The coalition of farm groups that created AGCare came together in 1987 to communicate about and provide policy initiatives on agricultural pesticide use. One of our first goals was to create training for farmers on the safe and responsible use of agricultural pesticides. Today the Grower Pesticide Safety Course is mandatory for any farmer in Ontario who purchases or uses agricultural pesticides.
Our role evolved over time to meet new agri-environmental challenges. When Ontario farmers began growing genetically modified crops in 1996, AGCare became the farmers’ voice on the use of this new technology. Today, AGCare is the voice of Ontario’s farmers on a wide range of environmental issues from pesticide use and biotechnology, to soil and water conservation.