A new strategic plan has meant shifting priorities for Ontario Sheep Farmers.

Ontario Sheep Farmers to increase licensing fees by 40 cents per animal

Licencing fee will go to new OSF outreach programs and research initiatives

Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) are increasing their licensing fee to $2.20 per live animal. The 40 cent raise is the first such increase in 13 years. OSF says rising costs is a component in the decision. It says that it will be “committed to using the valuable license fees to support programs and services that […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

SaskCanola, SaskFlax merge offices, management

Groups will maintain separate governing boards, levies

Sasskatchewan’s canola and flax development commissions are consolidating their management, staff and office space under one roof. SaskCanola and SaskFlax said Wednesday their new “management collaboration” will translate to efficiencies for both commissions with “a full staff complement to support both boards.” Both organizations will now operate out of the current SaskCanola office at Innovation […] Read more

VFO takes ‘next step’ by hiring compliance officer

VFO takes ‘next step’ by hiring compliance officer

Former police officer will target non-payment of veal checkoff fee

Former police officer will target non-payment of veal checkoff fee

Veal Farmers of Ontario (VFO) has hired a veteran of both municipal policing and border services for a newly-created position of inspection and compliance officer. The organization is acting on a recommendation to bring in expertise in auditing and compliance. Geoff Holwell will join the producer organization on a part-time basis, with his primary responsibilities […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Merged Manitoba crop groups qualify for checkoffs

Manitoba Crop Alliance also names top brass

The new unit formed from the merger of five Manitoba crop commodity organizations is set to begin collecting checkoffs for its founding groups’ crops, starting Aug. 1. The Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) announced Monday it now has its designation under the provincial Agricultural Producers’ Organization Funding Act. The designation allows the new organization to collect […] Read more


The proposal to increase checkoff funding for Beef Farmers of Ontario passed with a significant majority this year. (John Greig photo)

Ontario beef checkoff to rise by $1.50

Ontario beef farmers have approved an increase of $1.50 in checkoff per animal to fund an ambitious industry-wide marketing effort for Ontario beef. Producers at the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) annual meeting in Mississauga on Wednesday voted 87 per cent in favour of the plan. A similar plan was rejected at last year’s annual […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Alberta cattle producers vote to keep refundable checkoff

Preliminary results in Alberta beef producers’ service charge plebiscite put a slim majority in favour of keeping their checkoff refundable. Out of 1,874 votes cast, 962 votes, or 51.3 per cent, fell in favour of a refundable service charge model, with 908 for a non-refundable model and four ballots spoiled, according to the preliminary figures […] Read more

The chair of Ontario Goat feels there is still room for growth in Ontario’s goat industry, but it will happen at a slower rate.

Goat group continues to look for savings

The loss of a producer vote to create a goat checkoff last year continues to have effects

There’s no way around it for the Ontario Goat (OG) board of directors: A round of severe belt-tightening looms. Having endured the defeat of its proposal for a mandatory goat milk check-off during a Producer Expression of Opinion vote last year, the nine-member board must now explore how to continue its work under a significantly […] Read more


(John Greig photo)

Producers vote down Ontario beef checkoff increase

A bid to increase the checkoff paid by Ontario’s beef farmers to Beef Farmers of Ontario was quashed when it failed to get the 66 per cent support it needed for approval. Why it matters: Beef Farmers of Ontario pulled from its reserves to fund at close-to $1 million deficit in 2017 and was planning […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

Prairie wheat, barley commissions’ single checkoffs set

The post-deregulation era of Prairie grain research and market development funding is cleared to begin, as the three Prairie provinces’ wheat and barley commissions have set new single checkoffs on Prairie wheat and barley, all starting Aug. 1. The Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) on Wednesday announced that when the Western Canadian Deduction […] Read more