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

Century Lithium Advances Demonstration Plant Relocation To Tonopah And Provides Reagent Cost Structure Update

Century Lithium Corp. (TSXV: LCE) (OTCQX: CYDVF) (Frankfurt: C1Z) ("Century Lithium" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the relocation of its Lithium Extraction Facility ("Demonstration Plant") to the Company's site in Tonopah, Nevada, USA. Current market conditions also highlight the competitive advantage of the Company's 100%-owned Angel Island lithium project ("Angel Island") in Esmeralda County, Nevada and its integrated chlor-alkali process as global sulfur and sulfuric acid prices rise. "During the last five years, Century Lithium developed an integrated process flowsheet that successfully produced battery-grade lithium carbonate from Angel Island claystone. The patent-pending process uses salt, rather than sulfur-derived reagents, which distinguishes Angel Island from spodumene and most sedimentary lithium projects globally," said Bill Willoughby, President and CEO of Century Lithium. "Moving the Demonstration Plant to Tonopah lets us show the operating benefi

Secretary of State Zerucelli highlights suspension of the federal fuel excise tax on gasoline and diesel and other affordability measures to lower costs for Canadians

The global landscape is rapidly changing. In response, Canada's new government is focused on what we can control – building a stronger, more independent, more resilient economy. We're building an economy where Canadians are empowered with greater security, certainty, and a lower cost of living. Global conflict and ongoing supply disruptions in the Middle East are driving up fuel prices around the world. To make Canada more energy secure and less reliant on external factors, our government is advancing major projects to realise Canada's full potential in clean and conventional energy. We're building big in electricity, LNG, and nuclear to provide all Canadians with clean, reliable, and affordable power. As we build for the long term, we are providing immediate relief to bring down costs for Canadians right now – including cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians, cancelling the consumer carbon tax, and protecting and expanding vital social programs. In that spirit, the Honourable John Z

Soybean Cyst Nematode Is in almost every soybean producing state and province

Soybean cyst nematode has been confirmed in all soybean producing U.S. states except one, making detection and active management essential for protecting yield in 2026.

Rising Fertilizer Prices Could Shift Canada 2026 Crop Plans

High fertilizer costs and weak crop margins may cause Canadian farmers to shift 2026 planting toward lower input crops, adjust rotations, and increase hay or unseeded acres.

Ontario Exempts Farmlands from Stormwater Fees

Ontario will exempt eligible farmlands from stormwater fees, easing costs for farmers and supporting agriculture while recognizing how farmland naturally manages water across the province.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service