The Grain Farmers of Ontario’s commitment to pollinator health and environment stewardship is unyielding.
The farm sector will be at the table with government to secure a future for Ontario’s family farmers.
On Dec. 18, Grain Farmers of Ontario and farm sector partners attended the Ontario government consultation meeting on the proposed regulation to restrict the use of neonicotinoid seed treatment on corn and soybeans. Statements were given by grain farmers and their partners to the government opposing this regulation. Following this portion of the consultation, Grain Farmers of Ontario, with the support of farm sector partners, moved to a separate meeting to discuss a sustainable approach to the future of family farming.
The government’s consultation meeting was held, not to discuss the practicality of the regulations, but rather to discuss the implementation of the proposed regulations and suggestions on how to achieve the unscientific goals described in the proposal.
“Grain Farmers of Ontario will not have any part in discussing the implementation of unscientific, ill informed regulations that will put the Ontario grain industry in a dire situation,” officials state.
“The proposed regulations do not focus on pollinator health and bee keeping practices, are not conducive to environmental stewardship, and are positioned to end family farming across the province.
“Ontario’s grain farmers ask the Premier and the Ontario government to come back to the table and collaborate on a real solution to protect pollinators and the environment.” Grain Farmers of Ontario has established a Pollinator Task Force with many stakeholders, including bee keepers, and will be consulting farmers across the province throughout January. Feedback from the grass roots will be provided to government in 2015.
Grain Farmers of Ontario is asking the provincial government to abandon the proposed seed treatment regulations and support an approach that will work for the complexities of both grain farming and beekeeping. Family farmers need your commitment to agriculture now.
