Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Bette Jean Crews announcement on not seeking re-election. Who will be the next OFA president?

Ontario Federation of Agriculture President Bette Jean Crews announced this morning she won’t seek re-election to the president’s position in November, citing a need to concentrate her efforts on her family farm. Here’s the text of the message she sent:

:

Dear friends and colleagues,

By way of this message, I am informing you that I will not be seeking re-election as OFA president.

I am returning to a more active role in the operation of our family farm business. I am announcing this now, because I want to be fair to OFA members who may be considering putting their name forward for an executive position at the OFA AGM November 21-22, 2011. 

I will complete my term as President with the same commitment and energy as I have given since first elected in 2009.  I am proud of the OFA’s accomplishments during the terms in which I have had the privilege and trust to be your President. 

For me, there have been many highlights.  In this past year alone we have accomplished the Risk Management Program and the united voice of OASC. The National Food Strategy,  a proposal initiated by OFA, was presented to Federal and Provincial Ag Ministers. A new market-value based schedule for wildlife damage to livestock. A cervid management plan was created that enables farmer control of problem elk and an elk hunt this fall. Farmers realized a three-year exemption under bobolink preservation regulations and a joint industry-government committee to design protection policy that will work for agriculture. And finally, OFA’s role in the Open for Business consultation has already reduced regulations by nearly 30 per cent and put a new process in place for regulation development, interpretation and enforcement. 

All of this, and more, demonstrates the farm community’s ability to work together. It shows how we can achieve success when we take an active role in designing solutions.  Well-articulated, well-defended positions supported by a unified sector can bring results.

I have enjoyed my years of service to the Ontario farm community as part of the OFA Executive committee for the past 11 years.  I have the immense privilege of meeting hundreds of hard working Ontario farmers and their families.  That is the real joy of the work and memories that I will always treasure.  I have also had the privilege of working with OFA general manager Neil Currie and his staff members who are outstanding and a credit to OFA.  Thank you all.

I will continue to serve the farmers of Ontario on the OFA Board as Zone Director for Northumberland, Hastings, Prince Edward and Lennox and Addington counties.  When elections are held this year I will be past president, and in that portfolio I intend to use the experience of the past 11 years to further advance the issues affecting Ontario agriculture. 

Thank you to Ontario farmers for the years of confidence and support.

Bette Jean Crews,

President and Zone 12 Director

Views: 359

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Has anyone heard who is running?

Some one told me Wayne Black was considering it.

 

Phillip Shaw Endorses Wayne Black.

 

Watching the LIVE Ontario Federation of Agriculture  convention video feed here today, Monday Nov 21, 2011 at http://www.ofa.on.ca/convention-video.aspx

Reply to Discussion

RSS

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

Secretary Rollins Takes Decisive Action and Shuts Down U.S. Southern Border Ports to Livestock Trade due to further Northward Spread of New World Screwworm in Mexico

Yesterday, Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) reported a new case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Ixhuatlan de Madero, Veracruz in Mexico, which is approximately 160 miles northward of the current sterile fly dispersal grid, on the eastern side of the country and 370 miles south of the U.S./Mexico border. This new northward detection comes approximately two months after northern detections were reported in Oaxaca and Veracruz, less than 700 miles away from the U.S. border, which triggered the closure of our ports to Mexican cattle, bison, and horses on May 11, 2025. While USDA announced a risk-based phased port re-opening strategy for cattle, bison, and equine from Mexico beginning as early as July 7, 2025, this newly reported NWS case raises significant concern about the previously reported information shared by Mexican officials and severely compromises the outlined port reopening schedule of five ports from July 7-September 15. There

University of Manitoba appoints Dr. Filiz Koksel as Manitoba Strategic Research Chair in Sustainable Protein

The University of Manitoba is pleased to welcome Dr. Filiz Koksel as the new Manitoba Strategic Research Chair in Sustainable Protein, a role that continues to advance sustainable agri-food innovation and leadership in plant and animal protein research and innovation. Dr. Koksel, an associate professor in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, leads an interdisciplinary research program that aligns closely with Manitoba’s Protein Advantage Strategy. She holds BSc and MSc degrees in Food Engineering and earned her PhD in Food Science from the University of Manitoba.  “My vision for this Chair is to position Manitoba as a global leader in sustainable protein innovation by uniting scientific discovery with industry partnerships,” said Dr. Koksel. “Together, we will create solutions that advance food security and climate resilience for generations to come.” Dr Koksel’s current work focuses on developing novel, environmentally friendly protein ingredients from crops such

Support staff recognized for contributions to Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences

Each year the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences calls for nominations of a support staff member or team who have made outstanding contributions in support of the teaching, research, service and outreach goals of the Faculty. At a celebratory barbecue to celebrate all nominees held on July 9, six individuals and four teams were recognized for their service to the Faculty. Sheldon Beichter, Technician, Carman Research Station Becky Dueck, Technician, Department of Plant Science Atanas Karamanov, Technician, Richardson Centre for Food Technology and Research Minami Maeda, Technician, Department of Biosystems Engineering Finley Makila, Technician, Richardson Centre for Food Technology and Research Donna Ryland, Technician, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences Charlene Hawryluk, Wajiha Shahzad, Uldis Bourne, Jennifer St. Laurent, Dianne Dugald and Vanessa Ryplanski, Departments of Animal Science & Entomology and Glenlea Research Station Minami Maeda, Daniel Benedet an

Some crops look good and other not so good in Saskatchewan

A drive around Saskatchewan provides a wide range of crop conditions, based on rainfall received. Timely thunderstorms, combined with spring rain, are producing decent-looking crops in some locations, particularly the southeast. The poorest crops are in the southwest, but there are areas across the northern grainbelt that are much drier than normal as well. Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop report puts provincial cropland topsoil moisture conditions at 55 percent adequate, 33 percent short and 12 percent very short. Many fields are at relatively uniform stages, but there is some inconsistent staging which is making spray timing challenging. Areas that have received moderate to high rainfall over the last few weeks are applying fungicides to some of their pulse, cereal and oilseed crops.

AGRI-FOOD 2050 Industry Event

The Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) is bringing industry leaders together to envision the future of agri-food in Ontario. The inaugural Agri-food 2050 Event will draw attendees from across the broader agri-food sector including representatives from primary agriculture, agri-business, food processing, agri-food research, and government.

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service