Jun 29, 2016

July 2 is International Co-op Day!

This Saturday marks the International Day of Co-operatives…and a wonderful opportunity to showcase our amazing sector! The day's theme is ‘Co-operatives: The power to act for a sustainable future’, and it is dedicated to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs.

On July 2, the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) will launch the Co-ops for 2030 website, an online platform for co-operatives to learn about the SDGs, explore how co-operatives can help achieve them and make pledges to contribute to the SDGS. Co-operatives will not need to create new initiatives to participate in Co-ops for 2030 – the important sustainable development work you already do can serve as pledges. By uniting co-operatives under one online platform, we create a global record of how co-operatives build a better world.

Jun 21, 2016

Local Kingston area 4-H youth named 2016 GROWMARK Essay Contest winner

Kieran Shannon, 2016 provincial Essay Contest winner
Congratulations to 16 year old Kieran Shannon of Glenburnie, Ontario who has been named the Ontario provincial winner of the 2016 GROWMARK Essay Contest for 4-H members. The theme of this year’s contest was “What can young people to do ensure the sustainability of agriculture?”

In his contest entry, Kieran said: “People need to realize the facts! I believe that it is our job as today’s farming youth to step up and lead the way by having honest and balanced conversations. We have the ability to change the way our generation views modern farming and we can show people how sustainability in agriculture means protecting the land for future productivity. Benefits of technological advancements on the farm far outweighs the perceived risks. We need to change the way people view agriculture in the 21st century.”

Kieran Shannon is a student at La Salle Secondary School in Kingston and a member of the Frontenac 4-H Association.

As the contest winner, Shannon receives a $500 award from GROWMARK and the Frontenac  4-H Association  also receives a $300 award in honour of his accomplishment to help future students.

Two provincial runners-up each receive a $125 award. The runners-up are: Sarah Campbell, Chatham-Kent 4-H Association, student at Blenheim District High School and Mikayla Ringelberg, Hamilton Wentworth 4-H Association, student at Hamilton District Christian High School.

This is the fifth year for the Essay Program in Ontario in partnership with 4-HOntario, but the 23th year for the program in the United States. The contest was designed to help young people develop their writing skills, learn about current issues in agriculture, and understand the unique role of co-operatives.



Jun 3, 2016

GROWMARK recognizes an AGRIS Co-operative crop specialist as one of five top crop specialists for advocating sustainable best management farming practices

Chris Snip of AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. in Cottam, Ontario is one of five crop specialists who have excelled in engaging farmers in sustainable best management practices, and a recipient of the GROWMARK Endure 4R Advocate Award. The crop specialists are recognized for their work with farmers in using the 4R (right source, right rate, right time, right place) approach to nutrient stewardship, assisting growers with fertilizer management, implementing a nitrogen monitoring program like N-WATCH, and more.

Chris Snip is a Certified Crop Advisor and has worked at AGRIS, based in south western Ontario, for 16 years. He is also an active member of Delta Waterfowl, The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and a board member of the local Soils and Crop Association.

“I started really showing appreciation for the 4R approach after I witnessed a large algae bloom in the western basin of Lake Erie in the fall of 2011,” said Snip. “I live on a tributary of Lake Erie. Across the road from the lake, my family and I spend a lot of time in and on the water and consuming fish from the lake. I hated to see the lake that way. I felt I could play an important role in reducing nutrient loss from agricultural lands in my trade area. I work with growers individually to help them come up with ways that can reduce nutrient losses on their farm operation that work with their cropping practices and equipment capabilities while maximizing nutrient utilization and profitability,” he added.

Four other FS crop specialists achieving the Endure 4R Advocate Award are: Logan Haake (Legacy Farmers Cooperative, Ohio), Rick Klevze (GROWMARK FS, New Jersey) Malcolm Stambaugh (Ag View FS, Illinois) and Jason Wesslund (Heritage FS, Illinois).

The five crop specialists were nominated by their member companies. A selection committee comprised of individuals from the agriculture industry outside of the GROWMARK System served as judges. Winners will receive recognition for their achievement and an all-expense-paid trip with their spouse to attend the 2016 GROWMARK Annual Meeting and Agribusiness Symposium. This is the first year for the Endure 4R Advocate award and is part of the GROWMARK System sustainability initiative Endure.

Jun 1, 2016

Sometimes just a simple invite can go a long way!


When Peter Kelly, Wanstead Farmers Co-operative general manager reached out to his local MP as a way to get acquainted with his new surroundings, he didn’t realize how this small friendly gesture would generate some unexpected added publicity for his co-op.

Not only did Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu pay Wanstead Farmers Co-operative a visit to learn more about the long-standing business, meet the staff and get a tour of the new facility in Wyoming, but she also posted the group photo on the front cover of her federal riding’s newsletter.

“We were flattered to see our picture on the Federal Express,” says Kelly. “Getting this extra publicity was a nice surprise and greatly appreciated.”