Water Stewardship

What is the Issue?

Animals and crops need clean water at the right time and in the right amount to survive. In our increasingly erratic climate, Ontario needs an agricultural system that promotes good water stewardship.

Why Does It Matter?

Farmers face a future of extreme flooding and drought, but they’ll still need to produce quality food. Research and innovation investments today will help farmers be more self-reliant in the future.

Farmers must use many techniques to control an increasingly erratic supply of water, including retention/storage, drainage, and irrigation. Our province’s water regulatory system needs an upgrade to facilitate use of these types of water control infrastructure.

What Does CFFO Want?

Research and innovation – CFFO recommends funding for projects on water quality, water control infrastructure, and water monitoring.  

Improved regulatory environment – CFFO sees the need for an agricultural water regulatory environment that allows farmers to manage water on their farms through drainage, irrigation, and retention systems. For example, policy needs to recognize the difference between existing wetlands and agricultural retention ponds.