The farmland I am on in…

The farmland I am on in Northumberland County is home to several species at risk and as a farmer I do everything in my power to protect them and build up the habitats that are needed to have them thrive. For the bobolinks and Eastern meadowlarks, grassland birds that are on the list, haying is delayed so that the fledglings can hatch. Last year I spent a lot of my own money and funds from SARFIP ( a valuable part of OSCIA) to restore 8 acres of marsh to provide habitat for several bird and amphibian species. Unlike the rep from OFA, there are many farmers in Ontario that realize that if biodiversity habitats and the essential species at risk are not protected in the era of climate change, there will be no profits for farmers. Protecting the species at risk and running the farm are not in opposition. Having the species at risk on my farm alive and protected means the land is healthy and that the farm will be productive for many years to come. I don’t know about folks in the government but I would prefer eating lamb grazing on the healthy grasslands supporting the bobolinks and meadowlarks and grasshopper sparrows than chewing on money made from development. Keep the act as is or strengthen it!