Farming and Agriculture

The 2022 Springwater Farmers' Market - Elmvale has now concluded. If you are interested in being a vendor in 2023, please check back in the Spring for information on the season and vendor application form. 

For additional information, please feel free to contact us at farmersmarket@springwater.ca. 

AgGrid 2021 is a resource guide for agriculture and agri-food businesses in Simcoe, Grey and Bruce Counties looking for information about starting up, expanding or improving their businesses. 

Agriculture and Agri-Food BR&E 

Regional partners undertook a significant study of the area's agriculture and agri-food sector to build regional and local Action Plans. The partnership group includes the County of Simcoe, Grey County, Bruce County, City of Barrie, City of Orillia, Georgian College and local business support agencies. Over 270 producers, distributers, processors and retailers were interviewed in the study. Review the BR&E Infographic for a snapshot of the results.

Visit edo.simcoe.ca/agricultural-resources for additional information on the study and the work plans that were developed based on the results. 

Read the Final Trends Report

Have you been thinking about adding an agri-tourism component to your farm in Simcoe County?  Maybe you’d like to expand an existing tourism operation or just want to explore what it takes to get into the agri-tourism industry.  

To help Tourism Simcoe County has created and published a new Simcoe County Agritourism Toolkit! The Simcoe County Agritourism Toolkit contains all the information you will need to help you decide whether agritourism is right for you. It outlines the steps you will need to take to add an agritourism component to your existing farm business or to help grow your existing agritourism business. The Toolkit is divided into four components based on a standard business development planning approach.  

To view the toolkit visit experience.simcoe.ca. Prefer a printed copy, contact tourism@simcoe.ca to request one for free!

Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program 

The Enhanced Agri-food Workplace Protection Program will help more operations, including farms, to take additional measures to improve health and safety for their workers and ensure the continued supply of healthy food during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Equine Hardship Program 

Ontario is providing conditional financial support to equine experience-based businesses that are facing financial hardship due to business losses associated with COVID-19. Financial support is available until March 12, 2021.  

Temporary Foreign Workers 

• COVID-19 Testing Information for Temporary Foreign Workers (multiple languages available upon request)
• Prevention, Control and Outbreak Support Strategy for COVID-19 in Ontario's Farm Workers 

Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) Consulting & Training 
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is providing funding to WSPS to deliver resources and consulting services to help farmers and other agri-food businesses provide safe workplaces, and improve the effective management of the risk of COVID-19. Services are available until March 31, 2021.

Additional Resources 

• COVID-19: Information for the agriculture and agri-food industry (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) 
• OMAFRA list of Provincial and Federal COVID-19 Financial Supports for Farmers
• Ontario Federation of Agriculture summary of COVID-19 resources