Ontario's conservation authorities are under review Thursday, September 24, 2015 by SUSAN MANNConservation authorities have become more than just advisers to municipalities and that is causing problems for farmers seeking permission to build structures on their farms.Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Don McCabe says, “The original purposes of these conservation authorities were to deal with issues of soil erosion, drought and flood. Conservation authorities have certainly expanded into other areas of influence and that can be a result of trying to find money to keep the doors open because the (Ontario) government has dramatically dropped its funding of authorities from what it once was. That’s a serious problem.”The province is leading a review of the roles, responsibilities, governance and funding mechanisms of conservation authorities under the Conservation Authorities Act. A discussion paper has been posted on the Ontario Environmental Registry. Comments as part of the review are due Oct. 19.McCabe says the federation is preparing a submission.One of the changes the federation would like to see, he says, is direct farmer representation on the authorities’ boards.Another is greater clarity outlining the authority’s jurisdiction in matters such as building permit approvals.Currently, “there seems to be a very large disconnect” when it comes to which body’s authority takes precedence — municipalities or conservation authorities — over such matters.For farmers, the lack of clarity “has become an extremely onerous circumstance in certain areas of the province to get access to the necessary permits,” McCabe says. “The municipality might say one thing and the (conservation) authority might say another and meanwhile the (conservation) authority is supposed to be in an advisory role to the municipality and not in an officiating role.” In its submission, the federation also plans to talk about funding mechanisms. McCabe says the various conservation authorities established under the Act “range quite dramatically in the amount of funds they have.” Due to the current funding structure, “the Toronto-area conservation authorities are extremely rich and then there are some other smaller authorities out there, which by nature of the area they’re in, do not have similar funds available.”The environmental registry posting says the purpose of the authorities is to deliver a natural resource management program for the watershed that reflects both municipal and provincial interests.There are 36 authorities across Ontario. BF Ontario Divisional Court hears Grain Farmers' neonic case Ontario farmers to receive extended reprieve from bobolink and eastern meadowlark habitat protection terms
Designed by Farmers, For Famers: The Better Way to Fence Friday, March 28, 2025 BY: Zahra Sadiq Tired of expensive traditional fence posts that fail to secure your property? Electrical fence posts offer a cost-effective, reliable solution for farmers looking to boost security without breaking the bank. PlusPost offers electric fence posts made from 99% recycled... Read this article online
Lynmark Farms named Master Breeder for 2025 Wednesday, March 26, 2025 The Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society has announced that Lynmark Farms has been named as a herd for 2025. Lynmark Farms is owned and operated by Tim Shearer and Irene Vietinghoff of Norwood, Ontario. They are the third Milking Shorthorn herd to be recognized as a since this... Read this article online
Ontario Mega Farm Faces Market Chill Wednesday, March 26, 2025 A large working farm in Ontario, one of the province’s biggest on the market, is facing difficulties finding a buyer. Listed at $72.1 million, the 2,300-acre property is located near Lake Erie in Elgin County, spanning both Malahide Township and Central Elgin. Despite its prime agricultural... Read this article online
It’s been a while… Tuesday, March 25, 2025 The International Plowing Match and Rural Expo (IPM) is coming to the Niagara Region this fall, providing a unique opportunity to showcase the community’s agricultural diversity and natural beauty. The annual event is hosted in a different community each year, with this year’s... Read this article online
Nutrien Ag Solutions launches its 2025 Hometown Yield Challenge Monday, March 24, 2025 Nutrien Ag Solutions has launched its second year of the , and is again available to growers in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Nutrien Ag Solutions is the retail division of Nutrien Ltd., a leading global provider of crop inputs and services. Enrollment is open until April 11,... Read this article online