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Survey Results of Good Agricultural Practices

A questionnaire led by Ian Young, PhD student at the University of Guelph was mailed to 729 producers (of which 60% responded, which is a very high response rate). Also, 135 questionnaires were completed at 12 conferences (including 4 organic conferences) and workshops or over the internet.

Some of the findings are highlighted below:

• 66% of producers were growing fruits or vegetables
• 57% were raising livestock or poultry
• 29% were producing both fruits/vegetables and livestock/poultry
• 25% were participating in an on-farm food safety

At least 80% of producers were using most recommended practices, including:

• Traceability and recording keeping
• Maintenance of equipment/buildings
• Cleaning and sanitation
• Appropriate use of chemicals and animal-health products

However, there were some practices that could be improved:

• Only 39% of producers were using a sanitizer in their post-harvest water
• Only 55% had written practices for tasks that impact food safety

Overall, producers that were participating in an on-farm food safety program and that were affiliated with organic groups were more likely to use food safety practices.

We found that niche-market producers in Ontario are using most recommended food safety practices. There are some areas for improvement though, such as water sanitation.

We encourage all producers to apply for a free copy of OMAFRA's food safety manual: "Advantage Good Agricultural Practices". You can use the manual to find out which practices you should be using based on the risks present on your farm. Call 1-877-424-1300 for more information about "Advantage Good Agricultural Practices" and to receive your free copy.

Finally, we thank all of the producers who responded to our questionnaire. The results will help us to support producers more effectively in the areas that need it most, through focused education and future funding programs.

For more information about this study, please contact Ian Young. Phone: 519-826-2347, Email: iyoung@uoguelph.ca.