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: 241

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

Colouring a Safer Future for Farm Kids

CASA is engaging young Canadians in farm safety education through a national Kids FarmSafe Colouring Contest launching ahead of FarmSafe Week 2026.

Alberta Grains invests in new research projects through Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute funding call

After participating in the 2026 funding call from the Brewing and Malting Barley Research Institute (BMBRI) and completing a comprehensive review of submitted proposals, Alberta Grains has committed to co-fund three new research projects totalling $27,317 at institutions across Canada that will deliver tangible benefits for barley growers. “Investing in practical, farmer-focused research is central to Alberta Grains’ mandate,” said Tasha Alexander, chair of the Alberta Grains Research Committee and a farmer near Brownvale, Alberta. “These projects reflect the kind of innovation that can help improve agronomic performance, strengthen disease resistance and support the long-term competitiveness of Canadian barley.” BMBRI’s research priorities focus on advancing malting barley breeding and production practices to meet the evolving needs of both growers and end users. This includes developing higher-yielding varieties with improved resistance to disease and environmental stress, enhancin

AgriStability enrolment deadline April 30

Weather extremes, rising input costs, market volatility, and supply chain disruptions can all have a serious impact on a farm’s bottom line. AgriStability is designed to help producers manage these challenges by providing whole farm income protection when it’s needed most. The deadline to enrol in AgriStability is April 30. Enrolling by this date ensures coverage for the current program year and protects operations against unexpected income declines. Protecting against a range of risks Significant drops in profitability. AgriStability offers support when a farm experiences a significant drop in overall profitability. If a producer’s margin falls by more than 30 per cent compared to their historical average, the program provides financial assistance to help offset the loss. Entire farm operation coverage. Because it is based on the entire farm operation — not a single crop or commodity — AgriStability is especially valuable for Alberta’s diversified crop and livestock producers. Outs

Spring land application - Make the most of it

“Applying manure and other nutrient sources including compost, digestate and other organic materials to land in early spring can be challenging, but when planned right, it helps keep nutrients in the field and makes every dollar work harder,” says Deanne Madsen, nutrient management specialist with the Alberta government. While applying nutrient sources at rates closer to crop uptake can improve nutrient use efficiency, spring is often a constrained and busy time of year. For many livestock producers, manure application timing is driven by the need to empty manure storages and clean out pens. Field conditions and available labour also play an important role. From a nutrient timing perspective, spring application can work well for all agricultural producers, but it also comes with a risk of nutrient loss. Early spring snowmelt and rainfall can move nutrients off fields before crops or forages are able to use them. These losses reduce the agronomic value of those nutrients. They can als

Spring Economic Update Sets the Stage for a Challenging Year on the Farm

While the federal 2026 Spring Economic Update does not introduce new farm programs, it outlines economic priorities that will shape the operating environment for Canadian agriculture.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service