Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

The CFFO Commentary: Farmers Working Together Brings Results

By Henry Stevens

April 1, 2011


The hard work of the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Coalition has finally produced positive results. As many people know, the 2011 provincial budget was announced this week and farmers received the eagerly anticipated news that new types of Business Risk Management programming are coming for many Ontario Farmers.

Presenting solutions that will cover the programming gaps found in existing programs like Agri-Stability has been the ongoing work of OASC. The coalition, made up of a wide variety of agricultural organizations, including the CFFO, has been concerned about the resiliency of the provincial agricultural sector and has worked tirelessly towards solutions.

Our provincial government recognized that volatility in commodity markets is an issue for farmers in managing business risks. The 2011 Budget announced the extension of the current pilot Risk Management Program for grain and oilseed farmers. Furthermore, the government will also implement a new Risk Management Program for the cattle, hog, sheep and veal sectors. Fruit and vegetable growers will be getting a new Self-Directed Risk Management Program.

These new risk management programs represent an innovative approach in providing bankable, stable and predictable support for Ontario’s farmers while responding to market trends in the long-term.

However, the job for CFFO and OASC isn’t done yet. The federal government still isn’t on board with regionally flexible business risk management programming. Moving forward, the efforts of OASC will need to focus on convincing the federal government that regionally specific programming is a necessity due to the sheer diversity of agriculture across Canada,

The CFFO would like to thank Carol Mitchell, the Minister of Agriculture, and the staff at OMAFRA for their hard work and support in making these new programs a reality. It took courage and leadership on the part of our province to move ahead alone in supporting Ontario’s farmers.

 

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. It can be heard weekly on CKNX Wingham and CFCO Chatham, Ontario and is archived on the CFFO website: www.christianfarmers.org. The CFFO is supported by 4,200 farm families across Ontario

Views: 36

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

Wheat Growers Welcome Improved Access to China, Call for Market Diversification and Strong U.S. Focus

The Wheat Growers Association is welcoming China’s final ruling to sharply lower the anti-dumping tariff on Canadian canola seed to 5.9 percent, plus the standard 9 percent import duty, alongside the suspension of 100 percent tariffs on canola meal effective March 1. The decision marks a positive step forward for prairie canola farmers who have faced prolonged uncertainty in one of Canada’s key export markets. “This is a positive development for prairie canola farmers and a welcome sign of improved market access,” said Daryl Fransoo, Chairman of the Wheat Growers Association. “For many growers, canola is a cornerstone of crop rotation alongside wheat and other grains. Restoring more predictable access to China provides needed relief on prices and cash flow at a critical time.” While today’s announcement is encouraging, the Wheat Growers caution that past disruptions underscore the importance of long-term market stability. “China has restricted or closed its canola market several ti

Qualified Alberta Pulse Growers Eligible for 30.3% Tax Credit for Investing in Research

The Alberta Pulse Growers Commission (APG) has confirmed that 30.3% of eligible producers’ 2025 check-off payment is eligible for the Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit for their investment in APG-funded research and development projects. Producers are eligible to claim up to a maximum of 15% for non-incorporated farm operations and up to a maximum of 35% for incorporated operations of the determined 30.3%. Producers who have paid check-off this past year and have not asked for refunds are eligible claimants for this year’s credits. For more detailed information about the SR&ED Tax Credit, APG advises you to contact an accountant or the Canada Revenue Agency. For a history of SR&ED with Alberta Pulse Growers visit https://albertapulse.com/research-tax-credit/ . Information about APG research investments in 2024-25 is available at https://albertapulse.com/resource-library/ . The federal SR&ED tax program is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CR

Top Tillage Equipment for Large Acreage Farming - A 2026 Buyer’s Guide

This article takes a look at the top-performing tillage brands in North America and provides a straightforward comparison table to help guide farmer equipment decisions.

Ag groups call for pause to AAFC cuts

Universities and the private sector can’t make up the gaps

New Silage Technology for Dairy and Beef

Lallemand launches MAGNIVA® Platinum in Canada, offering advanced silage technology that improves fermentation, nutrient retention, and feed efficiency for dairy and beef producers.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service