Leadership is a Key to Agriculture’s Future Success

The future success of agriculture in this province will depend on many factors. There are some factors that are far beyond our control, like the weather in the Midwestern United States, but there are some where we can take pro-active steps. As a sector, we often consider the physical factors that impact our businesses, but we do not always consider other factors including developing quality leadership for the future.

Agriculture needs a variety of leaders that can look at a broad range of issues from a number of perspectives. The modern world we live, with its ever-changing technology, ever-changing consumer demands, the demand of climate and weather pattern change, and the pressure of international competition requires strong leadership if Ontario agriculture is to succeed. The way we farm today is not the same as twenty years ago and it will change at least as much in the next twenty years.

The sector will need a wide variety of leadership styles to meet these challenges. The sector needs people with a caretaker mentality, looking out for the well-being of their industry. The sector needs innovators that are willing to push the limits of our current practices. The sector needs visionaries that can lead the way towards future opportunities. The sector needs facilitators that can forge these divergent views into a coherent strategic direction as a whole.

Many of the men and women that work within agriculture have the potential to be these leaders, but may lack either the skills or the confidence to step up to the plate. The Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program stands at the forefront of developing the next generation of leaders. Fourteen classes have been completed over the years and many graduates have taken on significant roles within the sector. Recruiting for class 15 has begun. If you have the desire to step up to the plate and lead your industry or the sector, this may be the next step on your journey.

The challenges of the future need to be met with strong leadership. For every anticipated challenge agriculture faces, another completely unexpected issue will arise. With strong leaders at the helm, agriculture in Ontario will prosper in our ever-changing world.

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 Encouraged by Outcomes from Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference

Canada’s canola industry welcomes the outcomes of last month’s Energy and Mines Ministers' Conference, particularly the Ministers' commitment to strengthening Canada's energy security and expanding domestic biofuel production. With nearly 1 in 3 acres of canola grown in Canada destined for biofuel markets in Canada, the United States and the European Union, it is encouraging to see the Ministers building on future energy security by supporting the production and use of low-carbon fuels from feedstocks we already grow. The Ministers' reference to increasing Canada's domestic biofuel production toward 60 percent of consumption by 2030, signals the important role that Canadian agriculture will continue to play in meeting the country's energy and climate goals. By the end of 2026, Canada is expected to have the capacity to process approximately 15 million tonnes of canola annually, driven by more than $2 billion in investments in new and expanded crushing facilities across the Prairies.

Rooted in Community: Nature's Path Organic Foods Announces 2026 Gardens for Good Grant Winners

North America's largest independent organic breakfast and snack food brand, today announced the grant recipients for its 16th annual Gardens for Good: Plant It Forward™ Program. Now in its 16th year, the program supports organic community gardens and urban farming initiatives working to increase access to fresh organic food, strengthen local food systems and empower communities across North America. Through the 2026 program, Nature's Path will award a total of $45,000 to 15 grassroots organizations, with each garden receiving a $3,000 grant. This year's recipients include 10 non-profit organizations in the United States and 5 in Canada, all selected for their commitment to organic agriculture, community-led leadership, food access and education. Since launching the initiative in 2010, Nature's Path has awarded more than $1 million to nearly 150 organic community gardens across North America. The program reflects the company's long-standing commitment to nourishing people and the plan

CPKC ends 2025-2026 crop year setting annual Canadian grain record

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) (CPKC) said today it has broken its all-time volume record for transporting Canadian grain and grain products by moving 30.66 million metric tonnes (MMT) during the 2025-2026 crop year. This new record annual volume exceeded the previous record set in the 2020–2021 crop year by approximately 72,500 metric tonnes. "Our team of exceptional railroaders reliably delivered the largest Canadian grain crop in history with consistency throughout the crop year," said John Brooks, CPKC Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "Our dedication to service excellence, paired with solid execution by our customers and terminal operators, led to a crop year that saw more Canadian grain and grain products move on our network than ever before. This performance illustrates our long-standing commitment to the safe and efficient transportation of Canadian grain." The total volume transported in the 2025-2026 crop year was 11 percent higher t

Don’t Give Up Anything. A Forage Driven Rye with Flexibility and a Real Grain Up-Side.

SU Baresi is an exciting new hybrid rye built for forage production, delivering exceptional biomass, aggressive early growth, and high-quality feed for livestock operations. Designed with cattle producers and mixed farms in mind, it offers outstanding fall and spring vigour, excellent winter hardiness, and strong standability for dependable performance across diverse growing conditions. What sets SU Baresi apart is its flexibility. While it’s purpose-built for forage, it also delivers impressive grain yield potential, giving growers the confidence to take it to grain if conditions or market opportunities change, without sacrificing performance. A combination, often rare among true forage-type ryes. There really isn’t another true forage-type rye out there with this kind of grain upside. A strong fit for cattle producers and mixed farming operations, particularly in Alberta where early, high-quality forage and tonnage are key priorities, SU Baresi fills an important gap in our portf

U.S. Farmland Values Hit New Record High but Gains Slow

U.S. agricultural land values reached another record in 2026, although the pace of appreciation continued to ease, according to the latest annual Land Values Summary and cash rent estimates from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Released Friday, the report showed the average value of U.S. farm real estate, including land and buildings, increased by $150, or 3.4%, to $4,500 per acre. It marked the sixth consecutive annual increase but the slowest gain since the current upswing began in 2021. Annual growth has steadily moderated from 11.7% in 2022 to 6.7% in 2023, 5% in 2024 and 4.3% in 2025. Despite the slowdown, average farm real estate values are nearly 44% higher than in 2020, according to an American Farm Bureau Federation market intel article on Tuesday. Cropland values rose 3.3%, or $190, to a record $6,020 per acre. Pasture values increased 4.2% to $2,000 per acre. Since 2020, cropland values have climbed 48%, while pasture values are nearly 43% higher.

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service