Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

The CFFO Commentary: 2012 Wish List for Agriculture

By Nathan Stevens
December 30, 2011
 

As 2011 comes to a close, we begin to look forward to 2012. For many of us, the beginning of a new year is taken as an opportunity to commit to new resolutions for the coming year, either ending bad habits or starting good ones. Or they develop a wish list for what they want to accomplish in the coming year.
 
I have some personal resolutions and wishes I want to pursue in the coming year. I also have some resolutions and wishes for the agriculture sector in 2012.
 
1. A thorough re-evaluation of our approach to animal welfare Issues
The last year has seen Ontario’s approach to animal welfare issues move to the forefront of many farmers’ discussions. The conclusion reached by many is that there is the need for a serious re-evaluation of the entire process. The vast majority of farmers provide top notch care for their animals, but the few bad actors that do exist need to be dealt with properly for the good of everyone.
 
2. A renewed focus on long-term planning for Canadian agriculture
Nationally, 2012 will see the continued development of Growing Forward 2, Canada’s Vision for Agriculture for the 2013-2018 program years. Hopefully, the national and provincial agriculture ministers will listen to the voice of farmers and industry and come to a consensus on how to advance agriculture for all the farmers across our great nation.
 
Yet throughout the negotiations on this deal there will be the need to be realistic about the fiscal realities of the federal and provincial governments in the coming years. The reality is that government and farmers must be willing to prioritize and focus on key programming that will provide dividends down the road, and be ready to accept the possibility of reductions in other areas.
 
My final wish for Ontario’s farmers in 2012 is that they be given the tools to excel in their operations, and develop new innovative ways to meet the challenges they face. I also wish that you and your families have a happy, healthy New Year.
 
 

Nathan Steven is the Research & Policy Advisor for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. The CFFO Commentary represents the opinions of the writer and does not necessarily represent CFFO policy. The CFFO Commentary is heard weekly on CFCO Chatham, CKNX Wingham, and UCB Canada radio stations in Chatham, Belleville, Bancroft, Brockville and Kingston and in Brantford and Woodstock. It is also found on the CFFO website: www.christianfarmers.org. CFFO is supported by 4,200 family farmers across Ontario.

Views: 133

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

Pulse Market Insight #289

Big Risks Dampen Price Signals for 2026 Crop This is the time of year when new-crop bids for pulses usually start showing up, but not always. It’s not just the actual price that signals how urgently buyers are looking to lock in acres; the timing of new-crop bids is also an indicator. For example, I recall years when new-crop bids for peas or lentils already started to show up in October, almost a year before the next crop is harvested. That happened when pea and lentil supplies were very short and importers wanted to ensure they would have access to next year’s crops. In general though, the first new-crop bids are often seen in late December or early January. One rule of thumb some people use is the Saskatoon Crop Production Show in mid-January as the “real start” of the contracting season. But this year, it seems that new-crop bids are even scarcer than usual, with a few possible reasons. The first is that overseas buyers aren’t very concerned about locking in next year’s supplie

CN Marks Record December, Annual Grain Movement

Canadian National Railway set a new benchmark for grain movement in December, capping off a record-breaking year. The railway said Friday it moved more than 2.82 million tonnes of grain from Western Canada in December, marking its fourth consecutive monthly record and surpassing the previous December high set in 2020 by more than 80,000 tonnes. The strong December performance also helped CN establish a new annual record for grain shipments in 2025. In Western Canada alone, CN moved over 31.3 million tonnes of grain during the year, exceeding the previous record of 30.9 million set in 2020. Across all of Canada, total grain volumes across CN’s network reached more than 32.7 million tonnes, breaking the prior record of 32.25 million established in 2024. CN attributed the record volumes to a combination of large Canadian grain crops and steady execution throughout the supply chain. Janet Drysdale, CN’s executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, said consistent operat

ROI announces the Community Well-being Dashboard in Ontario’s two official languages

The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) is pleased to announce the Rural Community Well-Being Dashboard and supporting factsheets will be made available in Ontario’s two official languages in the spring of 2026.

Chicago Close: Little Changed in Pre-Report Positioning

Corn, wheat, and soybean futures were little changed on Thursday as traders continued to position ahead of key USDA reports to be released on Monday. 

GFO Rejoins Grain Growers of Canada

Almost six years after parting ways, Grain Farmers of Ontario has rejoined Grain Growers of Canada, marking a renewed push for a more unified national voice as Canada’s grain sector navigates mounting economic and policy pressures. 

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service