Proposed rules could disrupt farm expansion especially in Northern Ontario.Ottawa—Draft federal clean fuel regulations pose a threat to future crop production and farmland expansion, especially in Northern Ontario, says Keith Currie, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).Not only would the regulations for a Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) limit what crops can be grown for biofuels, they could also create a compliance and verification burden that leave domestic producers at a disadvantage competing with imports, he said.National and regional farm groups have been vocal in their opposition to parts of the CFS regulations since they were given a briefing on them by Environment Canada officials in September. The government has yet to post the proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette for official comment.The farm groups were alarmed by seven new changes to the proposed CFA regulation. “These proposed guidelines raise concerns for farmers, as the regulations will introduce crop production constraints and do not discuss how compliance will be verified,” Currie said.The government says the changes were needed to help protect against direct and indirect land-use impacts, aimed to limit agricultural feedstocks that negatively reduce biodiversity, encroach on critical species habitat or convert land with high carbon stock. They are especially focused on riparian zones and protected areas.During discussions about the CFS last year, OFA said the government “should recognize the continued value of agriculture's environmental stewardship achievements and reward producers for their best farm management practices and carbon sequestration.”Farmers in Northern Ontario would be most vulnerable under these regulations as they are expanding the land being used for crop production.Currie said the OFA will continue to advocate for Ontario farmers in response to the regulations. “OFA would like to partner and work together with Environment Canada and the federal government to create a set of attainable regulations for Ontario farmers. We want to collaborate to create regulations that can be verified and shine a light on farmers' best management practices as environmental stewards.“OFA remains concerned for the burden this will create for farmers to adhere to the new regulations in the way they have currently been drafted.”The government hasn't indicated when it might post the proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette, a process that launches a formal comment period, which is usually 60 days.Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.