Norman Ragetlie, ChairNorman Ragetlie, ChairNorman Ragetlie, Chair

and the long-term value of farmland for future generati ons. Our new 5-year strategic plan and energeti c new Board team lay the groundwork for OFT to grow its voice promoti ng farmland preservati on and working on-the-ground in communiti es where farmland is most threatened.

OFT has proudly protected 9 farms and 900 acres since 2009. Our goal now is to double the farmland under conservati on easements in half the ti me. We currently have over 20 farm owners who are willing to donate easements if we can raise the funds needed to complete new projects. Please consider supporti ng our Farmland Forever campaign – you can read more about how to do this and the generous matching off er from the Metcalf Foundati on in this newslett er.

Farmland News

Scaling up Farmland Protection in Ontario

This past year has been an inspiring and fulfi lling journey for our Board, staff and volunteers as OFT collaborated with partners, donors and supporters to secure farmland; recommended specifi c land use policy improvements; and built awareness of farmland conservati on issues and opportuniti es. Looking into the new year, our 10th anniversary, we are prepared and focused. Our priority is broadening our sources of support so we can enable our “small but mighty” team of volunteers and staff to advance farmland protecti on across the province.

There are great opportuniti es ahead to engage with more farm owners and enlist support from the many Ontarians who care about local food

FALL 2013

Well attended easement celebration event at Little RockFarm with 130 friends, neighbours and supporters in June.

Farmland policy issues also conti nue to be top of mind, as new research emerges on the inadequacies and gaps in land use planning, urban growth management and aggregate extracti on policies that allow Ontario’s best farmlands to be developed for other uses. You’ll read about our promoti on of farmland preservati on as part of planning for the future of the Pickering Airport Lands Site east of Toronto, and support of related initi ati ves, such as the Food & Water First campaign.

With your support, we are making a diff erence, pursuing new opportuniti esto scale-up OFT’s impact, and creati ng a more sustainable futurefor Ontario agriculture. Thank you!

At our June AGM, three new Directors were elected to OFT’s Board. Cynthia Lavesque gives us representati on from eastern Ontario and can share her agri-environmental consulti ng experience. Beverly Spriel brings fi nance and fundraising experti se, and Melissa Watkins off ers a unique perspecti ve, working closely with new farmers.

Gerald Poechman was elected to serve a second Board term, and conti nues to sit as OFT’s Vice Chair. Norman Ragetlie was re-elected as Board Chair; Beverly Spriel as Treasurer; and Frank Shaw as Secretary. Together, our Board leadership has never been so strong and diverse. There are great things on the horizon for the Farmland Trust, and excitement builds as we prepare for our 10th anniversary in 2014.

In June, the federal government announced that planning would commence for airport and economic development acti viti es on the Pickering Airport Lands Site, some 13,000 acres of Class 1-3 farmland in Durham Region. These lands were expropriated in the 1970s, but airport plans cancelled shortly aft erward, leaving the future of the site uncertain. The land has since been rented to local farmers, but any investment in agricultural improvements prevented.

Over the years, OFT has advocated for a stronger commitment to preserving farmland on the Site. Within 100 km of 20% of Canada’s populati on, the Pickering Lands off er an unprecedented opportunity to protect some of the most producti ve farmland in the GTA in a way that enables millions of people to connect with agriculture and local food.

OFT has made the following recommendati ons to the federal government: (1) Recognize the economic, ecological and food-producing importance of prime farmlands located on the Pickering Site; (2) Commit to the permanent protecti on of all farmland that is surplus to airport uses; (3) Ensure any development is restricted to airport and airport-related uses; (4) Harmonize planning with provincial Greenbelt protecti ons for farmland on the Site; (5) Work closely with Parks Canada to coordinate planning for the protecti on of farmland adjacent to the Rouge Nati onal Urban Park; (6) Clarify the process for planning and decision-making through regular public meeti ngs; (7) Work with stakeholders to develop new management structures for long-term stewardship of surplus agricultural lands.

New Leadership to Usher in OFT’s 10th Anniversary

Promoting a Future for Agriculture on the Pickering Airport Lands

Reti ring Directors Don Prince and Rodger Cummins were acknowledged for their outstanding service and dedicati on to the Trust’s development and direct land protecti on work. Since the beginning, they have been the consistent face of our land securement acti viti es, spending countless hours meeti ng with landowners and facilitati ng the easement donati on process to see OFT complete Ontario’s fi rst farmland conservati on easements. We simply cannot thank them enough, and look forward to building on their many contributi ons and successes.

OFT’s 2013-2014 Board of Directors. From left to right: Beverley Spriel, Norman Ragetlie, Melanie Williams, Carolyn Young, Stas Shulist, Ann Slater, Peter Mitchell; Kneeling: Matt

Setzkorn (Acting Executive Director), Bonnie Littley, Frank Shaw, Melissa Watkins.Not Pictured: Gerald Poechman, Cynthia Levesque, Mark Reusser.

From left to right: Don Prince, Rodger Cummins, Matt Setzkorn, Norman Ragetlie

OFT has recently completed a new strategic plan that will guide the organizati on’s work for the next 5 years. The Plan presents an exciti ng vision for enhanced partnerships and programming that will enable more on-the-ground farmland conservati on initi ati ves to take root. Strategic goals include:

Enhanced Programs, Partnerships a Focus of OFT’s New Strategic Plan

Little Rock Farm, protected by an OFT farmland conservation easement in Spring 2013.

(1) Securing 1,500 acres of farmland using conservati on easements – doubling the amount of land protected to date in half the ti me; (2) Collaborati ng on policy changes that bett er protect prime farmland resources; (3) Contributi ng to the enhancement of fi nancial tools to keep farmland in farming; and (4) Running educati onal programs to support the above goals.

Priority acti ons outlined in the Plan to support these goals include diversifying our fundraising for sustainable program delivery, enhancing the strategic focus of our land securement program, and improving community partnerships and engagement. Contact us for a copy of the new strategic plan.

Metcalf has been a major supporter of OFT since the Trust was founded in 2004, and we are so grateful for the Foundation’s matching pledge this fall to support our organizational development and implementation of the strategic plan. With your gifts doubled, we will enter our 10th anniversary year on strong footing, and make twice the impact on farmland preservation in 2014.

Please consider making a donation today. Charitable donations also make great holiday gifts!

The gift of farmland preservation is one of lasting benefit for generations to come.

Fall Matching Gift Challenge – Help Protect Farmland ForeverThe Metcalf Foundation has offered a challenge to OFT supporters: make a gift to the Farmland Trust before December 31st and it will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000!

Easement donors Helen Marti nic and Lorna Bethell, and OFT Land Securement & Stewardship Committ ee members at a recent OFT on-farm recogniti on event.

ONTARIO FARMLAND TRUSTc/o University of Guelph

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Phone: (519) 824-4120 ext. 52654Fax: (519) 767-1686

info@ontariofarmlandtrust.cawww.ontariofarmlandtrust.ca

Help protect Farmland Forever by becoming an OFT member and engaging more with our work. It takes a criti cal mass of support to make a diff erence, and members provide the core support needed to advance our collecti ve farmland preservati on eff orts throughout Ontario.

Benefi ts of your membership include:

• Voti ng rights at our Annual General Meeti ng • Noti fi cati on of all Ontario Farmland Trust events • Opportuniti es to join others in a variety of volunteer acti viti es • Sati sfacti on of helping to protect Ontario Farmlands for future generati ons

Becoming a member is easy. A one-year membership is only $50, and you will receive a charitable tax receipt in return. Donati ons can be sent by mail or given online at www.OntarioFarmlandTrust.ca/donate. Contact us with any questi ons, or for more informati on about membership and giving opti ons.

Become a Member of the Farmland Trust Today

This spring, a ‘Food & Water First’ campaign was launched, encouraging the Ontario government to adopt a Food & Water First policy that prioriti zes protecti on of Class 1 farmland and source water regions through improved land use planning.

OUR MISSIONThe Ontario Farmland Trust works to protect and preserve Ontario farmlands and

associated agricultural, natural and cultural features of the countryside through direct land securement,stewardship, policy research and educati on for the benefi t of Ontarians today and future generati ons.

This is an ongoing initi ati ve of the North Duff erin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT) – the group that was instrumental in raising awareness of a 2,300 acre mega-quarry that was proposed in Duff erin County, building unprecedented public oppositi on to the quarry, and ulti mately seeing the development stopped in fall 2012. The new campaign builds on this momentum and invites other individuals and organizati ons to partner in promoti ng Food & Water First. OFT has endorsed the campaign and conti nues to work with like-minded groups to promote greater protecti ons for Ontario farmland.

Putting Food & Water First

OFT Board Member Bonnie Litt ley and Acti ng Executi ve Director Matt Setzkorn at a Food & Water First celebrati on event in Honeywood.

Tractor ride at the Food & Water First event.