MINDEMOYA—A volunteer was stationed outside the usual venue for the Manitoulin North Shore Sudbury West Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting and regional meeting directing participants to the new location for the popular agricultural federation’s dinner meeting.
Always a highlight of the harvest season, this year was no exception, as the Mindemoya Community Centre upper hall was packed with area farmers and their families ready to enjoy the beef dinner prepared by Pam Roy Catering, with Max Burt assisting with the preparation of the beef.
“It’s an Angus-Herford cross,” explained Mr. Burt as he carved out generous portions. “It’s the best of the best.”
Ms. Roy was also assisted by a group of Manitoulin Secondary School and Global 4-H students, who ably served up the vegetables and desserts, and quickly and efficiently cleared the tables for the start of the business portion of the evening.
“They did an awesome job,” said Ms. Roy of the student’s efforts, a fact reinforced by enthusiastic applause from the diners. One participant was later to remark that the students showed youth who were obviously not afraid of a hard day’s work.
Secretary Bill Orford read the minutes of the past AGM following the meeting being officially called to order.
Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) member service representative Stephanie Vanthof oversaw the election of the new regional board members, each of whom were acclaimed to their positions. This year’s board consists of Alan Emiry, Daniel Wood, Sandy Yau, Johnny Renecker, John McNaughton, Bill Orford, Dan Glofcheskie, Lynn May and Robin Noland.
OFA farm policy analyst Ian Nokes put in a plug for Soil and Crop Association membership. “Members should definitely go on that website, it has all sorts of information on grants and funding opportunities,” he said. “For instance there is something we are delivering for the province on energy audits and efficiency.”
The financial report was then provided, noting that the small deficit for this year still leaves a $14,448.60 bank balance. Income for the organization comes completely from memberships.
As part of the new business, OFA board director-at-large Teresa Van Raay brought attendees up to speed on what the OFA has been up to over the past year. She noted that the working relationship between the OFA and federal, provincial and municipal governments has been improving steadily over the past few years.
Ms. Van Raay noted recent improvements to the Ontario Veterinary program with micro certifications that will assist farmers in keeping their animals healthy and productive.
She highlighted the 34 meetings the OFA had with different provincial MPPs. “We get split up to go to the meetings,” she said. “They come to us to get the real information, and that relationship is certainly improved over the last couple years. One of the cool things I have to say is our president Drew (Spoelstra) was on TVO. If you have a chance to listen the conversation they had, it was really well done.”
Ms. Van Raay noted that one of the surprises she learned about when visiting last year was the depredations that are occurring due to increases in the Sandhill crane population. “I was totally surprised and unaware of the damage that the Sandhill crane has done.” She added that many at the board level were also unaware of the extent of damage.
The single question that came from the floor was in regards to the potential loss of several thousand agricultural workers due to changes in the temporary worker program by the federal government and whether the OFA was doing anything to encourage Canadian workers to fill those positions. “I’d rather use Canadians rather than the people they’ve been bringing in for the last 40 years,” he said.
Ms. Van Raay pointed out that the farm worker program was not included in those cuts.
It was then inquired if the OFA has a website where young workers seeking a career in agriculture can apply and be matched up with a farmer looking for workers. It was taken as a good suggestion, although the OFA currently does not have such a job board in place.
There was discussion on the importance of the recent “agmap” improvements, but that sale of leases for government land seemed to be dependent on which regional department the request was made—being possible in some regions but not policy in others.
It was suggested from the floor that the Alberta government’s “horse leases” that work similar to trapline licences here in Ontario, might be a solution. Under that system, the land a 40 mile by 40 mile track of land is leased with a nominal yearly fee to the farmer.
“Farmers feed dreams” is a theme being promoted by Manitoulin North Shore Sudbury West Federation of Agriculture president Mike Johnston. “We all should because we’re all sitting in the room as agriculture producers,” he said.
