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OCPA SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE
OCPA’s semi-annual meeting, which is traditionally scheduled for autumn, will not be held this year.  As per OCPA By-Laws Article VI(1), the semi-annual meeting is optional.  The OCPA Board of Directors has elected to not hold a semi-annual meeting because it coincides with the expected timing of the transition to Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) in Fall 2009.
On behalf of the OCPA Board of Directors,
Dale Mountjoy, President

Barry Senft Appointed as New Grain Farmers of Ontario CEO
The Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board and the Ontario Soybean Growers are pleased to introduce Barry Senft as the new Chief Executive Officer of the new Grain Farmers of Ontario.

Barry’s first task will be leading the merger of the three organizations, a process underway since last December. Under the current transition plan, OWPMB, OCPA and OSG are expected to merge to form Grain Farmers of Ontario upon completion of the legislative process in the fall.

Barry, a native of Lipton, Saskatchewan, was raised on the family farm. He is a successful executive with over 25 year experience in the private and public agri-business section on a regional, national and international level. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool (now Viterra) from 1984 to 1997, serving as Second Vice-President from 1993 to 1997. He has held various executive positions serving boards, including Heartland Livestock Services and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce. Barry was Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission from 1997 to 2002. Since 2002 he has been the Executive Director of the Canadian International Grains Institute.

"We’re very pleased to have such a seasoned and respected executive leading the creation of the Grain Farmers of Ontario," noted David Whaley, Chair of the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board. Leo Guilbeault, Chair of the Ontario Soybean Growers, added "Barry’s skills in relating to both farmers and senior decision-makers in industry and government will serve the interests of the growers we represent very well." Dale Mountjoy, Chair of the Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, stated "We believe that our staff will thrive under Barry’s leadership and benefit greatly from his outstanding people skills." The three Chairs and their Vice-Chairs formed the Selection Team for the CEO position.

Barry declared, "I am very excited to have been selected for this interesting and challenging role. The formation of GFO is truly a great farmer-led initiative and I look forward to working with Ontario farmers and the industry". He will begin his new responsibilities in mid-July. 

New Identification Guide for Broadleaf Weeds Now Available
Collaboration between industry and government has produced another weed identification guide for Ontario and Quebec corn, cereal and soybean growers.

A Field Guide to Broadleaf Weeds – produced by Bayer CropScience, together with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the University of Guelph – is a new pocket-size guide identifying 21 of the most common broadleaf weeds. The full-colour reference is a companion piece to A Field Guide to Grassy Weeds, produced in 2007 through the same unique partnership.

“The new guide is the result of a collaboration bringing together the best of each party’s expertise to deliver a useful, in-field resource for growers,” says Greg Good, Portfolio Manager, Row Crops for Bayer CropScience. “Now growers have a complete resource tool for both broadleaf weeds and grassy weeds to help correctly identify problem weeds and make sound crop protection decisions.”

The guide includes close-up photos to clearly identify various plant parts, key agronomic information including geographic ranges and competitiveness, and decision-making tools including potential herbicide resistance. OMAFRA provincial weed specialist Mike Cowbrough provided all the technical information for the new guide, and together with University of Guelph field technician Peter Smith, supplied all the high quality colour photographs of the broadleaf weeds.

The new guide will be distributed at various grower meetings and tradeshow events, and through Bayer CropScience sales representatives and crop protection outlets. Both guides (A Field Guide to Broadleaf Weeds and A Field Guide to Grassy Weeds) are also available at no charge by calling Bayer CropScience at 1-888-283-6847 or by e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For more information contact:  Greg Good; Portfolio Manager, Row Crop, Bayer CropScience (519)767-3886; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Derrick Rozdeba; Manager, Integrated Communications (493)723-7432 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Tracking Wireworms
Dr. Bob Vernon, entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is behind a nation-wide wireworm tracking survey.  Since some insecticides do not control or suppress all wireworm species, it is important to know which type of wireworms are present in the major growing areas of Canada so that the right control option(s) are chosen to get the job done.

If you notice wireworm damage in your crops, collect the wireworms you find, along with some of the field soil, and put them in a hard plastic container.  There may be more than one species present, so collect as many as you can.

Please mail the sample(s) to Dr. Vernon at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; 6947 #7 Hwy; P.O. Box 1000; Agassiz, B.C. V0M 1A0 

It is important to include a brief description of where the sample was collected (nearest town or address), what crop the wireworms were found in, your name and phone number. Once identified, you will be contacted with the results. 

If you have any questions about this wireworm tracking initiative, please contact Bayer CropScience at 1 888-283-6847, Dr. Bob Vernon at 1 604-796-1708 (bob.vernon @agr.gc.ca) or the Pest Management Regulatory Agency at 1-800-267-6315.

Farmers Feed Cities!
Bushels of Hope
The Bushels of Hope campaign that is being developed in partnership with the United Way of Chatham-Kent (UWOCK) has raised just under $3,000 thus far in 2009 and just under $10,000 over the past year. The current year’s donations have come from promotion of the program at the Canadian International Farm Show in February and the Joint Conference in March. Farmers Feed Cities has provided the UWOCK with $10,000 from its campaign budget to fund promotional and administrative costs associated with the program in an attempt to significantly increase donations.   

Good Food Festival
Farmers Feed Cities! once again had a display at the Good Food Festival, sampling crackers made with Ontario wheat and providing merchandise and information to the approximately 30,000 people in attendance.

Canadian Diabetes Rodeo
FFC will be taking part in the CDA’s Benefit Rodeo Campaign in Breslau, July 17 and 18. The campaign will have its tent and merchandise at the show as well as an advertisement in the show’s souvenir guide.

Hyland Balloon Tour
Hyland will once again be touring with their hot air balloon adorned with the Farmers Feed Cities! and 4-H logos. The tour is scheduled to run for 8 weeks starting August 10 and will hit up many areas and events in southwestern Ontario.

Shopping Bags
FFC has recently created and sourced reusable shopping bags adorned with its logo to sell to the public. The bags are being sold for $2.00 and over 500 have been sold thus far. To order bags, just contact Scott Allison at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 519-767-4132.

Canadian National Exhibition
Farmers Feed Cities! will once again be front and centre at the CNE running August 21 – September 7 in Toronto. Visitors will learn about grain and oilseed production and products and have a chance to win FFC merchandise.