GUELPH — Simplifying the regulatory quagmire is still top of mind for Ontario farmers, according to a survey of Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) members.

Nearly 90 per cent of the 794 members surveyed say regulations, particularly those that hit their bottom line, are a priority. Risk management programs are not far behind. About 75 per cent of those surveyed say that risk management programs are among the most important issues.

"For the OFA, this survey is a ‘gut-check’ that will help us gauge the importance of issues affecting our members," says OFA president Mark Wales.

The survey, conducted in the spring via e-mail and in print, is the first of its kind for the OFA and similar surveys that target the general farm organization’s 37,000 members are planned every two years.

Other survey findings include how members prefer to receive information from the OFA. The majority (81 per cent) ranked e-mail as a preferred source.