Resolutions Pertaining to Safety Nets and the Agricultural Policy Framework
(APF)
• that the OCPA, OSG and OWPMB work in cooperation
with general farm organizations, commodity associations and organizations
to discuss lobbying for an APF that maintains Ontario’s current funding,
including enhanced companion programs with the addition of graduated APF
payments (excluding crop insurance, Healthy Futures and environmental programs)
distributed according to size of operation, so that the maximum number of
farmers, communities and organizations can be maintained.
• that
OCPA and grain and oilseeds organizations jointly
withdraw their support for the [APF] program until such time as there
is a workable program that would offset any negative impact on producers.
• that
OCPA rally the Agriculture Minister to not sign or
support the federal APF program and to support existing programs until
there is a new workable program.
• that
APF implementation be delayed for one year with
existing programs NISA, Crop Insurance and Market Revenue kept in place
while industry finalizes APF details.
• that
OCPA lobby the Government of Canada to declare
food security as a national priority and accordingly take immediate action
to financially cushion Canadian farmers against the effects of the new
U.S. subsidies.
• that
local organizations with the support of OCPA
promote a massive letter-writing campaign to all MPs and MPPs to stop
proposed changes in safety nets before the April 1st implementation date
and lobby for a safety net package at least as good if not better than
the current one.
Resolutions Pertaining to Crop Insurane
• that OCPA, OSG and OWPMB work together to lobby
AGRICORP to allow fair yield audit changes to be made regardless of whom
it benefits.
Resolutions
Pertaining to Trade Injury
• that OCPA send a letter of support to the European Oil
Seed Alliance, against the U.S. Farm Bill at the WTO tribunal.
Resolutions Pertaining to Nutrient Management and ‘Made-in-Ontario’
Programs
• that OCPA and grain & oilseeds groups work with the
Minister to change the issues [within the proposed Nutrient Management
Act] that create negative impacts on producers.
Resolutions
Pertaining to Lobbying
• that OCPA participate in helping farmers mobilize and
organize future demonstrations.
Resolutions
Pertaining to Corn Performance Testing
• that OCPA lobby the Ontario government to continue
funding to the University of Guelph for performance testing in Eastern
Ontario and that the data be published regardless of the results.
Resolutions
Pertaining to Wildlife
• that OCPA publish the report on the loss of crops due to
wildlife. (Although the resolution states that OCPA was asked to conduct
such a study in 2002, in fact the only resolution pertaining to wildlife
passed by OCPA members in 2002 was "that OCPA lobby government to
extend the hunting season for deer, raccoons, Canada geese, etc. and increase
the bag limit". A study of crop loss from wildlife was conducted
by the Ontario Soil Crop Improvement Association at the request of the
Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council for crop year 2001/2002. A summary
report of this study will be provided in a future issue of the Ontario
Corn Producer magazine.)
Resolutions
Pertaining to the Line Fence Act
• that OCPA support having the Line Fence Act changed to
support the situation in which landowners require a fence to keep livestock
and should be responsible for the fence.
Resolutions
Pertaining to Organization and Administration
• that OCPA cooperate with the Ontario Soybean Growers,
the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board, the Ontario Canola
Growers’ Association and the Edible Bean groups to establish one
common location for all these organizations.
Resolutions
Pertaining to the Odyssey Group
• that OCPA relate back to producers its plan of action on
recommendations that have been set out by this group.
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