Look for MOU vote this summer Tuesday, April 8, 2008 by SUSAN MANN The heads of the three producer groups signed an updated memorandum of understanding April 2 reaffirming their commitment to bring plans for a single organization to a producer vote. No date for the vote has been set yet but “if the timelines go as planned we’re probably looking at a late summer vote,” says Ontario Soybean Growers chair Leo Guilbeault. “There’s an awful lot of work that has to get done yet.” Part of that work includes developing a business plan and ensuring that all the information is accurate and precise so when growers get their information packages as part of the voting process “they’ll have all the information at hand that they’ll need to make a decision.” Guilbeault says soybean growers want to ensure the strategic plans of the three organizations continue even if there’s one organization representing them. “It’s still dealing with three specific commodities. If you look at the markets for those three commodities a distinct strategic plan for each one would still have to go forward.” In addition they want to ensure “the financials are good so that the organization starts on a solid foundation,” he adds, noting they also want to ensure there’s a proper business plan. It’s good the plans to develop one grains group are continuing to be developed, Guilbeault says. “One way or another there’s going to be a producer vote and we’ll let the producers decide.” Work on developing one organization began in 2004 when representatives from the three organizations signed an original agreement to come up with a proposal. The process was suspended last November after the Ontario Soybean Growers pulled out. But during county and annual meetings for all three organizations this winter and spring producers urged their elected representatives to get the plans for developing one organization and holding a producer vote back on track. “We were directed by farmers to get it back moving again,” says David Whaley, chair of the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board. Farmers spoke loud and clear at the county annual meetings and told their directors they wanted to be able to vote, notes Dale Mountjoy, president of the Ontario Corn Producers’ Association. “Corn producers always wanted to let farmers have a vote,” he says. A working group made up of the chairs and general managers from the three organizations will be working with the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission to ensure all requirements needed for the vote are met. It’s the Commission that will be conducting the vote. Mountjoy estimates the number of farmers eligible to vote to be 20,000. BF Commission supports mandatory fee for floriculture growers Ontario beef producers at a 'disadvantage' says OCA's president
How will Carney work with Farmers? Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Prime Minister Carney has a mandate to lead the country, but the country is quite divided, and much of the agriculture industry feels alienated. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre have both pledged cooperation on key issues like U.S. tariffs. As the new... Read this article online
Sheep farmers win Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Sheep farmers and wool producers from Wallenstein, Ont. are Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025. “It’s great to be recognized by your peers in the industry with an award like that,” Ryan Schill told Farms.com. “When we started the sheep farm, there were people questioning us... Read this article online
2025 Election Results Prompt Concern and Reflection Among Prairie Farmers Tuesday, April 29, 2025 Users on Agriville.com weigh-in on the 2025 federal election outcome As news broke on April 28 that Mark Carney’s Liberals had won the 2025 federal election, many western Canadian farmers on Agriville.com shared their reactions. The mood was largely one of disappointment, with... Read this article online
Support IPM With a Bench Sponsorship Tuesday, April 29, 2025 The International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (IPM) Local Committee has launched the Bench Sponsorship Project for the upcoming 2025 event in West Niagara. This initiative invites individuals and businesses to sponsor commemorative benches for $500 each, helping enhance the visitor... Read this article online
New board members for Ontario Pork Friday, April 25, 2025 Ontario Pork, an association representing the 1,898 pork farms that market 5.9 million hogs in the province, has announced its new board lineup for 2025. As a Guelph, Ontario-headquartered organization, Ontario Pork is engaged in the areas of research, government representation,... Read this article online