Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

AALP Class 16 Launches Leadership Journey. Advanced Agriculture Leadership Program Begins With Seminars in Guelph.

AALP Class 16 Launches Leadership Journey

From Rural Ontario Institute  www.ruralontarioinstitute.ca

Guelph, ON,  The Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) class 16 kicked off their new journey with their first seminar held in Guelph, ON, diving into the fundamentals of effective leadership.

 

The majority of the seminar was led by Gavin Robinson of Robinson Leadership and GRID International who introduced us to GridWorks – Planting the Seeds of Culture. AALP class 16 learned how to focus on “what is right” and not “who is right” while working together in teams. The importance of self-awareness and value of critique was also evident to the entire class.

 

The Monday evening banquet was a highlight for many as the class received overwhelming support from over thirty industry representatives and alumni. Dr. Ralph C. Martin, Loblaw chair in Sustainable Food Production and Professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, reminded the audience of the many challenges facing agriculture and rural Ontario.

 

During their three days together, the class also gained insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the horse racing industry through a presentation and tour at the Grand River Raceway in Elora. Another tour was held at the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre at the University of Guelph offering the class a glimpse into an emerging industry closely tied with Ontario agriculture.

 

To follow class 16’s journey, connect on Twitter at @AALPClass or #AALP16.

 

During the 19-month program, AALP participants learn about leadership and organizational development theories and practices, government and political processes, economics, trade policy, global affairs, sector and industry related issues in Ontario and globally through North American and international study travel components. AALP is delivered by the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI). Established in 1984, the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) has graduated almost 450 leaders who are making a positive difference across Ontario and beyond. For more information visit www.aalp.on.ca

 

To see some of the past AALP class activities visit http://ontag.farms.com/profile/AALP

 

 

 

 

 

Views: 175

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

Ont. farmer Tony McQuail reflects on NDP leadership race

The 73-year-old farmer and political veteran ran on themes of representation, regeneration, redistribution, and redesign.

Corn Acres Slide, Soybeans Gain as USDA Releases 2026 Planting Intentions

New USDA reports show U.S. producers planning fewer corn acres and more soybeans in 2026, alongside higher grain stocks compared to last year.

Estimate the functional sustainability and true costs of packaging

For growers and packers, packaging decisions have become more complex now that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation is rolling out in key markets in Canada. Ontario legislation, for example, went into force as of January 1, 2026.

Canola Crush Falls for Second Straight Month in February

The Canadian canola crush slowed for the second straight month in February but remained above the year-earlier level. A Statistics Canada report Tuesday pegged the February canola crush at 951,353 tonnes, down 9.7% from January although still up 7.8% from 882,610 in February 2025. It also marked the first time in six months the crush has dipped below the 1-million tonne mark. The high for the 2025-26 marketing year occurred in December 2025, with the crush hitting 1.077 million tonnes. The cumulative year-to-date 2025-26 canola crush (August to February) now stands at 7.066 million tonnes, compared to 6.812 million for the same period last year. That is up 3.7% and represents about 58% of the full-year Agriculture Canada forecast of 12 million tonnes. According to the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, total national canola crush capacity is expected to reach 15 million tonnes in 2026. Cargill’s new canola crush plant at Regina is estimated to process about 1 million ton

Preparing your farm for wildfire season

Considering that Canada borders three oceans, spans six time zones, and has diverse terrain, it’s no surprise that a range of natural hazards can affect farms across the country at any given time. While one part of the country may be in a severe drought, another may experience record floods. But regardless of the location, one hazard has become an all-too-common threat during the warmer months: wildfires. Just look at Canada’s 2023 wildfire season, which was the most destructive on record. By the end of 2023, more than 6,000 fires had burned 15 million hectares of land, which, to put it in perspective, is substantially more than the annual average of 2.5 million hectares. Which is why being prepared for wildfires, wherever you are, is essential. That’s exactly the message that FireSmart Canada, a national program that helps Canadians increase neighbourhood resilience to wildfire and minimize its negative impacts, wants to raise awareness about. Below are some of FireSmart Canada’s

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service