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NEWS RELEASE ARCHIVES |
Joint Corn, Soybean, Wheat Conference showed strength in numbers
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Posted on
March 15, 2005 at 14:52:38
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More than 600 producers, industry representatives and government officials attended the first joint Corn, Soybean and Wheat Conference in London this week, making it the most attended conference in the history of any of the three organizations representing Ontario corn, soybean and wheat producers.
The event, held at the London Convention Centre, was part of a series of joint activities the three organizations have undertaken recently in light of their announcement in Summer 2004 that they would work towards forming one organization by 2008.
“Now more than ever it’s important Ontario’s grain & oilseed organizations work together to achieve our common goals,” says Peter Tuinema, Chairman of the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board (OWPMB). Tuinema has also been elected the official spokesperson for the grains & oilseed sector in an intensive lobbying strategy that demands a $300 million cash infusion before Spring planting for Ontario’s distressed grain & oilseed sector, as well as effective safety net and insurance programs.
The sector has received positive public attention in recent weeks for their role in the peaceful “One Voice” rally at Queen’s Park on March 2, where grain & oilseed growers marched with 7,000 other farmers and general farm organization representatives to call attention to the crises agriculture in Ontario is facing.
“It’s clear that together, our organizations and our messages are much stronger than they would ever have been on their own,” says Tuinema. “We’re counting on that strength to help us achieve the short, medium and long-term demands we’ve brought forward to the government.”
Ontario’s grain & oilseed industry represents more than 25,000 growers and contributes $2 billion to Ontario every year.
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Contact:
Peter Tuinema, Chairman, Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board – (519) 767-6537
Greg Devries, Chair, Ontario Soybean Growers – 519-683-1307
Doug Eadie, President, Ontario Corn Producers’ Association – (519) 440-6927
For media assistance or local representatives, contact Lisa McLean, Communications Coordinator (519) 767-2773
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