The Ontario Federation of Agriculture recently held a field day in the Durham region where it highlighted four topics of specific interest to farmers: energy rates, infrastructure support, farmland preservation and pollinator health.
Energy rates are on the minds of farmers because of input costs are increasing, said Don McCabe, president of the OFA.
In order for farmers to compete in the global marketplace it is essential that they have access to competitively priced energy, said McCabe.
“Right now our electricity bills are continuing to rise and that makes it extremely difficult for rural Ontario,” said McCabe.
Natural gas is half the cost of electricity but less than one fifth of Ontario farms have access to it, according to the OFA. The OFA is asking for a farming industry rate.
The OFA is also calling on the government to create natural gas infrastructure program and rates specific to rural areas. Competitive energy rates and reliable infrastructure are key to the sustainability of Ontario farms.
“Natural gas is the cheapest form of energy available right now and we need it for rural farms and businesses to be able to grow and prosper,” said McCabe.
Alberta is 100 per cent serviced in rural areas and Saskatchewan and Manitoba are not far behind, said McCabe.
There won’t be any need for a good infrastructure program if there is no viable farmland or water sources left. The OFA is asking for land use policy and protection of the province’s arable land for agriculture.
Farmland preservation is an absolute necessity because Ontario has a very limited amount of viable soils, explained McCabe.
In July the provincial government introduced regulations that will limit the use of neonicotinoids, which the OFA said is a burden on seed dealers and farmers. McCabe said it will impact buying decisions for the 2015/16 season.
The federation is working with the government to make the new legislation something all parties can work with. Neonicotinoids are not the whole picture in terms of pollinator health and a more comprehensive strategy needs to be developed, said McCabe.
Pollinator food sources and commercial beehive use are among the other issues surrounding their health, explained McCabe.
“The reality is that the farmers need to get out and find out what’s being said and what’s being done here,” said McCabe. “There are upcoming meetings for people to learn about this stuff.”
McCabe said apart from the four issues discussed at the field day, phosphorus loading in Lake Erie is another topic that is of particular interest to Ontario farmers. He said this will be a part of a larger campaign to look at the Great Lakes Protection Act.
“Farmers will be seen as a source of pollution when we need to be also seen as folks who are doing stewardship on our land,” said McCabe.
Another issue McCabe said is important for farmers to be aware of is Ontario’s cap and trade system, which puts a limit on the sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
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