Municipal governments make decisions every day that affect Ontario farms, from roads, bridges and farmland drainage to land use planning, development and local services.
That’s why farmers need to know what is happening at their local governments, but we also need to build relationships with the people making those decisions and help them understand agriculture.
Agriculture is a major contributor to Ontario’s economy, generating almost $53 billion for Ontario’s economy and supporting more than 854,000 jobs annually, but farmers make up a relatively small share of our population.
But running for office isn’t the only way farmers can make sure agriculture is understood at the municipal level.
We also need to create opportunities for councillors, municipal staff and candidates to meet farmers, visit farms and learn about the realities of running a farm business.
Three local federations have taken on projects this year to do just that, including two I represent on the board of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture as a director, Niagara and Hamilton-Wentworth.
Through the OFA’s Revive Fund, our 51 local federations can access matching funding for projects that support agriculture and their communities. Since the program began in 2021, OFA, local federations and project partners have invested a combined total of approximately $1.5 million in community projects.
The Niagara Federation of Agriculture invited councillors and municipal planning and economic development staff onto a bus tour for a first-hand look at agriculture in the region, visiting four agricultural businesses representing dairy, swine, beef, grain production and custom farming, as well as beekeeping and pollination services. Along the way, participants also learned about agricultural landmarks and the region’s farming history.
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