Land use, road safety, trade and labour top of mind with Ontario farmers this summer

By Drew Spoelstra, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

We’re fully into summer across Ontario which means farmers are hard at work in fields, orchards, vineyards and greenhouses. Despite the busy season though, they’re also deeply engaged in the policy, economic and environmental issues shaping agriculture’s future.

That was made clear at two virtual Presidents’ Roundtables recently hosted by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), where leaders of local federations across the province gathered to share updates, concerns, and successes.

As provincial president of the OFA – and a farmer myself – I was pleased to be part of these meetings alongside other board members and hear firsthand what is on the minds of farmers this summer of 2025.

From northern to southern Ontario, certain themes dominated the conversation, especially land use and the need to preserve farmland in the face of development pressure, energy projects, and non-agricultural land uses.

Land use continues to be one of the most urgent and widespread issues facing Ontario farmers. Members from southern, central, eastern and northern Ontario federations of agriculture raised concerns about urban boundary expansions, expropriation, and community frustrations over lack of local input into decision-making.

Special Economic Zones and their potential to override planning protections for farmland, were also raised, as well as challenges around land severances and rural land classifications, and the implications of strong mayor powers potentially sidelining rural priorities.