CFFO Blog's Blog (97)

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 Paul Boostsma

April 6, 2012

 

A great deal of Canadian agriculture is based on the ability to trade with other nations. When we look at progress on trade the World Trade Organization is struggling to gain momentum, bilateral deals are moving forward at a faster and faster rate, and ambitious regional deals are being developed. Our government has some tough things to put into consideration as this growing trend towards selective…

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 John Clement

March 23, 2012

 

Canadian agriculture has a history of great productivity gains. In fact, the publication called The Real Dirt on Farming suggests that overall agricultural productivity in Canada has increased by 300 per cent since the 1950s. Most of these productivity gains have been achieved through improved plant and animal genetics, better management of soils, plus strong strategies on pests,…

By Nathan Stevens

March 16, 2012

 

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario recently fine-tuned its core policy values. In the rapidly changing world of agriculture, it is important to take time periodically to ensure that the organization has the right priorities for its members. The process affirmed that the organization focus on three key themes when dealing with any issue.

 

First and foremost,…

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…

By Paul Bootsma

March 2, 2012

 

Our society recognizes that education is an important factor in achieving success in our increasingly complex global economy. The next generation will need more knowledge in order to improve the economy both locally and abroad. The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario agrees with this assessment and has initiated a new program in support of education in…

By Nathan Stevens

February 24, 2012



The long awaited Drummond Report was released last week. The weighty report calls for a serious change in direction in this province. If implemented, all Ontarians will be impacted, including agriculture and rural Ontario.



The report points out that Ontario is not in a crisis... yet. There are a lot of good things that are being done, but we aren’t facing the reality of being a province in…

John Clement

February 3, 2012

 

Farm business management groups have been used across Canada over the past few decades but there appears to be a renewed push to broaden their appeal. Although these groups can vary widely from sector-to-sector, most feature a small group of farmers working with a facilitator to compare individual production and financial records against those of peers. In the process, the aim is to grow and develop the management skills of all participants in the…

By Nathan Stevens

January 27, 2012

 

The burden of over-regulation is wearing thin for many farmers in Ontario. Red tape is being sighted as a key constraint for small and medium businesses across Canada. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has made this issue one of their key issues, and published its annual report card on red tape in Canada earlier this month.

 

Perhaps…

By John Clement

January 20, 2012

 

I grew up on a tobacco farm. My brother grew tobacco, as did my father and grandfather. I have spent literally months of my life replanting, weeding, irrigating, harvesting and moving flue-cured leaf. Accordingly, I have viewed the rise and fall of the Ontario tobacco industry with keen interest and have tried to glean lessons from it that can be used when studying other agricultural…

By Lorne Small…

By Nathan Stevens

December 30, 2011

 

By John Clement…

By Lorne Small…

By John Clement

December 2, 2011

 

 

Pat Lynch is an unabashed supporter of farmers who work hard at their vocation and aren’t afraid to see their operations grow larger. A long-time fixture within Ontario agriculture, Lynch believes that farming is something that should be pursued with great passion and that those with farms of significant size shouldn’t feel guilty about their success.

 

Lynch isn’t without credentials for his opinions. He’s been awarded for the…

By Nathan Stevens…