2019 - record year for AGRIS

AGRIS Co-op announced patronage of $1 million to be returned to farmer owners.

Announced at the annual meting on Jan 15, AGRIS’ sales totaled more than $220 million. $2.44 million has been allocated back to supporting co-op operations. 

After a challenging crop year due to weather, John Nooyen, AGRIS co-operative president, provided the members with this uplifting statement. “The future is bright, and we have a lot to be thankful for. Next year we look forward to AGRIS Co-operative’s 100-year anniversary. Trust, knowledge and technology will take us through the next 100 years, and we should be proud of all that we have accomplished.”

The meeting saw election of four new board members Pat Vanheule and Bill McDonald from Thamesville, Jim Maw from Mooretown and Scott McGeachy from Chatham. John Nooyen was re-elected as board president, Scott McGeachy as board vice-president and re-elected Patrick Vanheule as secretary.

Co-operative Young Leader participant, Tristan Snip, who was sponsored by AGRIS spoke to the meeting about his experience and encouraged others to participate in the program.

Wanstead Farmers Co-op declares good patronage for its members

Wanstead Farmers Co-operative announced it will pay $120,000 in patronage to be shared with its more than 500 farmer-owners.   

More than 120 people attended the co-operative’s 96th Annual General Meeting held on Dec. 5 at the Wyoming Fair Building.

Martin Gerrits, Wanstead Farmers Co-operative board president commented that despite all the weather challenges this year, the co-op saw a year of growth and profitability. Gerrits thanked farmers for their patience and determination in getting through such a challenging season. “With such a wet spring and a cold start to our planting season, it was a wonder that crops even got planted this year".

Peter Kelly, Wanstead Farmers Co-operative general manager reported an overall growth in sales and an added focus on streamlining overhead costs resulted in a positive year for the co-op. He thanked the members for their support and the board for its strong leadership.

Going forward Martin Gerrits from Wyoming was re-elected as the board president. Rick Patterson from Petrolia is vice-president, replacing Joe Joosten who recently retired. Joosten was recognized at the general meeting for his many years of service. Norman Minielly from Watford remains as board secretary. Also retiring from the board is Kevin Forbes of Sarnia.

Wanstead Farmers Co-op retiring director Joe Joosten is recognized for his 19
years of service on the board. Jamie Duncan, board director, presents Joosten
with a Peter Etril Snyder "Right from the Start" painting as a gesture of the
boards' appreciation.

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GROWMARK selects new board member for OCA

Terri Naylor

As of Dec. 9, the GROWMARK board of directors selected Terri Naylor as its newly appointed director to sit on The Ontario Co-operative Association board of directors, representing the Ontario GROWMARK System.

Terri has dedicated 32 years of her career to the co-op sector. During that time, she has held a variety of positions that have gained her valuable experience in several diverse roles. As controller for an FS Co-operative, she worked directly with the co-op’s board of directors assisting in governance decisions.

Today, Terri’s current position as manager of business integration and special projects, entails mediating between partners on a daily basis with a focus on financial, operations, system conversions and acquisitions.

“With Terri’s broad background and passion for the co-operative system, we are confident she will be an exceptional asset to the OCA board team,” says Claude Gauthier, GROWMARK executive director, Ontario operations. “Please join me in congratulating Terri on her new role!”

Introducing the 2020 OCA board of directors. (L-R): Jordan Moat (Libro Credit Union), Megan Shipton (youth director), Chris Caners (SolarShare Co-operative), Erin Morgan, OCA executive director, Maureen Gillespie, OCA board president (The Co-operators), Jennifer Woodhouse, OCA vice-president (Gay Lea Foods Co-operative), Terri Naylor (GROWMARK), and Joel Lalonde past-president (Central 1 Credit Union). Missing from this photo are: Sally Miller, board treasurer (Canadian Worker Co-op Federation) and Hugh Nelson (Y's Owl MacLure Co-operative Centre).

Terri Naylor replaces Janice Johnson who is retiring from GROWMARK at the end of the year. Janice served seven years on the board and served two years as president, one year as vice-president and one year as treasurer.

Co-operatives are a different kind of business model that are driven by people, planet and profit. GROWMARK is a member of The Ontario Co-operative Association that supports, develops, educates and advocates for Ontario’s more than 1,500 co-operative businesses.

FS leading the way in 4R Nutrient Stewardship

The GROWMARK Ontario System of FS Co-operatives is gaining good momentum when it comes to 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices. It is now official after the latest announcement from Fertilizer Canada that two of FS PARTNERS locations have passed the 4R Nutrient Stewardship certification audit at both Drayton and Delhi agronomy sites. These sites are the first two locations to achieve this for FS PARTNERS.

FS PARTNERS - Drayton

AGRIS Co-operative's Cottam location became 4R Certified in the spring and just last week a second location for AGRIS - Stoney Point has received this important status.

AGRIS Co-operative - Cottam

The voluntary program certifies nutrient service providers in the Western Lake Erie Basin and across Ontario that apply or make recommendations on fertilizers in accordance with 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles which refers to using the Right Source of nutrients at the Right Rate, at the Right Time and in the Right Place. Program participants must go through an independent, third-party audit of 37 standards to demonstrate they not only understand 4R principles, but also follow them. 

FS PARTNERS - Delhi

AGRIS Co-operative - Stoney Point

Congratulations to the FS staff that have worked so hard to achieve this success!

The 4R Certification Program is funded and guided under a 4R Ontario Steering Committee comprised of a diverse set of stakeholders from industry, government, conservation authorities and grower organizations. The 4R Certification Program is funded and guided by a 4R Ontario Steering Committee comprised of a divers set of stakeholders from industry, government, conservation authorities and grower organizations including Fertilzer Canada, the Ontario Agri Business Association (OABA), Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the Ontario Ministry of Agricultrue, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) and Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) and Conservation Ontario. 


The program is administered by Fertilizer Canada. Visit: www.4rcertified.ca

Introducing the new GROWMARK large capacity UAN Terminal in Ontario

The GROWMARK UAN Terminal in Putnam is open for business! The site is located in a prime location for Ontario, operating with state-of-the-art autonomous technology saving time, energy and money for the FS member companies in central and southwestern Ontario.

The 15,000 MT facility is the first un-manned loading operation in Ontario that allows for seven days a week/24 hours a day, round the clock access. The site is also the first in Ontario to offer automated customized blends with ATS also stored on site.

Today, FS Co-operative general managers and agronomy managers took the opportunity to come out and tour the facility.  Have a look at the site from various vantage points:

Heading into the town of Putnam. 

There's no horsing around when it comes to Sunderland Co-op's community engagement!

Sunderland Co-operative just  hosted its fourth annual Equine Seminar Night at Stillbrook Riding Stables in Keene and donated half of the event’s proceeds to the local Peterborough 4-H Association. The co-operative has collectively raised more than $1000 for Peterborough County 4-H Clubs this past year.

More than 50 equestrians throughout Peterborough County along with several industry leaders, local suppliers and many 4-H volunteers attended the event to learn from industry experts followed by a light dinner and social time.  

The evening opened with guest speaker Dr. Leah Knox, Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine who led an in-depth presentation on Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome, its causes, preventative measures and treatment options. Dr. Knox stressed the importance of free-choice forage and increased turnout time. Jo-yann Woolsey of Buckeye Nutrition covered the basics of non-structured carbohydrates (NSCs) also known as starches and sugars and their role in the equine diet. She covered levels in cereal grains, complete feeds and forages, teaching how to choose the best option for individual horses and ponies. 

“One of a co-operative’s seven key principles is education, training and information,” says Jake Vancuren, Sunderland Co-operative general manager. “Being a member-based co-operative, we pride ourselves on establishing meaningful relationships with our customers and the communities we serve.”  

GROWMARK Ontario employees raise $1700 for CDF!

Last week, co-ops throughout Canada celebrated their co-op advantage during Co-op Week 2019. GROWMARK Ontario employees took time to learn more about co-ops in their local communities and abroad and held fundraising events to raise money for the Canadian Co-operative Development Foundation (CDF).
 
This year, GROWMARK employees broke all records and raised more than $1,700 for CDF!

Eric Morgan, Ontario Co-operative
Association executive director
gives lunch-and-learn at
 GROWMARK office in Guelph.

Thank you to Erin Morgan, executive director with the Ontario Co-operative Association who provided an excellent lunch-and-learn for employees giving insight into the great work OCA does to advocate and promote all co-ops in Ontario.

And of course there is always cake with every 

From FS PARTNERS in Mitchell,
Larry Hale and Tim Pugh
send Happy Co-op Week greetings!

celebration!

Promoting Co-op Week in Canada! (Oct. 13-19)

Since 1895, co-operatives around the world have been guided by seven principles. These guidelines allow co-operatives to put their values into practice. 







This year's Co-op Week theme, Interco-operation, is directly related to the 6th principle: Co-operation among Co-operatives. Co-operatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the co-operative sector by working together through local, national, regional and international structures. 

Co-ops are innovative, resilient and inclusive; many attributes that Canada will need in the years ahead. Co-op businesses have never been more relevant than they are today. According to the study titled Economic Impact of the Co-operative Sector in Canada, the co-operative and mutual economy represents 3.4 per cent of Canada’s GDP and almost 200,000 jobs in communities across Canada. 

Visit:

The Ontario Co-operative Association

Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada

A winning theme at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show

FS Your Winning Team took the lead at Canada’s largest farm show with hundreds of show-goers lined up to take a few practice shots on the 4Rs Right Place, Right Time, Right Source and Right Rate hockey net targets in Woodstock, ON from Sept 10-12.

Adorned with winning team messages throughout the tent, the centre ice was reserved for “Referee 4Rs” with a strong message to “Make the Right Call” with FS Nutrient Stewardship practices. 

Designed to show case FS Your Winning Team, the 70 x 40’ foot space incased in FS branded hockey rink boards, featured five large hockey player cut-outs each promoting FS services and delivering key messages such as “Get ahead of the game with MiField” or “Let Dieselex Gold be your best Defense”.

Visitors left the highly engaging space with FS branded mini-sticks to share with family and friends. “FSie” (the returning FS live mascot) took to the park with her winning team spirit to meet folks, take photos and hand out FS Your Winning Team branded mini sticks.

Here are a few photos to help capture the event:

 

See you next year!