Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

The last half of 2012 was busy for me, even took on custom combining to give me an extra reason to run home fast from the factory.  And although the crops turned out good, the markets are favourable, it was still a tough year.  

My appeal (Detail in a prior Blog) to have my farm land taxed at the farm rate came, and the decision made, NO you don't get the farm tax rate, you get to pay 400% of that rate.  Reason, I missed a deadline to apply for a seven digit number from a farm organization that I was entitled to quit with a full refund after joining.  Sounds ridiculous, but that is the system in Ontario.  I had to deal with more government agencies that I ever knew existed all of which claimed powerless to do anything because thats how the legislation is written. That seems par for the course, nothing is set up to support a new farmer, the entire system is anti-small farm.  It shouldn't surprise me, I live in a democracy, and 98% of the voters are not farmers, so why would the government make sense to a farmer.  Its documented by lawyers, run by bureaucrats and propagated by politicians.

It goes beyond one ruling that I find hard to accept, there comes a realization that farming is a loosing situation.  I have just been too blinded by a love of the land, desire to work with nature, be self reliant and control my own fate.  Not things that a government wants and the policies speak volumes.  The reality is most people get it, the evidence is clear, there are fewer farmers every year, and an ever increasing median age.  It will take me 20yrs just to be as old as the AVERAGE farmer in Ontario.  And why would I bother?

Sure, if i am lucky I can work on the farm my whole life, re-investing every sent into equipment and land, so I get to die of heart attack or stroke while loading grain when i'm in my 90's.  Well, maybe I will be a bit loose with my money and drive a Cadillac in those latter years, that should make up for these hard years at the start.  

The general feeling I get from comments on media sites regarding farmers is we are all rich and living a life of luxury on the backs of the tax payer.  Its likely my fault I never applied to any of these "supposed" money hand out programs, i just wanted to farm without the government running the show...big mistake, they are going to find there way in anyhow.  Of course these checks will have far fewer digits than I am lead to believe by those who know nothing at all about agriculture.

But things are good, the land re-assesment shows that my purchase of farm land has had a 220% increase over the two years I've owned it.  (I can just see how low next years tax bill will be).

So I have a real important decision to make, do I pack it in, move to the big city with that high paying Engineering job, live in a comfortable house, where my garbage is picked up at the curb, I can get anything delivered to the house, reduce my snow shovelling to a short section of sidewalk or pay higher taxes to work a second job, live on a dirty poorly maintained gravel road knowing that every dollar i make will be spent to make sure I get to work more.

Its no wonder there are so few young farmers.

There is another side to this.

When I slowly drive down the road and meet a neighbour, we roll down our window and have a chat, blocking the road in both directions.  And we do this until another car comes by.  I could just imagine how many people would call the police if they saw this take place on a Toronto side street.  Theres those friendly conversations with fellow farmers, truck drivers, and friends that take place on the side walks by the bank or in the parking lot at the beer store.  And then there are the suppliers of seed and fertilizers who stop by to offer a drink, or take me out for a free lunch (granted I seem to always spend lots of money at those "free" lunches), these people are nothing like the government. They want to see me succeed, and for that matter so do the old farmers, who almost leave the impression that they are rooting for me.  

When I was young I once heard: This country doesn't succeed because of its government.  It succeeds in spite of it.

I think I am starting to understand what was meant.  At least now I know its not just bad weather that can cause me problems, that is the least of my issues.

It wasn't a hard decision.  This farmer plans to succeed in spite of all this.  I may have made the wrong decision, but somebody has to grow the food, and I look forward to doing it for a very long time.

Views: 608

Comment

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

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by Joe Dales on January 11, 2013 at 5:56am

Hi Gus,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings about getting started farming.

Every situation is a little different but I think most farmers have had to struggle through the early years.

From a big picture perspective:  we do need young farmers as the older generation decides they have had enough so the potential is there.  The barriers to entry are significant, capital requirements, knowledge and experience required, government redtape...long days, market risk, weather....

 

I hope you generate enough satisfaction and financial returns that allow you to make your passion of farming a viable and sustainable profession and life.  Keep up the good fight.

 

Take care and I really enjoy reading your blog.

 

Joe Dales

Farms.com

joe.dales@farms.com

877 438-5729 x5013

 

Comment by Iain Robson on January 11, 2013 at 12:08am

Great post Gus.

I am transitioning into farming, so I can relate to the debate that you talked about. I mean I could easily just stay in the city and live the good life or I can live and the country and live the hard life. For some, it is a an easy decision, but for those few who want to try do something like farming, the decision becomes harder.

I really appreciate your perspective because you are a new farmer. It provides some great insight into the types of things you would have to deal with in that particular situation. 

How long did it take you to actually get the money and buy a farm?

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

Ontario farmland prices cool down after years of double-digit jumps

Though the recent year-over-year increases in farm prices are levelling off in southwestern Ontario, good land remains too pricey for many people with dreams of becoming an owner. "Anything like 100 acres, you're just not going to find it for under $5 million," said Crispin Colvin, a farmer and area director of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture for Lambton and Middlesex counties. "There isn't really any cheap location to get into farming."  A report released this week by Farm Credit Canada, a Crown corporation that provides financing to the agriculture industry, said the average price of a farm in the southwestern Ontario region rose by 3.2 per cent in 2024, reaching an average per-acre price of $33,700.  That rate of increase is down considerably from recent years, which have seen double-digit increases in average farm prices: 2021: 22.2 per cent.  2022: 19.4 per cent.  2023: 0.7 per cent.   Colvin said he's seen prices well above what's laid out in the Farm Credit Canada repo

Ontario building set to stop smoking days after fire

A large agricultural storage building was destroyed in a fire today in Ontario, Oregon, that threatened nearby businesses and fuel storage facilities. Ontario Fire and Rescue (OFR) responded to the structure fire at 152 SE 9th Avenue, finding the approximately 25,000-square-foot building engulfed with flames visible through the roof in multiple locations. According to OFR, the fire threatened Murakami Produce to the south and a Farmers Supply COOP bulk fuel storage facility to the east while also spreading through vegetation to the west. "Rescue 1 established a water supply and started a defensive attack on the south end of the building to protect exposures," OFR stated.  Firefighters used three nearby hydrants to flow master streams, successfully containing the blaze to the building of origin and protecting neighboring structures. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported. The response included five engines, two ladder trucks, one water tender, two brush trucks, thre

How one agricultural society is taking inspiration from the 1800s to keep its fair relevant

It would cost about $80,000 to bring in the calibre of carnival rides that would rival Rockton World’s Fair or the Norfolk County Fair. It’s money the Burford Agricultural Society just doesn’t have. It operates on a “shoestring budget” from fundraising, Brant County grants, and donations from the community, society president Chris Howell said. After its longtime midway provider retired from the business several years ago, the society has struggled to set itself apart from the nearby fairs that also run over Thanksgiving weekend. But the event is “so much more than just the midway,” Howell told The Spectator. It’s “a celebration of farming, agriculture and rural life in Ontario.” When the Burford Fair started in 1860, it was a way for the farming community to gather to celebrate the end of harvest and see “who could grow the biggest pumpkin, who (had) the best horse,” he said. It’s that spirit the society wants to bring back.

Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre holds AGM

As it continues its journey towards an eventual opening, the Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre welcomed guest speaker Kerry-Leigh Burchill, director general of the Ottawa-based Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, to its annual general meeting to shed some light on what the group in Listowel can do to be successful. As Burchill explained to attendees at the Thursday morning meeting, the agriculture industry is one that is very dynamic and ever-changing, meaning the Discovery Centre will have to continuously invest in lifelong education for its team. “That you’re putting together a Discovery Centre intuitively expects that it is dynamic, but we really need to make sure that we continually support our staff and our volunteers to make sure that they are aware of those stories and can answer questions from the public because I can guarantee that the questions from the public are becoming more complex as they have access to more and more information and, oftentimes, misinformation,” Burch

How a trade war could boost small-scale farming in southwestern Ontario

A southwestern Ontario farmer hopes the ongoing U.S.-Canada trade war encourages the country to look inward to keep itself fed, while making itself more resilient in the face of future crises. It's a hope shared by some farmers with smaller operations, as they search for upsides in a situation that could have dire consequences for the Canadian economy — and agribusiness on a larger scale. "I think it's really important that we know how to supply ourselves," said Chris DeVries, the owner of Common Ground Farm in St. Thomas, who believes "we could 100 per cent produce all the food we need." The former engineer grows a wide range of vegetables year-round in a combination of fields, greenhouses and hoop houses, taking his harvest to farmers' markets in London and Kitchener. Common Ground also runs a delivery service in London and St. Thomas. A number of industries across Canada have already started cutting back as tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump — and a resulting lack o

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service