FARMLAND Officials refusing to divulge anything even as they rush ahead

been told not to plant crops they won’t be around to harvest in the fall – maybe hay, but not corn, Lowrick noted.

While there’s been talk of an automotive battery plant slated for the land, there’s been no information provided, he said, noting the amount of land well exceeds the site of the Toyota plant in Cambridge, for example.

“It’s double the size of the Cambridge plant, and why would you need that much space for a battery plant, other than if you also are looking at assembly of cars? ”

Both Lowrick and Reusser suggested there would be better locations in the region for industrial uses rather than destroying prime farmland.

“I hope we can we can get to a situation where the upper levels of government look at it and say there are better spots, the north end of Cambridge, for example. Surely, there’s 800 or 1,000 acres somewhere in that area, which is right on the 401. Why would you go all the way up here?” asked Lowrick.

“We’re talking about a special place here in southwestern Ontario, this little triangle of land moderated by three Great Lakes, a great climate for growing food, wonderful soils, great farmers. We can grow a longer list of fruits and vegetables than anywhere else in North America, with the exception of California,” said Reusser, noting the province loses 319 acres of farmland each day.

“This is kind of the Goldilocks area for agriculture in North America. To even think of destroying it for urbanization makes absolutely no sense when only five per cent of Ontario’s landmass is actually suitable for agriculture in the first place.”

Looking at the public backlash against the likes of the province’s plans to develop on The Greenbelt, Lowrick said he’s hoping for a similar reversal in this case, too. Still, too many unknowns remain, with officials keeping mum.

“Is it a done deal? Or is it an option for discussion here yet? We’re hoping that we can stop this. That’s the best-case scenario. And the worst-case scenario is ‘OK, you’re going to take our land, but there has to be adequate compensation,” said Lowrick.