Ontario Farmlands

Where do Farmlands Come from? That answer is as easy as dirt!

Aggregate distribution governs all aspects of the surface and subsurface geological characteristics of an area. Aggregates shape topography, mineral contents and ph levels influencing the plants that grow and the species that thrive.

Aggregate distribution impacts water quality, water volumes, water flow and flow rates heading to wells and tributaries. It's role in retaining water, either above or below the ground, impacts atmospheric temperatures. It supports a web of biodiversity both above and below and in soil layers. It helps to controls floods, prevents drought and provides water for agriculture, tributaries, lakes and rivers which supports communities and industries.

Aggregates are the keystone for all of this!

A View of Ontario's Farmlands2011 Census of Agriculture

Ontario has the biggest agricultural output as measured by farm cash receipts, with 12.6 million acres in agricultural production, just 5.6% of Ontario’s land base.

Though Ontario has less than a quarter of the farmland of either Saskatchewan or Alberta, the combination of soil and climate mean yields on Ontario farmland are often double or more than that of the Prairies.

Farming in Ontario = $50 billion/year

Direct employment in the automotive sector in 2010 was 31,500, while food processing hit 127,000.

The Alliance of Ontario Food Processors also reported the farming created an additional 90,000 jobs.

In 2010, the auto sector had $43.6 billion in revenue in Ontario, while food processing, agriculture products and farming grossed nearly $50 billion.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/food-processing-beats-auto-industry-ontario-report-says-110736478.html

Farmlands in Ontario at risk

Number of farms in Ontario dropped 9.2% from 2006 to 2011

The area farmed in the province fell 4.8% from 2006 to 2011.

The reason for decline of Ontario farms:

“It’s subdivisions, it’s shopping malls, it’s roads,” said Mark Wales, president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. “We’re developing good farmland that in the long run will not be available to grow food, fibre and fuel for the world.”

Mark Wales, President ofOntario Federation of Agriculture states:

“Canada is expected to be one of only six countries in the world to be a net

exporter of food.”

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2012/06/04/19836431.html

Global water & food crisis due to declining aquifers

World's largest aquifer going

dry The Ogallala aquifer is the world's

largest underground water system, irrigating one-third of the US corn crops and providing drinking water to Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. It’s one of the fastest-disappearing aquifers in the world and the water is not coming back. ( Associated Press)

China's north that produces food for 400 million people is running out of water because they are depleting the underground aquifers.

Thomas Fingar, chairman and deputy director US National IntelligenceCouncil and

The failure of governments to limit pumping to the sustainable yield of aquifers means that water tables are now falling in countries that contain more than half the world's people, including the big three grain producers--China, India, and the United States.

Lester R. Brown,Earth Policy Institute, Washington D.C.

According to the Word Bank:

Drought-affected areas would increase from 15.4% of global cropland today, to around 44% by 2100.

The most severely affected regions in the next 30 to 90 years will likely be in southern Africa, the United States, southern Europe and Southeast Asia.

http://climatechange.worldbank.org/content/climate-change-report-warns-dramatically-warmer-world-century

Agricultural lands WITH WATER are in high demand.

• Countries such as China, Korea and the United Arab Emirates are buying or leasing agricultural land to help meet their own food needs.

The International Food Policy Research Institute

• The World Bank estimates that demand for food will rise by 50 percent by 2030. The National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends 2025

• Global Economist project that agricultural lands will surpass the value of development lands in the near future due to rising oil production costs, population increases, higher standard of living, water shortages climate change and drought.

First photo: China, Second Photo: The US Third: Waterloo Ontario

2012 view of US Drought

US drought resulted in toxic feed

Cattle are being poisoned by cyanide-laced weeds in Arkansas. Across the Midwest water-soluble fertilizers are concentrating in soils and plants, making them harmful rather than productive. And in Missouri, samples suggest that more than half the corn crop isn't fit for human consumption, thanks to unusually high levels of nitrogen. There was not enough water for photosynthesis and high nitrate build up made the corn toxic.

http://current.com/10b70kc

Atrazine contaminated US water supplies. Drought and depleted aquifers reduced groundwater to dilute.

This is Africa

This is America's Midwest in 2012

Think Globally

Act Locally!Protect our A1 farmlands and primary recharge areas

from quarries and development.

Save Don't Pave

Primary Recharge Areas

Expand the Greenbelt

Save food and water resourcesfor generations to come!