Oxford County Federation of Agriculture

Farmers Working for Farmers

Website: www.oxfordag.ca E-mail: info@oxfordag.ca Phone: 519-852-8836 President, Walter Kropf Administrative Coordinator, Amy Matheson

Oxford County Agricultural Awards of Excellence, 2013 Deadline for nominations September 15, 2012
If you know of an individual, organization or business in Oxford County that you think would qualify for an award in Large and Small Agribusiness, Family Farm, Conservation, Farm Innovation, Niche Market, Technology category, or the Youth in Agriculture Bursary, we encourage you to submit a nomination form for the 2013 Agricultural Awards of Excellence. Nomination forms for are available online at www.oxfordag.ca or by calling Amy Matheson at 519-852-8836. Help us recognize and celebrate excellence in our community!

Save the date!

September 6 Grain Farmers of Ontario Annual General Meeting, Delta Hotel and Conference Centre, 50 Stone Road W., Guelph. Keynote speaker: Andrew Bell. Andrew is host of Commodities and Market Call, two of the most-watched shows on Business News Network. www.gfo.ca September 11-13 Canadas Outdoor Farm Show, Canadas Outdoor Park, Woodstock. www.outdoorfarmshow.com September 18-22 International Plowing Match Waterloo Region, Cultivate Country Celebrate Community. www.ipm2012.ca. October 4 Oxford County Federation of Agriculture Annual Regional Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Dinner 8:00 p.m., Regional Meeting, 9:00 p.m., OCFA Board of Directors Meeting. www.oxfordag.ca or call 519852-8836 for more information. November 2-11 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Exhibition Place, Toronto. www.royalfair.org

Rising food costs wont be as steep as feared

By Debra Pretty-Straathof,Vice-President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Droughts slow burn of North American crops this season has sent prices for food commodities such as corn, soybeans and wheat soaring. But the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests the subsequent rise in food prices might be less impactful on consumers than originally feared. This outcome should prevail in Canada as well. USDA noted this week that the prices received by farmers who produce commodities still only accounts for about 14 per cent of the total cost of food at retail outlets. This is a small portion of the price consumers actually pay for their food. Other factors affecting food prices at the retail level include food processing, packaging, retail trade, finance,food service costs, energy and transportation. While consumers are expected to see a rise in the amount of money they spend on food, food price inflation will be close to the historical average (of approximately three per cent) this year and slightly above that next year, USDA says. The farmers share the amount of income Canadian farmers earn from popular processed food products varies across food products. However, for a box of cereal or a loaf of bread it is often a very small portion of the products overall price. For example, on a box of corn cereal costing $3.54, farmers will net approximately 11 cents. On average, Canadian consumers enjoy some of the worlds lowest food prices, with less than 12 per cent of income spent on food. In February each year Canadian farmers mark Food Freedom Day in Canada, when consumers have earned enough income in the calendar year to pay for their food purchases for the entire year. In 2012, Food Freedom Day fell on February 12. Crops such as grain corn are for food processing, livestock feed and production of biofuels. Ontario farmers who managed to dodge the worst of this years drought will obtain higher prices for their crops because theyll be in short supply. Higher commodity prices and a good crop are good news for rural communities and the thousands of spinoff jobs that rely on Ontarios primary agriculture sector. This more positive economic outlook based on a potential for profit serves to attract and retain young farmers entering the business of food production. This renewal and the innovation it brings to Ontario agriculture will help drive our rural economy and contribute food sector jobs for thousands more Ontarians in the years to come. For farmers who have lost a crop and subsequent farm income due to drought, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture will continue to advocate on their behalf, and work with government in delivering much-needed financial assistance to keep farmers farming. Overall, although the drought takes its toll, our food system in Ontario and across Canada remains vibrant. The risk management partnership between governments and farmers helps overcome the challenges of drought to continue to deliver reasonably priced, safe food to our fellow Ontarians and to customers worldwide. For more information contact Mark Wales, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture 519-773-6706.
Follow our new Administrative Coordinator, Amy Matheson on @amy_oxfordag and find us on www.facebook.com/Oxford County Federation of Agriculture

WERE HERE TO TALK WITH YOU

Canadas Outdoor Farm Show provides the perfect venue to talk with our members, check in on how the season is going and discuss issues that matter to you. Located at OFA Federation House, 6th Lane North at Upper Machinery Mall.
www.ofa.on.ca Twitter: @OntarioFarms YouTube.com/OntarioFarms

58 THE RURAL VOICE