Celebrating Ontario agriculture during Local Food Week

Jun 05, 2017

The first week of June was proclaimed Local Food Week in 2013

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

From June 5 to 11, locally produced food will be in the spotlight as part of Local Food Week celebrations.

And a new OMAFRA initiative is aimed at promoting more Ontario-grown products across the province.

Bring Home the World uses Ontario’s demographics as inspiration to bring more local food to family dinner tables.

“Ontario has the most culturally diverse population in Canada – we have roots in more than 200 countries around the world and grow more than 200 diverse foods right here in Ontario,” Ontario Minister of Agriculture Jeff Leal said in a June 5 release. “I encourage everyone to get involved and share your views on what World Foods means to you.”

Local Food Week wouldn't be possible without Ontario's agriculture community.

There are 49,600 farms and 70,470 farmers in Ontario as of the 2016 Census of Agriculture. Other stats include:

12,348,463 acres of farmland across the province,
The average farm size is 249 acres,
311,960 dairy cows and 236,253 beef cows call Ontario home, and
The total capital value of agriculture in the province is $131,785,355,000.

Globally, Ontario’s agri-food exports have increased each year from $8.9 billion in 2009, to $14.8 billion in 2016.

Grains continue to be Ontario’s largest export, accounting for $3,389,000,000 in 2016.

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Region	Counties	Highlights
Central	Durham, Haliburton, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Muskoka, Northumberland, Parry Sound, Peterborough, Prince Edward, York.	7,817 farms (15% of provincial total) 717,760 hectares of farmland 165,250 hectares used for hay 459 dairy farms 1,457 beef cattle farms, 1,141 oilseed and grain farms
Eastern	Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Frontenac, Leeds and Grenville, Lanark, Lennox and Addington, Ottawa, Prescott and Russell, Renfrew.	8,007 farms (15% of provincial total) 912,832 hectares of farmland 213,236 hectares used for hay 1,065 dairy farms 1,322 beef farms 1,501 oilseed and grain farms
Western	Bruce, Dufferin, Grey, Halton, Huron, Peel, Perth, Simcoe, Waterloo, Wellington	16,771 farms (32% of provincial total 1,571,145 hectares of farmland 273,978 hectares dedicated to soybeans 3,096 beef farms 4,433 oilseed and grain farms 1,605 dairy farms
Southern	Brant, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Essex, Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton, Lambton, Middlesex, Niagara, Oxford	17,094 farms (32% of provincial total) 1,549,113 hectares of farmland 507,072 hectares used for soybeans 8,628 grain and oilseed farms 776 dairy farms 750 beef farms
Northern	Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Rainy River, Sudbury, Greater Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timiskaming	2,261 farms (4% of provincial total) 374,803 hectares of farmland 98,099 used for hay 480 beef farms 115 oilseed and grain farms 131 dairy farms

Ontarians are taking to social media to show their appreciation for locally produced food.

Follow Local Food Week on social media by using the hashtags #LoveONTFood and #LocalFoodWeek.

The first week of June was proclaimed Local Food Week as part of 2013’s Local Food Act.

Video: Why Rob Saik is Trying to Build the World’s Most Connected Agriculture Network

In a recent interview at the SeedLink Conference in Brandon, Man., Rob Saik, author, speaker, and CEO of AGvisorPRO, took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about the beginnings of his career and what the future holds.

Graduating from the University of Alberta in 1983, Saik embarked on a journey that started in Brandon, Man. “I got a job with Elanko, got a U-Haul truck, threw everything I had into it, drove to the Victoria Inn, and lived there for three months while they tried to find an apartment for me to move into. So I started my career in Brandon,” Saik shared.

Fast forward to the present, Saik has evolved into an accomplished author and speaker, traversing the globe to engage in high-level discussions about the future of agriculture and the critical role it plays in feeding the world. Yet, despite his global presence, he finds himself back in Brandon, addressing a group of seed growers. But why? Saik emphasizes the fundamental importance of seeds, stating, “It all begins with a seed, doesn’t it?”

Reflecting on his own experiences as a farmer, Saik expresses his excitement when a planted seed germinates and evolves into a thriving crop. He underscores the significance of technology and breeding in seed development, recognizing the crucial role they play in ensuring farmers can propagate seeds, grow profitable crops, and contribute to global food security.

Saik delves into the challenges faced by the agricultural community, particularly the rapid pace of technological advancements. He believes that the key lies in connecting farmers to experts swiftly, boosting farmers’ confidence in adopting new technologies, and ensuring the timely implementation of these advancements. According to Saik, this approach is crucial for steering agriculture towards sustainability and profitability.

As Saik works on his upcoming book, tentatively titled prAGmatic, he sheds light on its central theme. “The thesis would be that I want to write a book that takes what the consumer wants, challenges what the consumer believes, and positions that against what the farmers can actually do pragmatically,” he explains. The book aims to bridge the gap between consumer expectations and the realistic capabilities of farmers, promoting sustainable intensification as the necessary path to feed the planet.

Looking ahead to 2024, Saik emphasizes the need for enhanced connectivity within the seed industry. He discusses his platform, AgvisorPro, which is designed to facilitate connections between farmers, experts, and companies in a way that transcends conventional social media platforms. Saik envisions a credible, connected agricultural network that goes beyond the noise of platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter.

In a passionate vision for the future, Saik imagines a tool for teachers that allows them to pose questions from students, answered by verified farmers and ranchers. This, he believes, would provide an authentic and valuable educational resource, connecting classrooms with individuals who truly understand the intricacies of agriculture.