Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

It has been a very busy couple of weeks.  Making headway on rebuilding my grain header, want to get that out of the way so I can start on the tractors and tillage equipment.  So although I was beginning to feel like I was making progress, in steps OMAFRA.  My farm doesn't qualify for the farm tax rate.  In the past, my father had recieved an exemption from the FBR system for religious reasons.  Having taken the decision to join the system rather than appose/avoid it, i opened up a can of worms that will only cost me.  I didn't think much about government bureaucracy before, but now i just plain hate it.  

Our freedoms are being removed.  Why does it matter if someone registers with the government to be recognized as a farmer?  Shouldn't caring for the soil and harvesting crops be enough?  People were once judged by there abilities and endevours.  Now its by what license you hold, or permit you have.  It saddens me a great deal to see the results of past efforts.  Not my efforts, but those who build this system.  I am sure there was no ill intents when regulation was introduced, but the results are not a better more efficient society, but rather a society that spends its efforts in regulations and litigations.  

I guess I shouldn't be surprised to hear that children can no longer have skating events at school, because not all kids have a helmet.  Why a helmet?  Just in case someone falls down, the school needs to avoid the insurance lawsuit.  

The youth in the world have been rebelling against the old systems, specifically in the middle east.  The occupy movements are attempting the same thing over here.  They are not successful, because we have too much to loose, where in the third world they have nothing left to loose they can only gain.   I had not ever supported these protests, but I think I can now attest to the understanding that our system is stale, and something new is required.  I don't expect to see any changes soon, it will take a revolution and that won't happen until this society has been reduced to the nothing left to loose category.  I do hope it never comes to that, but sadly that means it would never be renewed.  

It makes for quite the dilemma, and I get the joy of being stuck in the middle of it.  It would have been nice to have had the support of the bureaucracy as I start to farm, but alas it becomes my enemy.  Although mother nature may not always favour me I consider that my ally.  I hope my experience is limited and other new farmers have a better experience.  But in my book OMAFRA is.....can't find a polite way to it.

Views: 853

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by Allan Mervin Spicer on February 23, 2012 at 8:14pm

Gus. Couldn't agree with you less. In order to be truly free, we , as a collective community give ups some reasons to be truly free. I lost a friend to a brain injury from a motor cycle acciden prior to he helmet law. Go Occupy Wall Street.
a.s.

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Alberta producers have until Sept. 30 to file 2025 AgriInvest information

Alberta producers who have not yet filed their 2025 AgriInvest information have until Sept. 30, 2026, to do so. To participate in the 2025 program year, producers must submit their 2025 AgriInvest form and farm income tax information. While the original deadline was June 30, late applications are still accepted. However, the maximum matchable deposit is reduced by five per cent for each month, or part of a month, that required information is submitted after the deadline. AgriInvest helps producers manage small income declines and invest in their operations. Producers can make deposits based on their allowable net sales and receive matching government contributions. Individuals and partnerships submit Form T1163 through the Canada Revenue Agency as part of their farm income tax return. Corporations must complete an Alberta Statement A marked “AgriInvest Only” and submit to to Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), which forwards the information to the federal AgriInvest a

Trade Update: Tariffs Impacts on Agriculture Equipment

Our national partners at the Canadian Canola Growers Association are closely following the developments on trade between Canada and the U.S. to understand impacts to canola farmers. Canadian canola seed, canola oil and canola meal continue to have tariff-free access to the U.S. market. Effective September 8, the Government of Canada imposed counter-tariffs on $27.6 billion in U.S. goods. Some agriculture equipment parts used in harvesting, threshing and haying; cutting bars for hay and forages; and mowers have been included in the counter-tariff list with tariffs ranging from 15 and 25 percent. Although these products are subject to tariffs, a remission process is in place to prevent the additional costs from being passed on to farmers. CCGA will continue to monitor all outcomes and will update our Current Issues page as necessary. If farmers experience any significant changes to prices or access to products resulting from tariffs, please reach out to our team by email at policy@ccg

FCC invites expressions of interest with new Agri-food Project Finance initiative

FCC invites expressions of interest with new Agri-food Project Finance initiative

Explore What Makes Listowel Gardens Apartments Stand Out

Explore What Makes Listowel Gardens Apartments Stand Out

Comparing diesel prices for global farmers

Farmers in Hong Kong are paying the most for diesel

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service