Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

The CFFO Commentary: Christmas and the Difference it makes for Farming

By John Clement
December 24, 2010

I'm not by nature a person devoted to creeds and confessions, but every once in awhile something will strike me as particularly meaningful in one of those documents. At this Christmas season, some of the words found in the beginning of the Heidelberg Catechism strike me as appropriate. The question is asked "what is your only comfort in life and death?" And the answer is "that I with body and soul, both in life and death am not my own, but belong to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ..."

That, in a nutshell, is the whole rationale for the existence of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. Because our lives belong to a Saviour who has a claim on our lives, we confess that his desires for the world have become our desires for the world. And we believe that He has desires for how farming is carried out, both in the practices used by farmers and in the policy environment that supports them.

How we make those desires a reality is very much an exercise in freedom, rather than according to a blueprint. Our members strive to be both entrepreneurial and collegial and use their freedom to make diverse choices regarding their operations and the policy choices that support them. Accordingly, the CFFO spends a good deal of time working with its members to clarify their goals and values and to work towards concrete expressions of those ideals.

That being said, it's never been an easy task to build an agricultural system that expresses values. For one thing, farming is incredibly dynamic and continually changing due to weather patterns, new technology, husbandry practices, trading patterns and generational expectations. And then there's the sheer difference of opinion that can take place regarding the choice of marketing systems, the amount of government intervention in the farming economy, and food choices by consumers.

Over the CFFO’s history, we’ve had several moments when we’ve been influential in persuading others about better ways to support farming. At the very least, we’ve been a witness to the fact that our farming needs to be conducted as stewards acting on behalf of another owner. And we see that as the practical application of the difference made through God’s actions at Christmas time.

Whatever your perspectives on such matters, I wish all listeners and readers a blessed Christmas and hope that after all the gifts are unwrapped that the central message of the season will find a place in your heart.



John Clement is the General Manager of 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, Ontario and is archived on the CFFO website: www.christianfarmers.org. CFFO is supported by 4,200 family farmers across Ontario.

Views: 35

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

CAAIN receives $50 million from Ottawa

The federal government is investing in Canadian agriculture through technological innovation

Bunge to Present at Barclays Annual Global Consumer Conference

Bunge Global SA (NYSE: BG) today announced that company management will participate in a fireside chat at the upcoming 2026 Barclays Annual Global Consumer Conference on  Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 3:00 p.m. ET. To listen to the live event, visit Bunge.com/events-and-presentations and click on the webcast link. A transcript and replay will be available for a limited time following the presentation. About Bunge At Bunge (NYSE: BG), our purpose is to connect farmers to consumers to deliver essential food, feed and fuel to the world. As a premier agribusiness solutions provider, our dedicated employees partner with farmers across the globe to move agricultural commodities from where they’re grown to where they’re needed—in faster, smarter, and more efficient ways. We are a world leader in grain origination, storage, distribution, oilseed processing and refining, offering a broad portfolio of plant-based oils, fats, and proteins. We work alongside our customers at both ends of the value chain

Bunge Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results

Bunge Global SA (NYSE: BG) today reported second quarter 2026 results Q2 GAAP diluted EPS of $3.47 vs. $2.61 in the prior year; $2.00 vs. $1.31 on an adjusted basis excluding certain gains/charges and mark-to-market timing differences Higher results primarily driven by strong performances in Soybean and Softseed Processing and Refining segments, supported by solid execution amid improving market conditions Repurchased ~$250 million of shares, completing the $2 billion program related to the Viterra transaction Increasing full-year adjusted EPS outlook range to $9.25 to $9.75 from $9.00 to $9.50 Overview Greg Heckman, Bunge’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Our team delivered another strong quarter, navigating a complex global environment with agility, focus and disciplined execution. Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting trade flows, our expanded global platform did exactly what it was designed to do — capture opportunities and deliver for customers at both

U.S. livestock groups oppose proposed beef import plan

Four major U.S. agricultural and livestock organizations are urging President Donald Trump to reconsider a proposed plan that would allow additional beef imports over a 90-day period. The American Farm Bureau Federation, Livestock Marketing Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and United States Cattlemen’s Association said in a letter released August 25, 2026, that they are concerned the proposal could have negative implications for U.S. cattle producers and the broader livestock sector. The groups said they support efforts to keep food affordable for consumers but are calling on the administration to work with industry stakeholders on policies that balance affordability with long-term producer viability and domestic food production. In the letter, the organizations argued that increased imports could put pressure on cattle markets and influence producer decisions related to herd expansion and investment. They also expressed concerns about the potential impact on the l

Saskatchewan professor honoured for beef research contributions

University of Saskatchewan researcher Dr. Bart Lardner has received the 2026 Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation. Lardner, a professor in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and chair of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s Strategic Research Program in Cow-Calf and Forage Systems, is being recognized for more than 20 years of research focused on beef cattle management and forage production. His work has examined areas including winter grazing, water quality, forage management and heifer development, helping producers improve profitability while managing production costs. “Dr. Lardner’s research has helped producers reduce costs while maintaining performance and profitability,” said Dean Manning, Chair of the Beef Cattle Research Council. Manning said Lardner’s commitment to ensuring producers benefit from research investments, while supporting the next generation of researchers, is widely respected. Lardner has also supervised more th

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service