Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Educators top the pay scales in public sector agriculture

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

If you're looking for money in agriculture's public sector, check out education. University of Guelph educators are the top agricultural earners on the 2008 Ontario public sector salary disclosure list.

At a salary of $207,982, Elizabeth Stone, dean of the Ontario Veterinary College, is one of the university's highest-paid employees, but she's not at the top. That honour goes to its president and vice-chancellor, Alastair Summerlee, remunerated to the tune of $434,518 and another $29,495 in benefits. 

Michael Goss, since retired as director of the university's Kemptville campus, cashed cheques for $152,457 last year and Art Schaafsma, director of the university's Ridgetown campus, earned $123,977. Having only taken the reins as the new dean of the Ontario Agricultural College in August 2008, Robert Gordon didn't make the list.

At the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), deputy minister George Zegarac was the top salary earner among the ministry's 846 year-long full-time employees, grossing $184,616. That's considerably less than the $239,612 and $5,132 in benefits Bruce Archibald, OMAFRA's former deputy minister and now deputy minister of international trade and investment, made last year. The $153,909 salary of OMAFRA's assistant deputy minister of research and corporate services, Karen Chan, was modest compared to the ministry's other assistant deputy ministers, most of whom earned more than $180,000, but her benefits of $3,872 were the highest of those listed working all year for the ministry.

Over at Agricorp, chief executive officer Randy Jackiw raked in $170,622 and $12,486 in benefits. Of Agricorp's 348 full-time employees, 14 made more than $100,000. Agricorp is listed as a crown corporation, and isn't part of OMAFRA.

The Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario, the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal, the Livestock Financial Protection Board and the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission did not have salaries to disclose. However, David Hope, who retired as chair of Farm Products last fall, earned $180,852 as an OMAFRA assistant deputy minister overseeing regulated marketing. BF

 

Current Issue

September 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

York Region launching new Agri-Food Startup Program

Thursday, September 11, 2025

A new program in York Region is designed to help entrepreneurs find their footing in the food space. The 14-week hybrid Agri-Food Start-up Program partners entrepreneurs with local organizations like the Foodpreneur Lab, Syzl, York Region Food Network, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island... Read this article online

Corn and Soybean Diseases Spread This Season

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, as well as in previous articles by Farms.com, the 2025 growing season is nearing its end with corn and soybean farmers in Ontario and the U.S. Corn Belt facing disease challenges that reflect changing weather conditions. For corn, two... Read this article online

Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online

Research Projects and Companies Supported Through OAFRI

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced an investment of up to $4.77 million to strengthen the province’s agri-food sector. This funding, delivered through the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top