On January 19th, we held our AGM in Paisley and kicked off the 2023 cropping season. We had timely topics to cover, with a focus on weeding without herbicides, precision manure and fertilizer applications, and wrapping up with shoulder season forages. We also added a few fresh faces as directors. Thank you to those who have stepped up to volunteer for those positions.
At this meeting a number of people in attendance brought up the need to lobby and inform our elected officials on issues affecting our farms. Namely carbon taxes and the focus on reductions of nitrogen emissions. Particularly important topics at the farm level. This also brought up a key point in understanding organizational mission statements and charters.
This then begs the question, what exactly is our mission statement? I went and looked up mission statements for three farm organizations that have a presence in the County of Bruce. Here is what I found.
Ontario Soil and Crop – Facilitate responsible economic management of soil, water, air and crops through development and communication of innovative farming practices.
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Our mission is to build, defend, and promote an inclusive, innovative, and sustainable business environment that enables grain farmer-members the opportunity to prosper.
Ontario Federation of Agriculture – Farms and Food Forever
Given that carbon taxes and a reduction in fertilizer emissions are top of mind for many of our members, we have drafted letter for the upcoming Bruce county politician’s meeting in Keady. We are asking for continued support to fund local and provincial Soil and Crop initiatives, and to focus on science-based outcomes in an increasingly political world. These address member concerns and align with our organization’s mission statement. Our next planned event is our summer mystery car tour, to be held on Tuesday, July 4th.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Zettler, President, Bruce SCIA
Cell: 519-323-7505