Ontario’s Largest Farm Organization Launches Program Aimed at Increasing Membership

Jan 22, 2013

‘Drive Forward with OFA’ Program Seeks to Encourage Farmers to go Through the Extra Step

It’s been a whirlwind of a year for Ontario’s general farm organizations – jumping through bureaucratic hoops to meet the guidelines required for recognition with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

In an effort to help encourage farmers to complete the extra paper work required for general farm organizations such as Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) to be recognized in the future as determined by the recent rulings of the OMAFRA Tribunal – OFA has launched the ‘Drive Forward’ program.

The program explains the new OFA membership process for 2013 and outlines a two-step process about how to become a recognized member within the organization. Once members are confirmed they will be entered for a chance to win some prizes.

What’s new about the 2013 membership process is that farmers will not only have to choose OFA as the accredited farm organization of choice on the Farm Business Registration (FBR) form – along with their $195 fee, but also sign a membership agreement after completion of their FRB form.

More information can be found on the OFA website.

Video: How farmers are protecting the soil and our food security | DW Documentary

For a long time, soil was all but ignored. But for years, the valuable humus layer has been thinning. Farmers in Brandenburg are clearly feeling the effects of this on their sandy fields. Many are now taking steps to prepare their farms for the future.

Years of drought, record rainfall and failed harvests: we are becoming increasingly aware of how sensitively our environment reacts to extreme weather conditions. Farmers' livelihoods are at stake. So is the ability of consumers to afford food.

For a few years now, agriculture that focuses solely on maximum yields has been regarded with increasing skepticism. It is becoming more and more clear just how dependent we are on healthy soils.

Brandenburg is the federal state with the worst soil quality in Germany. The already thin, fertile humus layer has been shrinking for decades. Researchers and farmers who are keen to experiment are combating these developments and looking for solutions. Priority is being given to building up the humus layer, which consists of microorganisms and fungi, as well as springtails, small worms and centipedes.

For Lena and Philipp Adler, two young vegetable farmers, the tiny soil creatures are invaluable helpers. On their three-hectare organic farm, they rely on simple, mechanical weed control, fallow areas where the soil can recover, and diversity. Conventional farmer Mark Dümichen also does everything he can to protect soil life on his land. For years, he has not tilled the soil after the harvest and sows directly into the field. His yields have stabilized since he began to work this way.

Isabella Krause from Regionalwert AG Berlin-Brandenburg is convinced after the experiences of the last hot summers that new crops will thrive on Brandenburg's fields in the long term. She has founded a network of farmers who are promoting the cultivation of chickpeas with support from the scientific community.