details in the upcoming provincial and federal budgets to

help shape advocacy efforts and member representation for the coming year. We’ll be looking for continued strategic investments in one of Canada’s most diverse and vibrant sectors of our economy.

  Cautiously awaiting budgets (2012)

By Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Provincial and federal budgets will both be announced within two days of each other, March 27 and March 29 respectively, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA),
along with our parent organization, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), are awaiting the details. 

    click here to read more

 

 Hard facts about health – are you and your family protected?  

Click here   to read more and learn about Health & Dental benefits for OFA members! 
   

Don’t forget to tell OFA what matters to you!
 
Visit www.ofa.on.ca , complete the online survey and you’ll have a chance to win one of five iPad 2 tablets!
 
OFA needs your feedback on key issues, our member benefits program, member communications and how you use social media.
 
If you would prefer to receive a mail-in survey, please call  1-800-668-3276.
 
The deadline for responses is April 30, 2012.

 

OFA’s newest member benefit partner: Farmers of North America
 
OFA members can now receive a significant discount on the price of a membership in Farmers of North America. This membership allows them to access the programs and services that Farmers of North America provides through business alliances.
 
Farmers of North America join OFA’s lineup of member benefits partners, a select group of strategic business partners offering members exclusive value and savings for their farm businesses. For more information on Farmers of North America and OFA’s partnershipoffer please visit www.fna.ca or call theOFA member relations group at 1-800-668-3276.
 

 

Travelling?  OFA Members save 15% on Travel Insurance from the Co-operators!

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By Keith Currie, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

On March 7, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) announced a new benefit partner, Farmers of North America. This new partnership enhances the value of a membership with OFA while providing members with the opportunity of significant savings of farm inputs.

Adding Farmers of North America to our member benefit program directly supports OFA’s mission statement to enable prosperous and sustainable farms, something OFA strives to achieve every day – from lobbying activities and partnership agreements to on-farm support from member service representatives. The new partnership with Farmers of North America strongly aligns with our goal of securing profitable Ontario farms, by offering our members an option of competitively priced farm inputs. The new member benefit partner offers OFA members a significant discount on membership with Farmers of North America, giving them access to the programs and services Farmers of North America’s farmers’ business alliance provides.

Partnering with Farmers of North America is another example of how OFA is working on behalf of our members delivering valuable programs, partnerships and services. Adding new programs and partners is something we continuously strive to do as part of our overall strategic plan. One of our key result areas within the strategic plan outlines what we need to focus on to make sure Ontario farms are profitable, after all, as one of Ontario’s key economic engines, the profitability of Ontario farms impacts all Ontarians, not just our members.

In order for Ontario farms to be profitable, OFA believes we need to work towards managing risk, reducing restrictive regulations, ensuring competitively priced farm inputs and create farm products that meet market needs. These, along with other key initiatives and objectives are outlined in OFA’s strategic plan to meet the needs of our members today, and ensure the succession of tomorrow’s farmers. 

By aligning ourselves with other like-minded organizations we are able to offer a variety of initiatives and programs that keep our members best interests in mind. And, as the largest farm organization in Canada, we recognize that we can only succeed when our members succeed.

By Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

One of the ways the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) looks to sustain its success as an organization is by working hard to continue engaging with our members. As the largest general farm organization in Canada, OFA works on behalf of our members to meet our mission of sustainable farming in Ontario and securing agriculture and agri-food as Ontario’s top industry, enabling prosperous farmers, and a healthy and plentiful food supply.

We are constantly seeking member input, ideas and advice, and accept and learn from member criticism when it is due. OFA wants to continue providing the services and programs that matter to farmers. We need your feedback to better understand the needs of our changing demographic membership base and better serve Ontario’s farmers.

OFA is reaching out to members in a different ways right now. We want your feedback on regulations you would like to see reformed as part of the Open for Business consultations. We’ll be taking your recommendations directly to government to ensure we advocate on your behalf. Please send recommendations and suggestions to regs@ofa.on.ca.

OFA is also conducting an extensive membership survey. This feedback survey will gather information on key issues affecting your farm, and your opinion on our member benefits program, member communications and social media. With this survey, we want to better understand member satisfaction, identify communication needs of OFA members and provide the best service to our members. We encourage all OFA members to fill out the online survey – we truly value your input and feedback. The survey is available on the OFA website at ofa.on.ca or, you can call OFA at 1-800-668-3276 to receive a printed version to complete and mail back.

Collaboration is a cornerstone at OFA. Engagement of our grassroots members continues to be critical to our successes and asking for member feedback through regulation suggestions and our general membership survey is just one way OFA is listening. Our Policy Advisory Council (PAC) is another way OFA engages in member and industry feedback by presenting them with questions and issues. Much like a democratic system, we ask and listen to their feedback and act on the information to formulate policy. The PAC has analyzed, debated and recommended OFA positions on the National Food Strategy, wildlife damage compensations, the Provincial Policy Statement, election priorities, leadership development, regulatory modernization and many other issues or concerns affecting our membership.

We know we must work together with members, industry and government to create a sustainable farming sector and ensure all Ontarians understand the importance of the agriculture and agri-food industry. A greater understanding of farming issues across Ontario will help build a better business environment and stronger, sustainable markets for our products. OFA is listening. Please share your voice with suggested regulation recommendations and by completing our general membership survey. We really want to hear about the issues that matter to your farm business.

By Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

A report containing 362 recommendations to create a more fiscally sustainable public service sector in Ontario was released on February 15, 2012. Commissioned to reform Ontario’s public services and help our government eliminate the provincial deficit and balance the budget by 2017-2018, the report was chaired by economist Don Drummond, former federal civil servant and chief economist at the TD Bank. Report recommendations were met with some criticism, including those that could directly impact the strength of Ontario’s agricultural economy.

While it remains to be seen which of the Drummond report recommendations the Ontario government will accept and how it will respond, some of them impact the agri-food industry and OFA members. The Risk Management Program was highlighted in the report. As our members know, this program is vital to farm business management, not as an income support program as noted in the report, but rather as a tool that helps producers manage risks beyond their control, like fluctuating costs and market prices. The report also recommended Ontario review the existing revenue sharing partnership between the province and the Ontario horse racing industry.  Mr. Drummond has recommended a value for money review of this agreement and other programs. We are confident the partnership with the horse racing industry will demonstrate its significant and valuable contribution to the Ontario economy and our rural communities. 

OFA has developed and maintained a solid working relationship with our government. As plans for the 2012 provincial budget continue, we will be advocating to the government for the interests of Ontario farmers. In addition to responding to the Drummond report recommendations, we will be advising the provincial government about the needs of the agriculture and agri-food sector, and our messages are simple and direct – make strategic investments and practice good government.

In the months ahead, we will continue working with provincial politicians to advocate for investments in risk management, environmental stewardship, ecological goods and services, and for further regulatory reforms.

With the Drummond report on everyone’s mind, OFA will use the opportunity to reinforce the importance of the agriculture and agri-food industry with the provincial government. Our message will be clear – an investment in agriculture and food is a significant investment in a healthy, strong economy for all Ontarians.

By Keith Currie, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Few Canadians give their daily food a lot of thought, that’s why on Sunday February 12, Food Freedom Day provides us with the perfect occasion to celebrate what we eat and the farmers who produce our food.

Designated by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Food Freedom Day marks the calendar date when the average Canadian will have earned enough income to pay the entire year’s grocery bill. Canadians enjoy one of the lowest-cost “food baskets” in the world. As a comparison, Food Freedom Day in Iceland is in late February, while in Mexico it doesn’t come until early March.

Canadians enjoy healthy, nutritious and inexpensive food every day, something we should be celebrating more often. In fact, according to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadians only spent 11.8 per cent of their disposable income on food in 2011. By comparison, France spent 13.5 per cent of their disposable income to buy food and Japan spent 14.2 per cent. This data highlights just how important Canadians’ food decisions are to our nation’s economic future. Canadian farmers are producing food that is safe, secure affordable and highest quality.

As Ontario farmers, we take our job of providing food seriously. That’s why, on Food Freedom Day we also raise the importance of securing a sustainable food system to ensure that we continue celebrating this day year after year. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is working closely with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture to develop and implement the National Food Strategy – a long-term approach to ensure a safe supply of Canadian food for future generations. Currently being presented to both provincial and federal governments for consideration, the National Food Strategy establishes a shared strategic vision for our food system that will serve as a clear guide for public policy development and private decision making to secure a sustainable food system for Canada. This vision is outlined in nine strategic objectives that our food system must meet to serve the needs of future generations in Canada as well as the global community.

The National Food Strategy’s objectives and outcomes encompass all aspects of the food value chain – from farmers and processors to distributors and retailers. These objectives include making Canadian grown and processed products the first choice for Canadians, ensuring consumers always have access to safe and nutritious food, to positioning Canadian products as the preferred choice of international markets. For more information on the National Food Strategy and details on the objectives visit nationalfoodstrategy.ca.

On February 12th, take the time to consider where your food comes from, the value of the meal you are enjoying and the quality of food future generations of Canadians will be enjoying on Food Freedom Day. From our farm families to yours, thank you for your role in Canada’s Food Freedom Day!