OFA president and Bruce/Grey incumbent face zone elections Thursday, July 14, 2016 by SUSAN MANNTwo incumbent directors on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture board, including president Don McCabe, are facing elections this year.Crispin Colvin is running for the director’s spot in Zone 6 (Lambton/Middlesex), as is McCabe.In Zone 2 (Bruce/Grey), incumbent Paul Wettlaufer is facing Pat Jilesen, who is currently a director at large on the board.Directors were acclaimed in the other three zones with elections this year. They are: incumbent Larry Davis in Zone 3 (Brant/Haldimand/Norfolk), incumbent Drew Spoelstra in Zone 5 (Hamilton/Wentworth/Niagara North/Niagara South) and Steven Brackenridge in Zone 10 (Durham/Peterborough/Kawartha Lakes/Haliburton). Brackenridge will replace director Bruce Webster, who decided not to run again.All directors take their positions after the federation’s annual meeting in November.For the election in zones 2 and 6, the federation will mail ballots to all members in the zones holding membership early next month, says general manager Neil Currie.There are about 2,500 members in zones 2 and 6.Voting begins Aug. 15 and concludes at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 9. Voters can submit completed ballots by mail or by phone using a person PIN number that will be included in the letter sent to them. Each member will be given a unique PIN number.If there’s a mail strike, Currie says the federation is looking at other options to distribute the ballots. “We can extend the voting period,” he notes.If there isn’t a mail strike and voting concludes Sept. 9 the results will be announced a week later, Currie says. BF Why are you removing our negotiating power? Dairy Farmers of Canada ingredient strategy won't affect Ontario's, says DFO spokesman
Minnesota Wildfires Threaten Agriculture as Governor Walz Mobilizes National Guard Friday, July 17, 2026 Farmers across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario and Manitoba are closely monitoring a growing wildfire situation in northern Minnesota after Governor Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the Minnesota National Guard to assist firefighting efforts. The decision... Read this article online
Woodland Mills Expands Portable Sawmill Capacity Friday, July 17, 2026 Woodland Mills has introduced the HM126MAX Portable Sawmill, a new machine designed to provide greater cutting capacity and improved lumber production for customers. The latest model builds on the success of a long-standing portable sawmill platform while offering enhanced performance and... Read this article online
Asian Vegetables Like Bok Choy Grown Right Here in Ontario Friday, July 17, 2026 When you think of vegetables grown in Ontario, do you think of ethic vegetables? Also known as pak choy or Chinese cabbage, bok choy has become an increasingly important crop for Ontario's vegetable industry, driven by growing consumer demand for fresh, locally produced ethnic... Read this article online
Survey aims to amplify voices of rural Ontarians Friday, July 17, 2026 New surveys for rural Ontarians are helping people in these communities paint a comprehensive picture of what life is like. “For too long, rural communities have lacked access to reliable, credible and reflective data,” Leith Deacon, a professor at University of Guelph’s School of... Read this article online
Wildfire Smoke Over Ontario--What Farmers Need to Know Thursday, July 16, 2026 Ontario farmers are becoming increasingly familiar with hazy skies as wildfire smoke drifts across the province. While much of the public focus remains on human health and visibility, the agricultural impacts are also drawing attention as smoke affects crop development, livestock... Read this article online