All Blog Posts Tagged 'CFFO' (65)

By Nathan Stevens

May 10, 2013

 

The first proposed budget under our new Premier holds many positive commitments for agriculture and rural Ontario. The CFFO is pleased that there are commitments to the key issues that the organization raised in its budget submission on the need for fiscal discipline, the need for a focus on innovation, and the need for regulatory modernization. However, there are some areas of concern as…

By Nathan Stevens

April 12, 2013

 

by Nathan Stevens

This week, the Provincial government introduced the Local Food Act, 2013. This act has the potential to be a positive opportunity for government to lead the way on local food. It also represents an opportunity for farmers in Ontario to supply Ontario’s public bodies with local food. 

The Act has three simple purposes. The first is to foster successful and resilient local food economies and systems throughout Ontario. The second is to increase awareness…

Water use related issues are of rising importance to farmers across Ontario. Potential solutions to environmental concerns surrounding wash and waste water for fruit and vegetable growers are progressing slowly. If Ontario is going to continue to succeed as a major food producer, agriculture needs low cost, efficient solutions that meet environmental concerns head on.

Earlier this year, the Christian Farmers Federation expressed its support for greenhouse and nursery growers to have a…

By Nathan Stevens

September 14, 2012 

 

Tough times can bring out the best and worst in people. The drought that has impacted some areas of the province is an instance where the best is coming out in Canadian Farmers. The efforts being made to put together a “Hay East” campaign demonstrates that farmers separated by thousands of kilometers can pull together in times of need.

Back in 2002, Eastern Canadian…

By Nathan Stevens

August 17, 2012

 

The agricultural sector is one that is poised for change.  This is the third in a series of commentaries raising questions about the direction of agriculture policy in Ontario and Canada. The first two parts of this series focused on the fundamentals that are pointing towards change and the need to focus on productivity. In the other parts of the commentary series, I will focus on the critical need…

By Nathan Stevens

August 10, 2012

 

The agriculture sector is one that has the potential to benefit from a focus on productivity. This is the second in a series of commentaries raising questions about the direction of agriculture policy in Ontario and Canada. In the second part of this commentary series, I want to talk about the potential of a productivity-oriented policy agenda. In other parts of the commentary series, I will focus on…

By Nathan Stevens

July 27, 2012

 

The weather has been dominating the concerns of farmers across Ontario. While conditions vary widely from region to region, there is no doubt that a great many farmers are very concerned about the conditions of their crops. The impact of heavy drought conditions impacts all of agriculture.

 

The most obvious group that is being impacted are grain and oil seeds farmers.…

By Nathan Stevens

July 20, 2012

 

In an increasingly competitive and cost-conscious agriculture and agri-business climate, sometimes there are unintended results for other organizations. Today, farmers and food processors are reconsidering the concept of waste and are seeking to turn all their raw materials into marketable or reusable items. The unintended result of this movement is that the Ontario Association of Food Banks is short…

By Nathan Stevens

July 6, 2012

 

The future of farm programming in Growing Forward 2 remains unannounced, allowing more time for farmers and farm groups to influence the future. This summer is a vital opportunity for farmers and other stakeholders to provide their input on the safety net and strategic investments that support them in different ways.

 

Agriculture programming in Canada is driven by…

By Nathan Stevens

June 15, 2012

 

The federal and provincial governments are working on Growing Forward 2, the five-year policy framework for the agriculture and agri-food sector. Farmers, farm organizations and commodity groups across the country are focused on influencing the outcome of the framework. A realistic assessment of the world around us today points to this agreement featuring harder choices than those made in the original…

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario is placing a strong emphasis on the importance of agricultural education. Earlier this year the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario announced its scholarship program for students attending post-secondary courses in agricultural studies. Continuing with that direction, CFFO has sponsored a bus full of school children to visit the Ag Museum in Ottawa. Good education involves teaching the history of the…

Animal welfare is an issue that is gaining in importance for livestock farmers across North America .There are few people more influential in the area of reasonable animal welfare improvements than Dr. Temple Grandin. I recall her sharing her thoughts at a meeting back in 2006 about the future of animal handling and animal welfare. Today, she is calling on farmers to use social media to influence the public discourse on animal welfare in North America, and the strides taken since the…

By Nathan Stevens

May 25, 2012

 

Proponents of Canadian food for Canadians got a boost last week as the Federal Government announced that the Canada Brand has been expanded to include a domestic component. This is a positive step forward in market-oriented ways to enhance farmer’s opportunities both domestically and abroad.

 

The Canada Brand has been in existence for a number of years promoting the…

By Nathan Stevens

May 18, 2012

 

The provincial government is conducting a review of the Aggregate Resources Act. This is an important piece of legislation for the agriculture sector due to competition for land within the rural countryside. The Christian Farmers submitted comments reflecting the long-term balance needed between aggregates and farmland.

 

In the big picture, the CFFO recognizes that aggregate…

By Nathan Stevens

May 11, 2012

 

Canadian trade policy is one of the more controversial issues that Ontario farmers live with every day. There are segments of Ontario agriculture that would benefit from more open trade and segments that would not reap the same rewards. A recent trade policy session held by the George Morris Centre brought in several experts on the intricacies of international trade deals and the challenges and…

By Nathan Stevens

April 27, 2012

 

The city of Waterloo recently approved its new official plan with a focus on intensification of existing built areas. The tone of the plan is a strong encouragement that some cities are seriously considering the implications of expanding their borders and taking land out of food production. The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario has always stood for the preservation of our best agricultural land for…

By Nathan Stevens

March 30, 2012

 

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario is encouraged by the direction set out in the proposed Ontario Budget. The provincial government is taking the financial and economic realities in Ontario seriously, and is proposing a wide range of changes to adjust to the new reality. The tough measures laid out will require a strong commitment from our government and the people of Ontario to get this…

By Nathan Stevens

March 9, 2012

 

Animal welfare is a growing concern for farmers and society. In particular, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) is a topic of growing importance to farmers in Ontario. While there is no doubt that animal welfare issues are a serious concern and must be dealt with properly, the approach in Ontario when it comes to farming needs to…