Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

AALP Class 13 North American Study Tour Day 4

July 8, 2010 - As the class travelled from the state of Ohio and into Pennsylvania, we enjoyed the rolling hills and deep wooded valleys on our way to State College PA, home of Penn State University. It was here that we would meet a number of cutting edge leaders from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth.

Upon our arrival in State College, we were fortunate to have Mr. Russell Redding, the Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Pennsylvania (Department of Agriculture) as our key speaker of the day. The Secretary spoke of how leadership is not a popularity contest where decisions are made by public opinion. Rather, leadership can be a lonely occupation as sometimes we have to "lead by making a decision that is not easy or attractive."
Bruce VanderWees, Thunder Bay, ON commented, "This reaffirms my journey with AALP, as I continue to learn about being a leader through making decisions that are in the best interest of community and industry rather than my personal opinion or thoughts of my peers."

Redding was an engaging speaker who was well received and was found to be quite intriguing in the manner in which he addressed the group. A man who comes across as being humble, while being divinely interested in agriculture is sometimes a rarity in this industry. What surprised us the most perhaps, was how this man could have a different impact on each individual in the room. Mr. Redding expressed that in a state which is so proud of its agriculture industry which shows increasing numbers of farms and farmers (as opposed to decreasing which is more common throughout the rest of North America) that one of their biggest challenges continues to be one that we also face in Ontario. Mr. Redding talked about the need for one voice which is a phenomenon we also share in Ontario. "So many interest groups, with so many different voices," said Redding. “It is interesting to see that where agriculture is booming or challenged, at home and afar, the same problems are faced by regions thousands of miles apart,” shared Clinton Buttar, Guelph, ON.

Brian Detwiler, VP MidAtlantic Farm Credit provided a presentation on 'A National Perspective on Ag Credit'. During the seminar break he expressed a strong desire to learn the details of the Canadian dairy supply management system, and asked Bonnie den Haan, Loretto, ON some pointed questions about the quota exchange and over quota controls. Secretary Redding also spoke of the desperate state of the American dairy industry and suggested change must take place in the next couple of years - the Canadian model has been discussed in farm and government circles. We look forward to further discussion on this topic with guest speaker and dairy farmer, Erick Coolidge, at tomorrow’s session.

It was definitely a thought provoking afternoon with many takeaways for all. The day provided a group of interesting and dynamic speakers to say the least, challenging our perceptions on leadership, agriculture, and community.

In the evening we enjoyed a reception at the Happy Valley Villa with our counter parts from RULE, the rural leadership program in Pennsylvania.

Clinton Buttar, Bonnie den Haan, Bruce VanderWees – AALP Class 13

Views: 232

Comment

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

Join Ontario Agriculture

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

Governments Of Canada and Manitoba Investing More Than $6 Million to Grow Local Food Processing Economy and Support Jobs

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing more than $6 million to help grow the economy by increasing food production facilities and supporting jobs across Manitoba under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced here today. “When we invest in food processors, we’re helping them grow, stay competitive and ensure they can keep putting their high-quality food on tables here in Canada and around the world,” said MacDonald. “These projects will help build a stronger, more resilient food system while supporting good jobs in the process.” A total of 19 food processors in Manitoba have been approved for funding for equipment upgrades, facility expansions, and new technologies that will improve efficiency, production capacity and environmental performance. “These investments support our economy, strengthen our communities and ensure susta

Governments of Canada and Manitoba Announce Support for Livestock Producers Affected by Drought Conditions

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are announcing support measures to aid Manitoba’s livestock producers affected by drought conditions, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today. Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) will provide support measures through its AgriInsurance program, improving cash flow for livestock producers needing to secure additional feed. “Our livestock producers play a critical role in our food supply and our economy. We need to do everything we can to support them, especially in the face of these dry conditions,” said MacDonald. “These program changes will ensure producers in Manitoba receive claim payouts faster, so they can source other feed options as quickly as possible.” For claim calculation purposes, MASC will be applying a quality adjustment factor to reduce yield appraisals by 40 per cent for drought-stricken cereal crops (all varieties of wheat, oats, bar

Government Fulfills $2 Million Commitment to Food Banks of Saskatchewan

As announced in the 2025-26 Provincial Budget, the Government of Saskatchewan is providing $1 million to Food Banks of Saskatchewan in August 2025 to distribute to agencies across the province. "This funding fulfills our government's commitment to provide $2 million over two years to help Saskatchewan families and food banks with rising food costs," Social Services Minister Terry Jenson said. "By partnering with Food Banks of Saskatchewan once again this year, we are providing additional support to communities across our province." The $2 million commitment was first announced in July 2024, with the first $1 million installment provided to Food Banks of Saskatchewan in August 2024. The Ministry of Social Services will work with Food Banks of Saskatchewan to distribute the second $1 million installment in August 2025 to agencies based on the population and average food bank usage of the communities they serve. "Saskatchewan Food Banks are experiencing an unprecedented year of dema

Register for Keep it Clean’s webinar on pre-harvest tips to produce market-ready crops

Keep it Clean will host a webinar on Wednesday, July 30 at 11 a.m. CDT to inform Canadian growers, agronomists and retailers of key on-farm practices to avoid unacceptable product residues and answer any questions to help protect the marketability of Canada’s canola, cereal and pulse crops. Registration for the webinar, which will include a live Q&A with experts, is now open. The webinar will dive into key practices, including how to properly stage crops for pre-harvest glyphosate application, why it’s essential to follow pre-harvest intervals (PHIs) and how to scout effectively for disease. “Applying a product like pre-harvest glyphosate for weed control too early can lead to unacceptable residues in harvested grain, putting market access at risk,” says Krista Zuzak, Director, Crop Protection and Production at Cereals Canada. “Following label directions - like waiting until grain moisture is below 30 per cent in the least mature part of the field - helps prevent residue issues

iTradeNetwork Webinar – Register Now

The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC), the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA), and the Association des producteurs maraîchers du Québec (APMQ) have been working with iTradeNetwork to schedule a series of webinars for growers.

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service