Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

The CFFO Commentary: Farmers Matter and Need to Build Goodwill with Consumers

By Henry Stevens

There is general agreement in the farm community that a number of our commodities are in serious financial difficulty and face an uncertain future. There is also general agreement on why family farms in those sectors are facing such difficulties. Where there is less agreement is “how do we solve those problems and turn these sectors around?”

Perth County pork and beef producers are to be commended for offering some leadership regarding solving these problems. They recently organized an information meeting, called Farmers Matter in Stratford to bring attention to the situation and explore possible solutions. Several of the most frequently mentioned obstacles to profitability were: an uneven playing field with our competitors; safety nets that do not work for most farmers; fluctuating exchange rates; a regulatory burden that stifles small business and flawed labeling legislation.

How do we overcome those issues? Thirty to 40 years ago we had political champions such as Bill Stewart and Eugene Whelan to fight for farmers. Today, we lack such champions. If it is true, as MP Wayne Easter bluntly stated in Stratford, that our farmers do not matter but should, then I believe that solutions will not be found only through government lobbying by producers or their organizations.

So what do we do? I believe that our best chance of succeeding is to tap into the goodwill that consumers in general have for farmers. We are consistently named as the number two or three most respected profession in numerous public opinion polls. We must build on that goodwill and convince the consumer to, in effect, speak for us through their shopping choices and demands. Consumers must tell the government of the day that they want the highest quality, and the demonstrated safety of Canadian grown food. It must be clearly labeled as such so that consumers have the confidence to know they are buying exactly what the label says.

How do we effectively build goodwill with consumers? We must tell our story. As producers and producer organizations, we need to promote our products. We cannot leave it up to the processors and retailers. We need to put the face of a friendly, local farmer, and his family, on all of our advertisements, including billboards, and on public transit such as subways and buses. If we can do that, I am confident the consumer will identify us as the providers of the safe, healthy, abundant food they want for their families and will pressure retailers and government to provide more. Consumer demand will lead to more investment in local, rural infrastructure, which in turn will provide new local jobs and help rebuild our local communities.

I believe it is time to try something different. My hope is that you agree.

Henry Stevens is the President 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: 54

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

OFCAF Producer Perspective on Virtual Fencing – Cody Claypool

On a cold Alberta night, few jobs are less appealing than heading out to move polywire so cattle can keep making the most of a swath-grazing field. For producer Cody Claypool, virtual fencing offered a way to reduce that winter labour while still controlling how his herd accessed feed and helping capture the full value of swath grazing. Instead of bundling up in the dark to shift electric fence, Cody could check his cattle’s movements from the comfort of home — even in the middle of the night — and make management decisions from his phone. That practical fit is what made the technology worth trying on the Claypool operation, where Cody manages a herd of approximately 400 cattle and is always looking for ways to make grazing more efficient without adding more hours to already full winter days. Cody’s parents first learned about virtual fencing at an Alberta Stockgrowers meeting, where RDAR CEO Mark Redmond and Olds Researcher Briana Elliot gave presentations. Their interest was piqued

British Columbia organizations coming together to boost skills and talent training in Canadian food and ingredient ecosystem

As Canada works to reach its full opportunity to do more with what it grows, there’s an increasing need to train and produce skilled workers across the food production and value-added agriculture value-chain. Today, to help address this need, Protein Industries Canada is announcing a new project with BC Food & Beverage (BCFB), the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Cultivated Food Labs (CFL), to develop and deliver a new coordinated skills training program. Canada’s ability to Make More Here presents an opportunity to unlock $25 billion in GDP and upwards of 17,000 new innovation-based jobs. BCFB, UBC and CFL are combining their expertise to ensure enough skilled talent is ready to fill these jobs, providing companies across Canada with the workforce needed to help reach new growth potential and new markets. “A strong and resilient agri-food sector depends on a highly skilled workforce,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada

Barn Boards and Baling Wire

One morning when we still lived on the farm, I looked out the front window and saw the barn door was open. A horse was standing by the corn crib not 10 feet from the road. It wasn’t my horse, but still I had that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. We had rented out a stall to an Amish neighbor to board his horses for a month while he was doing some logging nearby. He paid the rent with several loads of firewood. As a bonus he spread some of that high-octane Percheron exhaust on the garden, so it was a good deal all around. The neighbor arrived within a few minutes to tend to the wayward horse, so it all ended well. But that sinking feeling brought back memories of all those times in my youth when somebody left a door or a gate unlocked and the cows got out – usually onto the road and almost always at the most inconvenient time. Chasing cows at three o’clock in the morning is not fun, especially when your school bus is due to arrive at 7 a.m. We came home recently after being

Grain Safety is Literally a Matter of Life and Death

BeGrainSafe Week encourages safe grain handling practices through education, rescue training, and awareness programs aimed at reducing preventable farm accidents across Canada.

Pre Harvest Glyphosate Timing Protects Crop Markets

Growers are encouraged to follow proper glyphosate application timing to reduce residue risks, protect grain quality, and maintain market access for canola, cereal, and pulse crops.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service