Beef farmers rally to protect Ontario’s food system and prevent loss of farmland

To The Haldimand Press

The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) stand with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) in their vow to prevent the further loss of farmland in the province. Protecting valuable pastureland which, according to Census data, is proven to be lost at a much higher rate than any other type of farmland, is extremely important to Ontario beef farmers. These losses are unsustainable and given the anticipated population growth in Ontario, Canada, and the world, further priority and action by government is needed to protect farmland in order to maintain a sufficient supply of locally grown food.

As stated by OFA, urban sprawl is threatening the viability and sustainability of productive farmland in Ontario. Based on data from the latest Census of Agriculture (2016), approximately 175 acres of farmland is being lost every day, which equates to five farms per week, to urban development in our province.