TORONTO — Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) members carried 23 resolutions at the group’s annual general meeting in February.
The BFO board will now debate the resolutions and have the next year to either approve or reject them.
Here are the 23 resolutions:
1. The BFO work towards resolving the issues between Ontario and the national associations on the National Check-off.
2. The BFO work with farm organizations to lobby for all agricultural land to be changed from 25 % to
15 % of value for farm property tax rate.
3. The BFO work with provincial and national animal agriculture groups to develop strategies to persuade the public about the benefits of animal agriculture.
4. The BFO lobby the provincial government for the maintenance of the two positions of grazier specialist and forage specialist.
5. The BFO work with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association for flexibility for transporters that experience delays to allow extended time in transport under certain circumstances.
6. The BFO work with the government, Feeder Finance and the Financial Protection Program (FPP) to change the wording or make an amendment to the FPP, to ensure members of a co-operative are treated as individuals under the FPP and are not encompassed under the umbrella of the co-operative.
7. The BFO board encourages counties and districts still using the Cattlemen’s Association name to take the initiative to use Beef Farmers in their name.
8. The BFO work with and lobby partners to maintain and enhance the Risk Management Program so that it is timely, bankable, and effective.
9. The BFO work with the government and Feeder Finance to change the wording in the Order in Council of April 2016 by Jan. 1, 2018.
10. The BFO lobby the provincial government so that beef producers are high on the list for carbon credits.
11. The BFO request that OMAFRA have qualified and experienced individuals to evaluate kills and provide fair compensation.
12. That no government official address the BFO AGM without a question and answer period that is not scrutinized by BFO’s Board.
13. That research trial results conducted at the new facility be made available in a timely fashion through the BFO website and the Ontario beef magazine.
14. The BFO establish a contingency fund to counteract trade disputes, thereby not resulting in having to increase check-off.
15. The BFO work with the Ontario Feeder Finance Steering Committee to lobby OMAFRA to enact positive change on the items identified by the provincial steering committee.
16. The BFO consider appointing a representative to sit on the committee that establishes the rules for programs such as the Next Policy Framework to ensure the best interests of all beef farmers in the province are looked after.
17. The BFO investigate methods of recycling and disposal of silage plastic.
18. The BFO consider a representative be placed on the MPAC Advisory Committee.
19. The BFO facilitate the provincial and federal governments, CFIA, and private industry to work together to provide Ontario with new processing plants and facilities.
20. The BFO encourage the Ontario government to keep open agricultural studies courses that are already in place and encourage future curriculum to have more of an agriculture component in it.
21. The BFO ask the provincial government that beef farmers be exempt from the climate tax on coloured diesel until carbon offsets are readily available to Ontario beef farmers.
22. The BFO lobby the sellers of sharps, and encourage work on the development of a consistent policy whereby retailers will be required to accept the return of sharps and outdated medications for proper disposal.
23. The BFO and other farm organizations lobby the provincial government to strengthen the requirements and the oversight of the rehabilitation of present and future aggregate sites.
