Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

INFOGRAPH: Realities of Agriculture in Canada

Farming in Canada isn’t what many Canadians think. CFIB’s report, Realities of Agriculture in Canada – A sector of innovation and growth, debunks Canadians’ misconceptions about agriculture.

According to a recent study commissioned by the federal government, Canadians have many misconceptions about the agriculture industry, including that it’s not innovative, is shrinking, it potentially harms the environment, and that family farms are becoming extinct. Our new report, which debunks these misconceptions, is based on data collected from CFIB farm members who participated in our The State of Canadian Agriculture Survey.

 Results show that, in fact, the majority of farmers – 51% - plan to adopt new, innovative technologies over the next three years, and 44% are planning to expand their business. 

CFIB’s report presents four key realities of farming:

  • Reality #1 – Agriculture is innovative and modern
  • Reality #2 –The agriculture sector is growing
  • Reality #3 – Farmers are taking action to protect the environment
  • Reality #4 – Farms are staying in the family

Beyond promoting the realities of agriculture, government policies need to foster agricultural competiveness. Farmers’ priorities for government action include further reducing red tape and the total tax burden, as well as increased focus on industry research, development and innovation.

CFIB remains committed to providing the business voice for agriculture to federal and provincial governments, and pushing for farmer friendly policies.

Read the Realities of Agriculture in Canada – A sector of innovation and growth report.

Views: 185

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Tariff tools

Multiple tools are available to help Canadians determine tariff levels and what goods may cost

Premier Ford names new ag minister in cabinet shuffle

Sam Oosterhoff takes over for Trevor Jones

Restoring property rights for Alberta farmers

This fall, Alberta’s government will remove Water Act approval requirements for routine agricultural activities involving ephemeral water bodies and temporary and seasonal wetlands on private cropland. “Farmers should not have to spend thousands of dollars and wait on government approval to carry out routine work on their own land. We are restoring private property rights and getting government out of the way where it doesn’t need to be. These common-sense changes will save farmers time and money and give them greater control over how they manage their own property.” Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas The changes respond directly to concerns raised by Alberta farmers and agricultural organizations about unnecessary regulatory burden. Under the current system, routine farming activities can trigger regulatory requirements if they affect a temporary or seasonal wetland. In some cases, a farmer may have to hire a qualified wetland professional, complete an assess

Minister MacDonald announces initial list of 2026 Livestock Tax Deferral regions

Canadian producers and ranchers are on the front lines of climate change, and its effects can significantly impact operations. When extreme weather strikes, livestock producers may experience forage shortfalls and need timely information and support to make effective herd management decisions. Today, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an initial list of regions that will qualify for Livestock Tax Deferral in 2026 due to extreme conditions. The Livestock Tax Deferral provision allows livestock producers in prescribed areas, who are forced to sell all or part of their breeding herd due to forage shortfalls resulting from drought, excess moisture or flooding, to defer a portion of their income from sales until the following tax year. The income may be at least partially offset by the cost of reacquiring breeding animals, helping to reduce the tax burden of the original sale. Since 2024, regions that are nearby to drought, excess moisture or

Extinguishing the risk of combine fires

It only takes a small spark to potentially turn a productive harvest day into a costly and dangerous situation. That’s why proactive combine maintenance and fire prevention, both before and during harvest, are essential for preventing machinery fires, which can jeopardize land and lives. Think taking a bit of time during harvest to inspect and clean combines creates costly delays? The reality is that skipping routine maintenance could have significantly higher cost implications if a combine fire were to damage crops or equipment or cause physical injuries. Crop residue, heat, and dry conditions that are typically present during harvest can unfortunately create a perfect storm for combine fires. And considering that some combines can hold upwards of 1,500 litres of fuel, combine fires are a significant hazard during the harvest season that should never be overlooked. Fortunately, combine fires are often preventable with proactive maintenance, a safety mindset, and fire awareness. B

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service