Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

The CFFO Commentary: Farmers can Still Influence Growing Forward 2

By Nathan Stevens
July 6, 2012
 
The future of farm programming in Growing Forward 2 remains unannounced, allowing more time for farmers and farm groups to influence the future. This summer is a vital opportunity for farmers and other stakeholders to provide their input on the safety net and strategic investments that support them in different ways.
 
Agriculture programming in Canada is driven by the reality of potential international competition and trade. Safety net programming seriously considers the potential impact on trade for export oriented commodities. Strategic investments have the potential to place Canada positively in the international arena. Given the size of our country and relatively small population, it makes business sense for a number of Canada’s agricultural industries to focus on increased trade in the global marketplace.
 
When it comes to safety net programming, the roles and responsibilities of industry and government in managing risk are a key part of the discussion, as well as the range of possible program design options. Whether through commodity associations, or the sector as a whole, farmers now have a chance to review safety net principles and determine if they want to maintain the status quo, make subtle shifts in policy, or embark in a new direction.
 
The other key consideration is the area of strategic investment. These are programs like the Environmental Farm Plan, the Food Safety and Traceability Initiative, and well as a wide variety of research programs and other grants. As many farmers know from personal experience in the last few years, these programs are already underfunded. Farm organizations and commodity groups need to consider whether industries as a whole will be farther ahead in the long-run by maintaining or improving these programs.
 
Ontario’s farmers still have the chance to provide input into the programs that help them through tough economic times or position them for the future. Now is the time for grassroots farmers to let their general farm organisations, their commodity groups, and their local politicians know if they are satisfied with the principles that are guiding agricultural programming in Canada.

 

Nathan Stevens is the Interim Manager and Director of Policy Development 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: 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

Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program Cohort Seven Announced

The Saskatchewan Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program announced the mentor - mentee pairings for cohort seven in Regina today. This 18-month program provides emerging agricultural leaders with hands-on leadership development and opportunities to participate in decision-making that shapes the future of Saskatchewan's agriculture industry. “Programs like this are crucial in supporting the next generation and helping build a bright future for Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector,” Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald said. “Connecting young people with experienced mentors gives them the opportunity to learn and succeed in their careers, strengthening the agricultural industry as a whole.” "The Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program has been influential in developing the next generation of agriculture leadership in our province," Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit said. "Thanks to the dedication of our mentors, participants gain the knowledge and conf

McCain Foundation Invests in Agriculture Education and Rural Community Capacity in Manitoba

Agriculture in the Classroom–Manitoba (AITC-M) is proud to recognize the McCain Foundation for its support of AgVenture at Manitoba Ag Days 2026. This investment was critical in making this programming possible. Each year, AITC-M relies on committed partners like the McCain Foundation to deliver essential agriculture education experiences that connect students and communities across southwestern Manitoba with real-world agriculture careers and strengthen understanding of Manitoba’s agri-food sector. Held January 20–22, 2026 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon during Manitoba Ag Days, the program created meaningful opportunities for students, educators, and community members to engage with agriculture in practical, hands-on ways. Through AgVenture, AITC-M’s flagship agriculture career exploration program, more than 1,200 students in Grades 7–12 and their educators took part in a hands-on learning experience that connected classroom education with real-world agriculture careers. Studen

Building Canada strong by investing in water and wastewater infrastructure in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island

Building a strong Canada starts with investing in the infrastructure that makes it possible to increase housing supply and empower communities. In Budget 2025, the Government of Canada announced the Build Communities Strong Fund, a key initiative to build the infrastructure that Canadians rely on every day. This fund will speed up the construction of the hospitals, recreation centres, universities, and colleges that serve our communities; the bridges that move our goods; and, the water and transit systems that keep our towns and cities running. This week, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, officially launched the Build Communities Strong Fund. This new fund will provide $51 billion over 10 years through three major streams to support a wide range of infrastructure projects that support economic prosperity, housing, sport, education, health, transit, and climate adaptation across the country. The Build Communities Strong Fund will be a force multiplier in infrastructure – with funding

Hypertec's Ciara Division Becomes First Canadian NVIDIA Oem Partner Manufacturing Systems In Canada, Unlocking A Multi-billion-dollar Leap In Sovereign AI Infrastructure

Ciara Technologies, a division of the Hypertec Group and a Canadian global leader in sustainable AI infrastructure and advanced data-center technology, announced today that it has been officially designated as the first Canadian NVIDIA OEM Partner manufacturing systems in Canada. This milestone places Canada among a select group of nations with domestic manufacturing and integration capabilities for NVIDIA Certified Systems, significantly advancing the country's Sovereign AI Strategy and strengthening North American technological resilience. A Turning Point for Canada's AI Ecosystem "AI infrastructure is now strategic infrastructure," said Simon Ahdoot, CEO of Hypertec Group. "This breakthrough marks a turning point for Canada. We are building the infrastructure that will define its future. As NVIDIA's first Canadian OEM partner, we are strengthening Canada's ability to innovate, scale, and compete globally with secure, high-performance systems built at home." The initiative is exp

Ontario Farm Leaders Drew and Heather Spoelstra Named 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers

Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd. have been selected as Ontario’s 2026 Outstanding Young Farmers, earning national recognition for leadership, innovation, and multi-generational farming excellence.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service