AALP Class 14 North American Study Tour - July 7, 2012

From Ithaca to New York City (via Scranton, PA)

AALP Class 14 woke up in Ithaca, NY to a much more comfortable ambient temperature than we experienced the previous day. With some clouds in the sky, we headed down the road to Cayuta where we met Tom Gerow at Wagner Hardwoods. Wagner's business focusses on oak, maple, ash, walnut and cherry woods for use in flooring, cabinets, and furniture. A large percentage of their product is sold to overseas markets, particularly South East Asia. Tom is Head of Procurement at Wagner and a graduate of NY LEAD Class 12. Tom provided a very detailed, and enthusiastic, explanation of the hardwood industry in New York state. AALP class members questioned Tom about supply and demand, marketing, sustainability, waste management, regulation and leadership in the lumber industry. The class toured the facility and saw all aspects of the mill from stacks of logs. to the debarker, planer, drying yard, and kilns (180 degrees, yikes!). The hardwood lumber industry in New York is thriving thanks to good cooperation and management between land owners, foresters and lumber companies such as Wagner's and good leadership and vision.

From Cayuta, the bus headed west to Scranton, Pennsylvania (yes, home of The Office). In Scranton, we continued the theme of primary industry with a tour of Lackawanna Coal Mine. Our tour guide Zack took us on a cable car ride down into the mine which has been abandoned since 1966. The ride down was slightly scary for some! We learned about how important anthracite mining was to the region since the late 1800's. Today however, only 20 anthracite mines are still in operation in Pennsylvania. The mines posed dangerous work for men and boys as young as five, with risks of explosions, falling rock, and gasses. Back in 1902, a standard work day was 10 hours, six days a week for a mere 21 cents per hour. The parents in the group shuttered at the thought of our children working in such harsh conditions and considered other parts of the world that today still profit from child labour. A theme that may be explored again when we visit India next winter.

After the mine tour, we picked up some necessities from a nearby Walmart and headed on our road trip to Jersey, our home for the next three nights. Some were looking forward to an exciting evening in Manhattan!

Will Heeman, Tammy Hickling, Stacey Smith - Class 14

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Canola industry welcomes significant progress on Chinese tariffs

The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) and Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) welcome the announcement made today in Beijing to provide significant tariff relief for Canadian canola seed and meal. Under the agreement reached between Canada and China, tariffs on Canadian canola seed imports are expected to be reduced to 15% as of March 1, 2026, and the current 100% tariffs on canola meal are expected to be removed as of March 1, 2026, until at least the end of the calendar year. “The agreement reached on canola seed and meal is an important milestone in Canada’s trading relationship with China,” says Chris Davison, CCC President & CEO. “The Canadian canola industry has been clear since the outset that these tariffs are a political issue requiring a political solution. We are pleased to see significant progress in restoring market access for seed and meal and will continue to build on this development by working to achieve permanent and complete tariff relief, including for canola o

Prime Minister Carney forges new strategic partnership with the People's Republic of China focused on energy, agri-food, and trade

In a more divided and uncertain world, Canada is building a stronger, more independent, and more resilient economy. To that end, Canada's new government is working with urgency and determination to diversify our trade partnerships and catalyse massive new levels of investment. As the world's second-largest economy, China presents enormous opportunities for Canada in this mission. To forge a new Canada-China partnership, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, visited Beijing, the People's Republic of China, this week. This marked the first visit to China by a Canadian Prime Minister since 2017. In Beijing, Prime Minister Carney met with the President of China, Xi Jinping, the Premier of China, Li Qiang, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Zhao Leji. After their meeting, Prime Minister Carney and President Xi released a joint statement outlining the pillars of Canada and China's new strategic partnership. Central to this new partnership is a

TELUS completes redemption of 3.75% Notes, Series CV due March 10, 2026

TELUS Corporation ("TELUS" or the "Company") today confirmed the successful completion of the full redemption of its outstanding C$600 million 3.75% Notes, Series CV due March 10, 2026 (CUSIP No. 87971MBC6), as initially announced on December 16, 2025. The redemption was funded through proceeds from TELUS' December 2025 offering of Fixed-to-Fixed Rate Junior Subordinated Notes ("Hybrid Notes"), which raised the equivalent of C$2.9 billion with proceeds designated toward debt repayment. "This successful redemption demonstrates our disciplined approach to balance sheet management and our commitment to strengthening our financial foundation," said Doug French, Executive Vice-President and CFO. "By proactively managing our debt maturity profile through strategic refinancing, we're creating greater financial flexibility to support our capital allocation priorities and drive long-term shareholder value." This redemption is part of TELUS' broader balance sheet management and deleveraging in

Christina Franc appointed CEO of 4-H Canada

4-H Canada has announced the appointment of Christina Franc as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective later this month. Franc joins 4-H Canada after more than 15 years in senior leadership roles with national nonprofit organizations, most recently at United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC). During her time at UWCC, she worked closely with community partners across the country and gained extensive experience in governance, strategic planning, partnership development, and rural community engagement. In a statement shared on social media, Franc says joining 4-H Canada represents a role that has been calling to her for many years. She first encountered the organization more than a decade ago and said its mission and values left a lasting impression. “I’m deeply honoured to be joining 4-H Canada as CEO,” says Franc, adding that she is excited to support and champion the next generation of community-minded young leaders. 4-H Canada welcomed Franc and highlighted her leadership experience

Cracking the Heritability Code — Choosing Traits That Pay Off

Improving the genetics of your beef herd starts with knowing which traits you can change through genetics and which traits respond better to management practices. Because cattle have a long generation interval, every bull or replacement heifer you choose affects your herd for years. That’s why understanding heritability — and how traits interact with each other — helps ensure your breeding decisions move your herd toward your production goals. What Heritability Really Means Heritability tells us how much of a trait is controlled by genetics versus the environment and/or management. It’s expressed as a number between zero and one:1,3 High heritability (over 0.40): Traits are strongly influenced by genetics, meaning you can make changes more quickly by selecting the right replacements and bulls. Examples: ribeye area, marbling, weight and growth traits. Moderate heritability (0.15 to 0.40): Traits that can be improved through both genetics and management. Examples: milk production a

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service