Middlesex Federation of Agriculture Update Re: Agricultural Update - PDF document

Middlesex Federation of Agriculture Update Re: Agricultural Update to Municipal Councils  MFA information update to municipal councils (10-15 minutes)  presenting information on what the MFA is/was involved in  an active organization that represents farmers in Middlesex  some information is being provided to Councils in advance  representatives will also bring 3-4 hard copy items for distribution MFA Summary & Notes:  Agricultural Zoning o assisting & supporting farmers in land use and zoning issues throughout the County (min. distance separation & severance issues, abattoirs & other value-added facilities)  MTO submission re: Glanworth Dr. Hwy 401 overpass o preparing templates roundabouts to allow for farm equipment size o participated in consultations, along with OFA, with MTO and appropriate Ministers and staff to help increase public and road safety when transporting farm equipment on roadways (i.e. highway crossing & travelling on Highway 4)  Conservation Authorities o participated, along with OFA, in consultations with Conservation Ontario and MNRF to help amend areas of the Conservation Authority Act that address roles and responsibility of Conservation Authorities and their staff o working to improve relationships, communications, and collaborative programming efforts between Conservations Authorities, municipalities, land owners, and stakeholder/organizations o MFA has been involved with various issues in which they helped communicate with all parties involved to work towards solutions involving things such as flood plains, wetlands, other sensitive areas  Rural & Urban Drainage Issues o reviewed Drainage Act and how it pertains to various drainage issues o helped get the correct information to stakeholders effected by issues to help them proceed towards solutions with drainage concerns o drainage issues were forwarded to proper authority or representative when needed o MFA & OFA have also been part of committees and consultations with local CAs, Municipal staff, and Ministry staff that are implemented to work towards solutions common Drainage issues  All Candidates Meetings for elections o partnered with neighbouring counties to host for Federal & Provincial candidates o prepared questions, sent invitations and provided advertising for the meetings

… page 2  Farm Safety Day(s) o held each spring at a schools in the county; sponsored & coordinated by the MFA o in 2016 there will be two Safety Days with the support of community partners o lessons about safety procedures, displays & education sessions for students & staff; precautions when living on, or visiting a rural property are crucial and many of these are relevant for urban homes, such as lawnmower safety, chemical safety, etc.  Food Education o providing support for agriculture, farming & local food events  school program during Canadian Agriculture Literacy Week  sponsor of the 2014 Growing Chefs program in London  sponsor of the Middlesex JF educational outreach school events  development, printing & distribution of the Get Fresh…Eat Local maps  provide quantities of the Map to various groups & locations; tourist centres, Middlesex-London Health Unit, adult ESL classes, Covent Garden Market, etc.  Rural Organizations o ongoing support of: Middlesex 4-H, Middlesex Junior Famers & JFAO, Ontario Young Farmers Forum, Middlesex County Agriculture Hall of Fame, Farm Safety Committee, agricultural societies (local fairs) o awards three $1,000.00 Scholarships each year to deserving youth in Middlesex  MFA Survey o created, distributed & collected surveys from over 700 of our members o response rate was for this was nearly 40% of our 1,900 county members o prepared a summary report of the results as a reference for the MFA  Economic Development Committee o MFA was a member of the steering committee that developed the Ag Strategic Report This report will be used by Middlesex County to advance its Ag economy, to create future growth in this sector and employment opportunities in Middlesex County o items discussed in the report include the importance of Agriculture to the local economy, and its potential to utilize urban centres to build more opportunities for consumers, local producers and the agriculture in Middlesex County o see link: County of Middlesex Agriculture Strategy Report & Recommendations  Ag. Advisory Committee Middlesex County o through the Economic Development Committee and Ag Strategy Report for the County (see attached), MFA is working towards implementing an Ag Advisory Committee in the County which can be used for consultation on agriculture issues by local governments, residents, organizations, CAs, etc. o the committee could be used as an advisory committee to develop agriculture awareness and work with agricultural issues as they arise. o participated in the Middlesex County Agricultural Forum at the County level ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 633 Lions Park Drive, P.O. Box 820 Mt. Brydges, ON N0M 1W0 (519) 457-8444 mfa4h@bellnet.ca If you ate today, thank a farmer. If you are a farmer, thank you!

… page 3  Property Tax Burdens & Development Charges o MFA promotes the need for fair taxation and charges for local residents o MFA supports municipalities who understand the purpose of development charges and how they are to be implemented under the Development Charges Act o Farm residents pay development charges for their residential property. As these charges are to support services that only residential, industrial, and commercial properties will benefit from, development charges are not necessary on farm buildings, and can be a huge cost burden that can drive agriculture out of the municipality. Most municipalities do not have a development charge on farm buildings as they realize the purpose of development needs, and their studies show that agriculture buildings do not project an increase in cost of services  Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) & Regional Initiatives o London Knights hockey game – networking events for county farmers o participate in pre-budget submissions to province o members sit on OFA’s PAC (Policy Advisory Committee) to discuss and direct the focus of the Provincial Board o MFA elects voting delegates to attend the OFA AGM each year to Toronto and vote on various resolutions brought from County levels o working to improve rural infrastructure by lobbying the provincial government to allocate money towards infrastructure and implementing strategic projects to help expand natural gas and reliable rural internet o OFA also works to improve road, bridge, and drainage construction and maintenance.  Middlesex Federation of Agriculture members/staff sit on various committees including: o London Agriculture Advisory Committee o Western Fair District o Strathroy District Chamber of Commerce o London Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Additional Projects Agri-Food Media Partnership - CTV Field to Fork media project Middlesex County Farm Tours - London Chamber of Commerce Six by Sixteen ~ OFA’s newly launched food literacy program ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 633 Lions Park Drive, P.O. Box 820 Mt. Brydges, ON N0M 1W0 (519) 457-8444 mfa4h@bellnet.ca If you ate today, thank a farmer. If you are a farmer, thank you!