Henry Van Ankum says the provincial government is paying too much attention to activist voices.
He's chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario, which is part of a newly-formed coalition of commodity groups called Farm Action Now.
Van Ankum says they want to make sure the voice of real-life farmers is heard when it comes to creating regulations that impact on the viability of the provincial agriculture industry.
He says right now they're worried about potentially severe restrictions on the use of seed treatments.
But Van Ankum argues that's just the thin edge of the wedge, suggesting other future regulations could spread the restrictions across other commodities in the province.
Farm Action Now is calling for the appointment of an agricultural commissioner to advise the government on the implications of existing and future regulations on the industry.
Van Ankum says the coalition is also working on what they're calling a farmer-driven, science-based blueprint for the future of agriculture in Ontario.
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Van Ankun says their goal is to ensure agriculture-related regulations are science-based.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/HENRY-Action-1.mp3"][/audio]
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Van Ankum says one of the things they're worried about is pending regulations on the use of seed treatments in the province.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/HENRY-Action-2.mp3"][/audio]
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Van Ankum says they want to make sure the voice of farmers who are such an important part of Ontario is heard.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/HENRY-Action-3.mp3"][/audio]
