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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

Support by Chatham-Kent Farmers to Bushels of Hope Campaign is growing!
Bushels of Hope is a campaign developed by local producer and United Way Board member Leon Leclair. The campaign is an easier way for farmers to give (many workplaces offer payroll deduction which, in some cases, allows people to give a little each week, rather than writing a big cheque once a year - which many people cannot do). Bushels of Hope is also a way to collectively recognize the farming community. We, at the United Way of C-K, know farmers give, we know farmers care, and we want the rest of the community to hear that message, and the Bushels of Hope Campaign is a great way to do this!

So if a grower goes to his/her elevator, what should they be considering?
Farmers can simply go to their local elevator and when delivering their product or when speaking to the elevators, they can donate a portion of their product to United Way of C-K through the Bushels of Hope Campaign. If a farmer himself does not make the delivery, he/she can let the Customer Service Rep (or sales person) know how much of their product or what monetary amount they would like to be donated to the campaign.

Assuming the farmer makes a donation to Bushels of Hope, what happens to that money, where does it go?
When a farmer donates his/her bushel at the elevator, the company will cash it for the current market value and issue a cheque to United Way of Chatham-Kent. Once the money is received at United Way, a tax receipt for the donation will be sent to the address provided on the form. 100% of all money received from farmers through the Bushels of Hope Campaign is put into our Community Fund for our 24 funded agencies. The money you give is used right here in Chatham-Kent to help our friends, families, and neighbours, to improve quality of life for all. To learn more or to get help you can call United Way of Chatham-Kent at 519-354-0430 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

How about area elevator companies? Are they helping out the campaign?
Five local retailers are, and have been, helping the Bushels of Hope Campaign: Thompsons Limited; Cargill; Agris Co-operative; London Agricultural Commodities; South West Ag Partners.

They have committed the assistance of their staff to assist the farmer with the donation, the clerical work associated with the donation, and communicating with United Way of Chatham-Kent and with the farmer as needed. All five of these retailers have been and continue to be committed to providing excellent service to our local producers. United Way of Chatham-Kent can't thank them enough!

What is your goal for the 2009 harvest in Chatham-Kent?

Our goal is to ensure that we increase awareness and increase participation.
We are committed to getting the word out there to the agricultural community. Since 2007 farmers have donated over $10,000 to the Bushels of Hope Campaign and together we will grow this campaign to far exceed that!

Is Bushels of Hope anywhere else in Ontario?
Bushels of Hope, currently, is just Chatham-Kent. It's success is being recognized Provincially and could very well grow to other communities in Ontario, but for now, we are focusing on our own community and our own community needs.

4th Annual Growing the Margins Conference in Conjunction with the 2nd Annual Canadian Farm and Food Biogas Conference and Exhibition

March 8-12, 2010; London Convention Centre London, Ontario.

For further information please go to www.gtmconference.ca or www.biogasconference.ca or phone First Stage Enterprises at 416-426-7029.

Pesticide Collection Program
Farmers can bring their obsolete agricultural pesticides to the following locations during their respective business hours on from October 20 to 22 for free disposal. For more information about this program, see In the News.

A. Ailsa Craig: Hensall District Co-operative, 116 Main Street
B. Arnprior: M&R Feeds and Farm Supply Ltd., 70 Decosta Street
C. Bethany: Thompsons Limited, 9 Elevator Road
D. Brodhagen: Hoegy’s Farm Supply Ltd., 6777 Perth Line 44
E. Courtland: Cargill, 159 Talbot Street
F. Dundalk: Huron Bay Co-operative, 35 Dundalk Street
G. Harriston: North Wellington Co-operative Services Inc., 56 Margaret Street South
H. Kitchener: GROWMARK Inc. – Distribution Centre, 1 Chandaria Place, Unit 7
I. Lancaster: Munro’s Agromart Ltd., 6011 Hwy #34
J. Napanee: O’Neill’s Farm Supply, 1 Dairy Avenue
K. Jordan Station: Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd., 4150 Jordan Road
L. Thornloe: Co-op Regionale – Temiskaming Ag Centre, 964027 Development Road, New Liskeard
M. Orangeville: Holmes Agro Ltd., 473088 County Road 11
N. Thunder Bay: Thunder Bay Co-op Farm Supply, 560 Boundary Drive
O. Tilbury: Cargill, 23404 Wheatley Road
P. Vienna: Max Underhill’s Farm Supply Ltd., 56532 Calton Line

(Note: letters correspond with map locations).