Plan the Bruce: Agriculture

Ensuring the Future of Food Thrives Here

Agriculture plays an important role in Bruce County’s economy and rural identity. That said, protecting farmland and promoting farm business opportunities is a challenge for the future.

If we plan successfully, Bruce County will be a place where future generations of farmers continue to prosper. Our natural assets are finite, non-renewable resources and our agricultural lands are the foundation for food, fiber, the local food economy, agri-food exports and economic prosperity.

Good planning decisions now will help us support local food producers and expand their opportunities beyond our borders to create markets for a thriving, healthy agricultural community.

Project Status: Public engagement on the Interim Report is complete.

A standalone amendment (C-2021-025) was adopted in April 2022 to reduce barriers to surplus farm dwelling severances and industrial and commercial uses on farms and to clarify planning considerations for creating smaller specialized farm parcels. This amendment is now in force and effect.

Further engagement on recommended policy directions and new mapping of Prime Agricultural Areas will be completed through the new Official Plan.

Land Use Topics We Considered

The new Official Plan will consider new or revised policy for the following agricultural land use topics.

	Mapping Prime Agricultural Area
	Minimum size of new agricultural lots
	Surplus farm dwelling severances
	New residential lots in woodlots
	Industrial and commercial uses on farms
	Urban-agriculture edge planning
	Cannabis production

There are 14 recommended policy directions for the land use topics listed above.

Review the policy directions in the Interim Report (found under Documents on this page).