Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

OFA Survey Uncovers Lack of Long Term Farmland Investment.

OFA survey uncovers lack of long-term farmland investment.

OFA News

By Bruce Webster, Board Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

The long-term viability of Ontario farmland is at risk, according to a recent OFA survey. More than 350 members of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) participated in a survey this spring about farmland rental agreement conditions. And the results concluded many Ontario farmland landlords are not making long-term investments in their land, putting the production capacity and overall viability of the land at risk.

Survey participants represented more than 225,000 acres in Ontario that were owned, rented or sharecropped. Ontario’s farmland can’t continue to deliver high yields and superior products if landlords are not investing in improvements like tile drainage. Approximately 75% of the survey respondents said they would invest in long-term land improvements if they owned the land that they currently rent. This suggests non-farming landlords are not making the necessary farmland improvements.

An estimated 40% of Ontario farmland is rented out. And as farmers continue to expand their businesses and land base with rented acres, it’s never been more important to ask questions about how our farmland is being taken care of now, and to secure food production for future generations. The OFA believes it’s important to know what kind of restrictions and conditions landlords are imposing in rental agreements. Survey results showed most of the rented acres were cropped with corn, soybeans, wheat and forages, or hay.

The 12-question online survey, open to OFA members, was prompted by research conducted by the University of Guelph’s Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics Department. And based on the response to this farmland survey, the OFA has great cause for concern. If farmland is rented out for years and decades at a time, as it often is, important productivity improvement investments aren’t likely to happen. The overall production capacity of Ontario’s farmland will diminish.

Ontario’s ability to produce an abundance of quality food will be challenged unless efforts are made to encourage landlords to make the necessary long-term investments in their farmland. The OFA is sharing the results of this survey with other agricultural organizations invested in the future of farmland production and with key government policy makers to shed light on these disturbing trends that will impact food production in our province.

The OFA is invested in the sustainability and viability of Ontario’s farmland on behalf of our members and the entire agri-food sector. OFA regularly surveys members to ensure their voice and concerns are heard on issues affecting their farm businesses. The OFA will be conducting additional member surveys and research on this issue. Without healthy land and soil, our ability to produce enough safe and healthy food will be severely compromised.

Views: 40

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

UM Aggie Bedpush rolls across Manitoba to support rural health and wellness

The annual Aggie Bedpush is back this fall, continuing a beloved tradition of fundraising and community spirit led by students from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. From September 26 to 28, students will push their iconic burgundy bed through Manitoba towns, raising money for two meaningful causes: STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service) Foundation and the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program Bedpush organizer Pyper Hollar explains the deep connection between these charities and the farming community. “Many Aggies live and or work in rural communities meaning that the nearest hospital can be at least an hour’s drive away. STARS is an Air Rescue service that can provide not only hospital transport when trouble arises, but has an incredible team of highly skilled professionals who can treat on the ground and in the air; STARS can be the difference between life and death for many Aggies out there,” she says. Mental health is another key concern. “Th

Tasters needed for bread acceptability research study

We are recruiting volunteers to participate in a Sensory Research Study in Food and Human Nutritional Sciences in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. You would have the opportunity to take part in sensory research and learn methods related to the acceptability of food products. Details including the consent form and screening questionnaire are in the Information Package link below. Title: Acceptability of Bread with a Bioactive Ingredient Principal Investigator: Dr. Cristina Rosell (cristina.rosell@umanitoba.ca) Activity: Observe, smell and taste bread samples to determine degree of liking of appearance, aroma, flavor, texture and overall Eligibility: No allergies to foods or beverages, no sensitivity to gluten, 18 years of age or older, and no direct involvement or knowledge of the project Commitment: One Session about 20 minutes Session Options: September 23, 25, 26, October 1 and 2 every 30 minutes from 11:30 to 1:30 inclusive Where: Fourth Floor Human Ecology Buil

Saskatchewan harvest chugs along

There was good harvest progress over much of Saskatchewan last week—although there were rain delays in some areas. The weekly Saskatchewan Agriculture report says combining is 41 per cent complete—up from 23 per cent the previous week. The five-year average is 58 per cent and the ten-year average is 49 per cent. The southwest is 55 per cent combined and the southeast is at the halfway point. Plenty of progress made in the northwest last week, which is now at 41 per cent combined. East-central sits at 31 per cent with west-central and the northeast at 27 per cent combined. Peas are mostly in the bin with lentils at 84 per cent. Moving to the cereal crops—barley is 54 per cent combined, durum 49 per cent, while spring wheat and oats are 35 per cent harvested. Canola sits at 12 per cent combined and flax at three per cent. Volunteer crop reporters were asked to provide yield estimates—keeping in mind there can be large variations between fields due to scattered rainfall during the gro

“More positive than anticipated” is how Saskatchewan’s Premier terms meetings with Chinese government officials

Premier Scott Moe is crossing more time zones on Monday only two days after finishing a trade mission to China and Japan last week. Moe spoke to reporters at the Saskatoon airport prior to departing on a flight to the nation’s capital for additional meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney and senior cabinet ministers. Moe and the Prime Minister’s parliamentary secretary Kody Blois met with officials within the Chinese Commerce Ministry—the body that is responsible for implementing import tariffs. It has placed very hefty preliminary tariffs on Canadian canola seed—as well as canola oil, canola meal, peas and pork. Those tariffs were seen as a response to Canadian tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. That tariff was implemented at the request of the United States. It’s hoped the trade mission will begin a gradual process to improve relations between Canada and China.

Ontario’s most problematic weed -- Canada Fleabane Cuts Corn and Soybean Yields

Persistent Canada fleabane, now resistant to multiple herbicides, causes significant yield losses in Ontario corn and soybeans, demanding zero-tolerance management and adjusted herbicide programs.

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service