Fund honours biomass pioneer's memory, supports leadership program Wednesday, January 22, 2014 by MATT MCINTOSH A memorial fund to help support innovation and forward-thinking in agricultural and agri-business is being established by the Rural Ontario Institute. In a January 21 press release, the Rural Ontario Institute announced that the Dean Tiessen Memorial Fund will be used to support their Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program, which works to develop leadership in Ontario’s agricultural sector. The fund is named after Dean Tiessen, who was killed in Brazil this past December, and was considered by many to be a leader in Ontario’s biomass and greenhouse industries. There are eight seminars in each Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program class,” says Arlene Warner, manager of communications and fund development for the Rural Ontario Institute. “The Dean Tiessen fund will be in place for the next ten years, and donations will be used to support the third seminar of our program classes.” Tiessen was the president of New Energy Farms near Leamington Ontario, and a graduate of the program’s Class 10, which ran from 2003 to 2005. A Class 10 committee has been organized to establish the fund. In the press release, Henry Koskamp, a member of the committee, credits Tiessen’s hard work and solution-oriented attitude with helping to start Ontario’s biomass industry. He was “a pioneer in energy crops, not just here in Ontario but also internationally,” says Koskamp. The press release says that donations for the fund will be accepted at Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program’s “Dream Auction” in Guelph on February 8. Those interested can also donate online though the Rural Ontario Institute’s website, or by mail. BF Layoffs at Agricorp Farmers market adopts restaurant venue
Canadian Meat Sector Seeks Fast Reforms from Newly Elected Government Tuesday, May 27, 2025 With Parliament resuming under Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Canadian Meat Council (CMC) is calling for quick government action to support Canada’s pork and beef sector. This industry contributed over $9.4 billion in exports and supported nearly 200,000 jobs in 2024. “Canada’s red... Read this article online
RaboResearch says tariffs are disrupting global pork trade Saturday, May 24, 2025 According to a recent report from Rabobank, pork prices have rebounded and remain strong despite shifting trade flows and growing economic and consumer uncertainties. Rabobank is a Dutch multinational banking and financial services company specializing in the global food and agricultural... Read this article online
Livestock Research Innovation Corporation welcomes new board members Friday, May 23, 2025 Two new board directors have joined the leadership of Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC). Mohamad Yaghi with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and Sonya Fiorini from Burnbrae Farms both fill appointed director positions on the LRIC board. Yaghi replaces Franco Naccarato from Meat and... Read this article online
Northern Ontario Farms Get Ag Plastic Recycling Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Northern Ontario agriculture communities have compacted 27 metric tons of agricultural plastics. The Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA), in partnership with the northern caucus of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), is proud to announce major progress in its... Read this article online
Ontario's Foodbelt: A Bold Move to Protect Farmland and Food Security Tuesday, May 13, 2025 The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the National Farmers Union, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, and Ontario Farmland Trust are collaborating with Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner and Haldimand-Norfolk independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady to introduce legislation aimed at... Read this article online