Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

AALP Class 14 North American Study Tour - July 6, 2012

AALP Class 14's North American Study Tour began at the Rural Ontario Institute office, at the  EastGen facility Guelph where we boarded our bus. After a quick stop to pick up some of our remaining classmates in Niagara-on-the-Lake we were back on the road. 

Our first stop was in Geneva, NY where we toured the New York State Agriculture Research Station with Marc Smith (LEAD Class 2).  We started the tour with a very informative talk from Kevin Maloney on apple propagation, learned about ‘red fresh’ apples, and the trials and tribulations about the newest New York apple varieties. Next up on the tour was viticulture and learning about the issues in grape genetics with Bruce Reisch. The final stop here was with Chris Gerling for a tour of the food processing development center which ended in the brewery and wine research facility...always a class favorite. Although informative, the class was happy to return to the air conditioned bus to get out of the sweltering heat that is engulfing the area. 

Next on the tour was a stop in Mecklenburg to tour Finger Lake’s Farmstead cheese. Nancy Tabor Richards a small artisan cheese maker exposed us to the difference in regulations between Canadian versus U.S. processing as we toured her entire facility. Raw milk processing, unlimited production and labeling were just some of the differences the class noted. After loading up on some cheese it was back on the road.

Our last stop was Ithaca, NY.  But not before a quick stop for a group photo in front of the Buttermilk Falls. From there it was on to dinner where we met some past and present classmates from the New York LEAD program at the Mia restaurant. This provided the class with an opportunity to network with some members that we would see again in October at our Ottawa seminar. 

The day ended at our hotel for some well needed rest to prepare us for a full day two. 

Aneka Legault, Michael Menzi, Gerard Pynenburg - Class 14

Views: 400

Comment

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

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by OntAG Admin on July 7, 2012 at 1:55pm

New York Finger Lakes region is a beautiful area.  Did you visit Cornell?

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

Sask Farmer Say he Knows Why Fertilizer Companies Come Out Ahead When Markets are Disrupted

As fertilizer prices remain volatile, one Saskatchewan farmer argues the system is stacked against producers.

U.S. ethanol industry sets its sights on the world

Canada remains the top export market for U.S. ethanol, purchasing 757 million gallons of the fuel in 2024-25. The country blended the fuel at a 10 per cent level (E10) nationwide last year, with some provinces adopting an E15 mandate. “As they continue to move to E15, they could be our first billion-gallon market,” Ryan LeGrand, president of the U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council, told delegates attending the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 102nd annual Agricultural Outlook Forum. The United States shipped out a record 2.13 billion gallons of ethanol around the world in 2024-25, up from the 1.75 billion gallons exported the previous year. LeGrand said the goal is to continue expanding exports until the country is fully using its two billion gallons of excess production capacity. There are plenty of promising markets, but Mexico tops the list. The country passed an E10 mandate in 2017, but it was later struck down by the courts due to a technicality. Mexico’s new president, Clau

Secretary Naig, Iowa 4-H, Iowa FFA Announce Statewide Tree Planting Initiative in Honor of America250

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, in collaboration with Iowa 4-H and Iowa FFA, today announced a statewide tree planting initiative in honor of America’s 250th birthday. The youth-driven initiative aims to plant 250 trees across Iowa in 2026, connecting students with the state’s agricultural heritage and a commitment to stewardship and service. The initiative encourages Iowa youth to take an active role in conserving the land that has sustained generations of farmers while celebrating the values that have shaped our nation and our communities. “Planting a tree is a simple act that benefits future generations,” said Secretary Naig. “Through this initiative, Iowa 4-Hers and FFA members have an opportunity to honor our nation’s history while strengthening their communities. I encourage chapters and clubs across the state to join us in celebrating this milestone moment in our nation’s history by planting an official A250 tree in their communities that will live on for generations.

EMILI celebrates women producers during International Year of the Woman Farmer

2026 is International Year of the Woman Farmer, celebrating the essential, and often unrecognized roles that women play across the agrifood system. This International Women’s Day, EMILI is spotlighting six women producers who play an integral role in Canadian agriculture.  Over the past few years, we’ve had the privilege of connecting with several women who play an integral role on farms as part of our This is Agriculture campaign. Read more about each woman below, and follow the links to read their whole story. Jordyn Wiebe Jordyn Wiebe grew up on her family’s farm, J.P. Wiebe Ltd., in MacGregor Manitoba. She spent her childhood working odd jobs to help the farm’s potato operation, and while she initially began her career off the farm, she was drawn back to her roots when she returned to become J.P. Wiebe Ltd.’s bookkeeper and farm and food safety manager. Read Jordyn’s story here. Jill Verwey Jill Verwey lives and breathes agriculture, holding roles as the office manager for Ver

Ontario Veterinary College at U of G Names New Dean  

The University of Guelph is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Julia Montgomery, dean of the? Ontario Veterinary College (OVC).

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service