Regional council votes to protect farmland after destruction of 160 acres of corn in Wilmot

Regional Council passed a motion on Wednesday to ensure crops will not be destroyed without a proper assessment, after 160 acres of nearly ready-to-harvest corn in Wilmot Township was plowed over in the ongoing land assembly.

There was a public outcry last month when a field of corn, within the land being expropriated by the Region of Waterloo, was wasted just five weeks away from harvest.

Wilmot farmers made their way to Regional Headquarters by way of a tractor convoy on Wednesday evening.

Once inside, a number of farmers and Wilmot residents spoke in front of regional council, pleading with them to ensure the “willful destruction” of a food crop never happens again.

One of those speakers was Mark Reusser, vice-president of the Waterloo Federation of Agriculture. Reusser noted that the corn crop that was destroyed was potentially worth $500,000.

“Consider what a donation of half a million dollars to the Food Bank would have done to alleviate food insecurity in Waterloo Region,” he said.

Reusser noted the growing potential in Waterloo Region, adding that agriculture and food contributed to $51 billion of Ontario’s GDP in 2023 and employed 11 per cent of the provincial workforce.

“You have been elected by us, the people of this great region, to be visionary leaders,” said Reusser. “Don’t be bullied by those with money or those in seats of power in this province.”

“We will remember that you took a risk to protect farmland.”

Jennifer Pfenning, a Wilmot farmer and the president of the National Farmers Union, said the motion council was considering on Wednesday isn’t enough.

“I support the resolution that our mayor has brought forward, but it doesn’t go far enough,” she said. “What we need is an immediate full-stop on this and all boundary expansions.”

Pfenning brought forward a copy of the Region of Waterloo’s Strategic Plan, titled “Growing with Care”.

“What’s happening in Wilmot really doesn’t fit that title. Not at all.”

All 14 Regional Councilors present at the meeting voted in favour of the motion.

Next, council will receive a report detailing the events and decisions that led to the destruction of those crops, and if any actions were taken to mitigate the loss.

That report is expected to be released to council and the public within the next four weeks.