8 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 BE oan Sa aa hain acta ah Sk Farm re rr ah AAR AT A a te TS FOCUS ON THE FARM BALANCING OUR ENERGY AND FOOD SECURITY NEEDS DREW SPOELSTRA PRESIDENT, ONTARIO FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE The demand for energy is grow- ing in Ontario, as is the need for reliable supply and infrastruc- ture that will provide sustain- able, affordable options and accommodate growth across all sectors of the Sow, including e agri-food sec Ontario’s serra, and agri- food sector is not ‘only acorner- communities, fuel our rural econ- omies, and provide jobs for 11 per cent of Ontario’s work force. ith an annual contribution of over $50 billion to Ontario’s economy, the agri-food sector is undeniably one of the most significant drivers of economic prosperity in our province, which oe nuclear, hydroelectric, epics. natural gas and bigs Forfa ees however, what is particularly important about this new) procurement framework is that it At the same time, it will oe demonstrate how on-farm dive: bon footprint, while sustaining fie canine with the eo aes of Ontario ’s r. The OFA, at the direction of is akey reason the Ontario Fed- p id. New ur more than 38,000 members eration of Agriculture (OFA) has _ energy Projects’ rane need local across Ontario, has long been a long been advocating for afford- upport will not i d farmland ane and reliable energy options. be allowed in yp areas. nd that This is particularly true for rural Agricultural i ins the - Ontario, which is wh willbe ry use for our province’s best of our food, fuel, fibre and flower _ posedin prime Se Nn ae farmland. production takes place. and there will be i: il is a finite at’s why, as a farmer and projects in northern Ontario and resource; once it’s gone, it’s president of the Ore Iwas oncrownlands that avoidprime _ not coming back. It’s also the pleased be part of icultural fundamental building block for x0) Thei ion of Agricul- food proaticton aa it’s been announced a new energy pro- tural Impact grate curement framework for Ontar- io. It will take a mix of all types of energy generation infrastructure t +t th i F new energy projects in particular is a positive step for Ontario. It fo reliable, affordable and sustain- able power, and this en focuses ona diverse supply mix that FOCUS ON SENIORS Raising awareness to Alzheimer’s during pate MADDISON MEHRING September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and Sept. 21 marks World Alzheimer’s Day. World Alzheimer’s Month isan fe nauenal campaign which aii and accessing essential informa- but are not limited to memory loss, changes in personality and mood, difficul ty with communi- lan- in Ontari That’s ae OFA appreciates means that it as our province Ee the efforts aE the Ministry of its energy ii Energy and Electrification and willbe mechanisms i in place t ane ia? e Ministry, of. Agriculture, Food protect the land durges all and feeds us. at of government to prio: is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but factors such as one’s environ- ment and lifestyle are modifiable and contribute greatly to one’s personal level of risk. Staying active, getting adequate sleep, cation and and Gialnge the stigma sur- rounding dementia. Dementia is an umbrella term for several diseases which can impact think- diagnosed cases. Asa result, identifying early signs and symptoms of the disease is vital in receiving an early diagnosis guage, or p pleting routine tasks. While an exact cause of Alzhei- mer’s has not been fully discov- ered, research has shown that certain proteins deposited into our brain can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s (or other forms of dementia). Biological factors such as genetics, age and family history may impact a person’s likelihood of. rishi ing this disease. Currently there active, monitoring heart rate, scheduling routine check-ups and eating a well-balanced diet are all great ways to reduce the risk of developing the disease and many other illnesses. The importance of. recognizing the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease in a person, whether that be your own self or those closest to you, cannot be overstated. Not only is treatment for this disease most effective in the early stages of) ea therei is also the ital benefit o} _MITCHELL ADVOCATE Ontario's agricul- ture and agri-food sector is not onlya cornerstone of our province's econ- omy, but alsoa critical part of our identity and our future. tize farmland preservation and to make decisions througha forward-thinking lens of respon- sible development that supports our food security as well as meeting economic growth and i ‘ture needs. This is one example of the balanced approach to infrastruc- ture, planning and development that our province needs and we encourage government to follow similar paths in areas other tl energy to ensure that we can continue to protect and nurture our agricultural sector while supporting Ontario’s economic growth. items.Mood, pervsonsliaieys to vi make inf ing their eae legal and financial arrangements, and any- thing else of personal i importance, This year’s campaign highlights the “10 Warning Signs” of Alzhei- mer’s disease and other demen- tias. These signs include: Changes to memory that affect daily tasks and day-to-day abilities.Challenges complet- ine familiar tasks.. Language communication changes. Roteiaon| in place and time. Impaired judgement. Difficul- ty with abstract thinking (i.e., a di ‘bol: behaviow of i ink tiative.Problem: spatial and visual information. Caregiving for a loved one can be both rewarding and overwhelm- ing at times. It is important to practice self-care and have your own supports in place to seek help and identify resources to lessen the burden. Some resoure- es and supports available in our area includes Alzheimer’s Society of Canada, Alzheimer’s Society of | cee a local supports in Perth Cow For more DP caation about World Alzheimer’s Month check ‘Gia litdernda bas b and numbers mean).Misplacing out world-alzheimers-month