White bean board rejects Grain Farmers' wooing

Monday, March 22, 2010

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

The organization that represents Ontario’s corn, soybean and wheat growers has extended an open invitation for other crop producer groups to join in, but Ontario’s White Bean Producers, for one, prefers the status quo, at least for now.

The bean board, based in London, dismissed the idea of merging with Grain Farmers of Ontario at a meeting last week, says chairman Grant Jones.

“We’re not against it, but at this time we’re not going to join in,” he says.

Jones compares the clustering of farm organizations in Guelph to the amalgamation of municipalities a decade ago. Few municipal amalgamations resulted in savings for tax payers, Jones says. “I think people have the feeling that maybe (the wheat, soybean, corn group merger) is going to turn out the same way.”

The invitation to join Grain Farmers of Ontario stems from a resolution passed at its semi-annual meeting earlier this month.

Barry Senft, chief executive officer, says the idea of allowing minor crops organizations to join in has been considered since the first efforts to form Grain Farmers. “I think the issue at that time was ‘let’s get the three large commodity groups together’” first he says.

Senft says some groups, such as barley and oats growers, have expressed interest, although there’s “nothing in the mix,” in terms of discussions with another commodity at this point.

According to its website, the Oat and Barley Council of Ontario ceased operations March 12. The Ontario Cereal Industry Research Council has formed an oat and barley committee to continue with research and some of the former council’s other activities. A representative from the Research Council could not be immediately reached for comment.

Senft says part of the appeal of including more crops under the Grain Farmers umbrella would be the efficiencies achieved in areas such as market development and research.

One organization can also present a stronger voice when dealing with government policy, he adds.

Senft points out that farmers who already belong to the Grain Farmers also grow the majority of these other crops.

Jones says if government pushed growers harder to combine lobbying efforts, his organization would consider such a merger.

In the meantime, why sell the board’s current building, in London if the costs would be the same in Guelph? Jones asks. The office’s current location is also more central for those involved in white and dry bean production, he adds. BF