Top ag story, top ag newsmaker

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Agriculture-related protests at Queen’s Park or Parliament Hill may have been few and far between this year but 2010 has nevertheless been a momentous year for the industry here in Ontario.
 
From the rise of the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Coalition and Ontario Pork’s tumultuous journey to open marketing to the establishment of the Grain Farmers of Ontario, it has been a year of profound change for many of the marketing organizations that represent the province’s farmers.
 
Our farm community has faced some tough issues circumstances too, including the provincial government’s waffling on the MicroFIT electricity generation and escalating troubles with wildlife.
 
Then there are the sudden turn of events: duties imposed on Dutch greenhouse bell peppers; charges laid against Arlan Galbraith, Ontario’s self-styled pigeon king after more than two years of investigation.
 
So, as 2010 draws to a close, what do you think was this year’s top story in Ontario agriculture and who is 2010’s top agriculture newsmaker in the province?