Members making a difference beyond the farm

Transcription

1 September 2017 Annual Publication from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture Members making a difference beyond the farm ofa.on.ca

2 Agriculture is our way of life too Meet Jacques In 17 years at FCC, Jacques has helped hundreds of Canadian producers build their dreams. Like everyone on your FCC team, Jacques knows your industry and he ll get to know you fcc.ca Jacques DeBlois FCC Senior Relationship Manager

3 In Sight OFA Suite Stone Road West Guelph, ON N1G 5L ofa.on.ca OFA In Sight is published for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 36,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic, farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy development, advocacy, research, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario s farmers and is Ontario s voice of the farmer. All content of this publication has been written, gathered, supplied and approved by the OFA. The OFA is solely responsible for any liability arising out of or relating to magazine content. Content may not be reproduced, in whole, or in part, without the prior consent of OFA. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture would like to thank the sponsors and media partners who contributed to OFA In Sight for their support. Published by AgMedia Inc. Administration Office: 52 Royal Rd., Guelph, ON N1H 1G Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, nor does AgMedia make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of advertisers claims. Printed in Canada. COVER PHOTO: Ken Hunsberger, story page 14 LAYOUT & DESIGN Tanya Myers Editor s Note The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is excited to bring you stories of leadership, community and success inside our 2017 edition of OFA In Sight. Our special publication provides an opportunity to showcase a few of the many farm success stories within our 36,000 members. OFA s new mission is Farms and Food Forever and these are the people doing it at the grassroots level. On these pages, you ll read about members from across the province who are leaders, advocates and educators in their community and the agri-food industry. The stories feature agriculture education programs, farm safety initiatives, environmental stewardship practices and community outreach. We are proud of our members and very pleased to share these stories with you. Ontario s agricultural community thrives on the passion and dedication of OFA members and we thank you for your contributions to our dynamic industry. Sincerely, Tyler Brooks Ontario Federation of Agriculture ADVERTISING SALES Glenn Ruegg glenn.ruegg@betterfarming.com , OntarioFarms OntarioFarms ontariofarms In Sight 3

4 COVENANT NORTH: GROWS FARMING SKILLS Rudy Waboose, Covenant North farm manager in Fort Hope. You can feed a family with a backyard garden, or feed a community with a farm, says Henriet DeBruin, greenhouse vegetable grower, OFA Policy Advisory Council (PAC) member and local Thunder Bay Federation of Agriculture board member. DeBruin is a believer in empowering others with skills to grow food. That s why Covenant North was started, a community farm in the Indigenous community of Fort Hope, where residents can learn first-hand how to farm. The Covenant North concept is simple teach members of the Indigenous community how to farm and assist in establishing a large scale garden. We teach them to have ownership of their farm and to make business decisions, says DeBruin. With the goal to bring agriculture into all Indigenous communities in northern Ontario, DeBruin, her husband Arjen and business partner, Ronnie Okeese, created Covenant North. Originally from Fort Hope, Okeese, is a well-seasoned business man who understands the northern communities. And DeBruin has agricultural experience, having grown up on a dairy farm and owning a greenhouse vegetable operation, 4 In Sight

5 Fort Hope volunteers planting onions. DeBruin s Greenhouses, with her husband in Slate River, ON. Our approach is different than some other northern agriculture projects we re here to help, not here to do, she says. The program is in its third year and 2017 is the first year there will be a harvest in the flagship community of Fort Hope. It takes time to set up funding and find a local farm manager, notes DeBruin who is looking forward to seeing the first harvest. Covenant North has built a close relationship with the chief and council at Fort Hope. Right now, there are several additional communities interested in working with Covenant North. You can t learn farming in a year. The process takes a little while, but we walk beside the community members through it all and help them make agronomic decisions. Working alongside the community of Fort Hope, DeBruin is sharing her agricultural experience and community passion. Growing fresh produce benefits the local community and provides healthy food, local revenue and it s a rewarding way of life, says DeBruin. In Sight 5

6 Built on co-operative values. The OFA is one of the founding members of The Co-operators, a Canadian-owned co-operative with over 70 years of history. By taking a long-term view on business and relationships, and putting people first, they focus on meeting the evolving needs of Canadian communities, the co-operative sector, and their members. Through this relationship, OFA provides its members with exclusive insurance coverages and savings on a broad range of products. To find out more, contact your local Co-operators advisor or visit 6 In Sight

7 Farm. Home. Life. Travel. INSURANCE. As a member of OFA, you have access to many exclusive coverages and savings including: Enhanced Farm coverage Enhanced Home coverage Farm and Home member benefits program discount Assistance for estate trustees: Executor EASE Access to Life, Health, and Dental Benefits Discounted Travel insurance Contact your local Co-operators advisor to confirm your membership and learn more, or visit OFA insurance we have your best interests in OntarioFarms OntarioFarms ontariofarms

8 MUSKOKA FARMS MATTER Muskoka Farms Matter invites the community to tour a farm each year, raising awareness of local agriculture. Despite the declining number of farms in the area, agriculture in Ontario s Muskoka region is stronger than ever. A new agriculture awareness event, Muskoka Farms Matter, is bringing the community together and forging a new generation of the region s agricultural organizations. Three years ago, members of the Muskoka Federation of Agriculture and Muskoka Soil and Crop Improvement Association addressed declining memberships in both organizations by hosting joint meetings together. Farming members belonged to both organizations so it made sense to combine the volunteer boards, meetings and events, says Ken Riley, president of the Muskoka Federation of Agriculture. The collaboration brought efficiencies in paperwork and a renewed sense of purpose in both organizations. And the first order of business for the newly amalgamated group was to increase awareness of agriculture in the Muskoka area. Muskoka might be a small agricultural district, but understanding where your food comes from and who your farming neighbours are is still important, says Katya Riley, secretary of Muskoka Federation of 8 In Sight

9 Proud of the area s farmers and local agricultural community, the Muskoka Federation of Agriculture and Muskoka Soil and Crop Improvement Association host the annual Muskoka Farms Matter event. Agriculture and Muskoka Soil and Crop Improvement Association. This event has generated a lot of interest, bringing the community out to visit local farms to combine education and fun. Now in its third year, Muskoka Farms Matter is presented by the two organizations with help from volunteers and funding support from OFA s Proud to Lead Involve Fund. Hosted on a different farm each year, the event features young farm families to share the diversity and future of agriculture in the area. Local vendors are featured in the farmers market, along with educational displays and family activities. The annual event also supports the local food bank by collecting donations as an admission fee. Muskoka Farms Matter happened because we joined together, says Ken. The synergy of the new board of directors is reviving our agricultural community. In Sight 9

10 AGRICULTURE VOLUNTEER MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN HER COMMUNITY Kim Empringham, York Federation of Agriculture volunteer. Ontario s York Region boasts one of the most unique national parks in Canada, Rouge National Urban Park, the first park to be located in an urban area with active farms. York Federation of Agriculture s (YFA) Kim Empringham acts as a volunteer liaison connecting Parks Canada with farmers and advocating for agriculture within the park. The Rouge National Urban Park promotes the area s original farming culture and families and preserves natural and First Nations heritage. Located in the southeast corner of York Region and down into eastern Toronto, stretching right to Lake Ontario, Rouge National Urban Park showcases modern agriculture and the families still farming the land within the park s boundaries. About 95% of farms in the York Region are OFA members, explains Empringham, secretary treasurer and director for YFA. YFA advocates for 10 In Sight

11 Area farmers still farm within the boundaries of Rouge National Urban Park, located in the York Region. the region s farmers on many issues such as connecting the farmers within the park with Parks Canada. The park is being developed on land that was expropriated in the 1970s for potential airport construction and then leased back to the original farmers on one-year terms, says Empringham, explaining the unique situation. The ownership is being transferred from the Federal and Provincial Government and Conservation Authority to Parks Canada. Once Parks Canada owns the land they will be granting 30-year leases to the farm families. The park will be a showcase for modern agriculture and current best management practices while integrating nature, culture and agriculture. Raised on a dairy farm, Empringham now farms 800 acres of cash crops, has a beef feedlot and raises sheep with her husband and two daughters. Empringham has served on the YFA for 17 years and continues her role advocating for the area s farmers. She has always been involved in agriculture and the community and along with her work with the national park, she represents YFA on a variety of other committees, including the York Region and Markham Agriculture Advisory Committees, Markham Fair and the Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance. Empringham has been described as the backbone of agricultural activity in the York Region. Her dedicated community involvement and tireless efforts make her a valuable asset to the local agriculture community. In Sight 11

12 ADVERTORIAL Top 5 reasons to build a benefit plan with CBA 1. We design custom plans for OFA members, their family and employees. 2. Private health insurance provides a safety net for expenses not covered by OHIP. 3. A benefits package helps attract and retain employees. 4. Health insurance improves employee morale and reduces absenteeism. 5. Our flexible programs change with the needs of your farm and family, and coverage continues to age 75. Invest in what matters most you, your family, your employees and get health insurance before you need it. Contact Yvonne at or memberservices@cbacanada.com

13 COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE BEFORE YOU NEED IT Illness and accidents can have a devastating impact on your farm operation and your family. Protect yourself with a comprehensive health and dental plan through CBA Canada. OFA partners with CBA Canada to offer individual and group plans that protect farm families and farm employees with health, dental, drug and vision insurance. Ask CBA Canada to build a plan today for your farm needs. Contact Yvonne at or memberservices@cbacanada.com OFA insurance we have your best interests in OntarioFarms OntarioFarms ontariofarms

14 PARTNERSHIPS HELP PROTECT WATER RESOURCES Managing our water resources has to be a team sport. For nearly 20 years Ken Hunsberger has been a key player, cultivating strong relationships with water stewardship players farmers, municipalities and conservation authorities. A Waterloo area dairy and cash crop farmer and president of the Waterloo Federation of Agriculture, Hunsberger strives to maintain harmony between the blended rural and urban communities in his region. Farming within the large Grand River watershed in southwestern Ontario, Hunsberger has a lot of experience with water protection, water quality and working with environmental stewardship. He s been a peer reviewer, representing agriculture for the Waterloo Regional Water Quality Program since 1998 and participates in the Lake Erie Source Water Protection Committee. Hunsberger has seen first-hand how important it is to work collaboratively, communicate and listen when it comes to water management, policy development and on-farm stewardship. Our region recognized that protecting our water starts upstream like wells and surface water that are On-farm stewardship and water management is a priority for Ontario farmers. Waterloo Federation of Agriculture volunteer, Ken Hunsberger works closely with local water stewardship stakeholders farmers, municipalities and conservation authorities to protect and improve water quality. often on or near farms, making on-farm stewardship and water management a priority, says Hunsberger, who works closely with the Region of Waterloo, Grand River Conservation Authority and local farmers to evaluate and implement water protection strategies and techniques. Hunsberger is pleased to report the tremendous uptake of the local Waterloo Region Water Quality Program by Waterloo farmers, including Mennonite and Amish farming families. As an agriculture representative to the program review committee, Hunsberger is able to help direct allocated funding to on-farm water improvement practices. We ve built great synergies and relationships between the Waterloo Region and local farmers through the common goal of maintaining and improving water quality, says Hunsberger. He credits the Waterloo Federation of Agriculture s proactive work in the 1970s, promoting rural and urban harmony to the successful partnerships the farming community enjoys today with the local municipality and conservation authorities. 14 In Sight

15 BENEFITS THAT WORK FOR YOU OFA Benefit Partners helping meet your farm business needs The OFA Benefit Program is one of the advantages of membership, offering a wide range of services and promotions exclusively for OFA members that bring additional value to your farm business. For more information on OFA s Benefit Program, visit ofa.on.ca and click on Benefit Program or In Sight 15

16 MSRs TAKE ON TRESPASSING Responding to member needs: OFA Member Service Representatives Henry Swierenga and Nadine Gill-Aarts display No Trespassing signs created in response to member concerns. Farmers don t take trespassing lightly. Too often hikers venture off well marked trails to explore fields, visit animal pastures or sample produce from fruit trees. Snowmobiles and ATVs are known to plague fields and field entrances. That s why OFA Member Service Representatives (MSR) Henry Swierenga and Nadine Gill-Aarts developed No Trespassing signs for members to post on their farms. The idea came from a request at a trade show earlier in In true OFA fashion, the MSRs quickly responded to member needs by creating the signs. Trespassing is a problem across Ontario, but has become an increasing issue in rural areas surrounding urban cities and within the Greenbelt, says Swierenga, OFA MSR for Halton, Hamilton-Wentworth, Niagara North and Niagara South. Swierenga has seen a rise in OFA member complaints about trespassing on private property, mostly farmland. There can be a lot of confusion when it comes to wide open spaces, especially in the Greenbelt. It s hard for some people to understand what is a public trail vs. private property. Enforcing trespassing can be tough, explains Swierenga, since authorities typically have to catch trespassers in the act. The signs allow farmers and OFA members to do their due diligence to keep trespassers off their land by clearly marking private property, says Swierenga. 16 In Sight

17 Nadine Gill-Aarts, Member Services Support Representative says, member response to the signs has been positive, with MSRs across the province handing out signs to hundreds of members. Trespassing on farmland and private property is an ongoing issue. OFA has been addressing the need to update Ontario s current Trespass to Property Act with the Ontario government since And OFA continues to push for legislative updates to impose trespassing fines, broader police enforcement to address farm safety and biosecurity concerns and increase damage awards, including compensation for vandalism and property damage. Contact your local MSR to request a No Trespassing sign. Save the date for OFA s 2017 Annual General Meeting November Delta Hotel Toronto Airport & Convention Centre 655 Dixon Road, Toronto Watch ofa.on.ca for AGM details In Sight 17

18 MORE 911 EMERGENCY SIGNS WILL SAVE LIVES It came out of a tragedy that happened about three years ago on Labour Day, begins Allan Carruthers, President of the Northumberland Federation of Agriculture, explaining the Farm 911 Emily Project. A seven-year-old girl named Emily Trudeau was the victim of a fatal farm accident. Emergency crews were called to the scene of Emily s accident, but the challenge with dispatching first responders in rural areas is providing directions. Unfortunately, first responders drove past the field and Emily s mother had to run out to the road to flag them down. Emily suffered traumatic injuries and later passed away in the hospital. Since the accident we ve developed an awareness campaign to get people to put more 911 location signs on their property, explains Carruthers. More than anything, the Trudeau family doesn t want this to ever happen again. When a homeowner receives a building permit, they receive a 911 location sign, but in rural areas, many of the fields and areas farmers work in are a distance from the house. Putting up 911 signs on farm laneways and field entrances provides more accurate locations to first responders. It could be your life, or someone else s on the line and faster response times make a big difference, says Carruthers. The emergency awareness project officially launched at the 2017 Hastings County Plowing Match and Farm Show, and has received support from various municipalities, fire departments, businesses, councilors and mayors. We want to emphasize that Farm 911 is for everyone, Carruthers 18 In Sight

19 911 emergency numbers on field entrances and laneways will provide accurate locations for first responders. explains. It could be for hunting camps, weekend camping areas, anywhere you re outside of an easily found area. Anyone interested in posting additional 911 signs should contact their local municipality. Along with being president of the Northumberland Federation of Agriculture, Carruthers is also a lieutenant with the rural fire department based in Grafton, ON. With more 911 signs, we ll reduce the chances of missing emergencies in remote locations, says Carruthers solemnly. I can t imagine how hard it would have been to hear the family ask why we, the first responders, drove by and missed them. In Sight 19

20 OTTAWA BBQ CONTINUES TO SUPPORT FARMERS AND FOOD BANKS Popular celebrity milking competition at Ottawa s Food Aid BBQ. When farmers and local families were facing hard times in 2004, Ottawa Federation of Agriculture member Wyatt McWilliams had an idea. Why not connect farmers and the local food bank to help farmers facing BSE and provide a great protein source for local families in need. That s when McWilliams, together with the Ottawa Federation of Agriculture, Ottawa Food Bank and community volunteers, created Ottawa s Food Aid BBQ. The event was designed to help farmers through the BSE crisis by purchasing animals to provide ground beef to families in need and has distributed more than 850,000 lb. of local ground beef to families in the Ottawa area since The first money raised purchased cows that were processed into ground beef, says McWilliams. The idea was to get ground beef to those who don t have the luxury of having it in the freezer, while supporting local cattle farmers in their own time of crisis, BSE. After 13 years, the event continues to be a fundraising success, raising about $115,000 every year. More than 2,000 animals have been purchased over the years from local farmers to supply the beef, but sourcing the beef has recently changed to purchasing ground beef directly from processors who source local animals. McWilliams credits the community support, team of volunteers and variety of sponsors it takes to host such a 20 In Sight

21 successful event, including The Works and The Mechanical Contractors Association of Ottawa. The original Food Aid BBQ had two goals support the local agricultural community by creating a market for cattle during the BSE crisis when cattle prices were depressed, and provide a source of dietary protein, ground beef, to local families and individuals in need. Today, the event continues to be a cornerstone fundraising event for the Ottawa Food Bank and includes the fundraising BBQ, celebrity milking competition, educational displays and community spirit. The Ottawa Federation of Agriculture and Ontario Federation of Agriculture continue to support the annual event, and McWilliams continues to volunteer, Stay connected OntarioFarms OntarioFarms ontariofarms bringing together local food producers, businesses and media to support the event. Foodbanks across the province are in need, says McWilliams. This fundraising event allows us to supply nutritious local ground beef to those in need while supporting our local farmers everyone wins. Sign-up for the 8-week FREE trial of the Risk Management Newsletters Our marketing programs were designed with you the producer in mind to: Save you time Make you more money Stay 1 step ahead of the game called "marketing" YOUR SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES: Daily newsletters Commodity price alerts via text message Our in-house Bottom-line summaries are designed to cut through the noise Timely grain, livestock, feed & basis recommendations Grain & livestock price targets Monthly live online and instant analysis webinars Members-only website access with online tools, data, statistics and much more In Sight 21

22 Ontario Federation of Agriculture Zone Areas Northern Ontario County Federations Kenora ZONE 15 Thunder Bay Cochrane Rainy River Algoma Sudbury Temiskaming Timiskaming Greater Sudbury West-Nipissing Southern Ontario County Federations Manitoulin East-Nipissing Parry Sound Muskoka Muskoka ZONE 10 ZONE 8 Renfrew Prescott ZONE 9 ZONE 13 Haliburton Arnprior Lanark Russell Glengarry Ottawa Stormont Dundas ZONE 2 Grey Simcoe Hastings Peterborough Kawartha Lakes Frontenac Lennox and Addington Grenville Leeds ZONE 14 Bruce Dufferin York Durham Northumberland Prince Edward ZONE 11 ZONE 7 Huron Perth Wellington Waterloo Peel Toronto Halton ZONE 5 ZONE 12 ZONE 6 Essex Lambton Chatham Kent -Kent Oxford Middlesex Elgin ZONE 4 ZONE 1 Brant Hamilton Haldimand-Norfolk Niagara Niagara North and South ZONE 3

23 Making the most of your OFA membership Better Farming is your trusted source for insight, analysis, and investigative reporting on Ontario agriculture. RATES AT A GLANCE One-year subscription for non-ofa members $41 Your OFA member subscription cost per year $0 In Sight 23

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