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representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers.
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Ontario Grain Farmer Magazine

Activists 1, agriculture 0

Ministry of Environment Pushes Through Regulations Offside with Farmers

GUELPH, ON (June 9, 2015) – The Ministry of Environment has forced neonicotinoid regulations into law today, while the Ministry of Agriculture sits on the sidelines.

“It appears this pre-determined outcome is the result of the Ministry of Environment relying on anti-agriculture special interest groups, surprisingly endorsed by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture,” says Mark Brock, Chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. “Neither the Ministry of Environment, nor the Ministry of Agriculture, took the time to brief Grain Farmers of Ontario before today’s announcement, and contrary to what some suggest, corn and soybean farmers do not support the new regulations.”

Today’s regulations represent the least comprehensive plan on pollinator health available, disregarding the approach of the White House, the Senate, and the Ontario Pollinator Health Blueprint, all holistic approaches. This ‘one-off’ approach will not benefit pollinator health and will hurt 28,000 farmers.

“The government’s lack of communication and cooperation with our organization has resulted in unworkable regulations that we cannot accept quietly,” says Brock.

The regulation is posted on the Environmental Registry (http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/). 

Grain Farmers of Ontario

Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.

Contact:

Mark Brock, Chair – 519-274-3297; cropper01@hotmail.com

Meghan Burke, Communications – 519 767-2773; mburke@gfo.ca

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Grain Farmers of Ontario
Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover over 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $4.1 billion in production value, result in over $27 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 90,000 jobs in the province.