Groups test drive merger

Friday, September 3, 2010

by SUSAN MANN

Two farm coalition groups that already share offices, equipment, some staff and projects are talking about forming an additional alliance.

But it isn’t known yet what the alliance between the Ontario Farm Animal Council and AgCare (Agricultural Groups Concerned About Resources and the Environment), will look like. Both groups were formed in 1988. They are the first of their kind in North America with AgCare being unique among farm groups in Canada.

Crystal Mackay, executive director of OFAC and interim executive director of AgCare, says “in the United States they’re just forming state organizations like ours now.” But those organizations already combine public outreach work on both crops and livestock.

Here in Ontario the two groups are pursuing an alliance because “we’re driving 22-year-old cars and it’s time to look at a new model,” Mackay says. The two boards are trying to determine a way of creating a new vehicle for the future that’s more effective in communicating with their public audience.

The two groups already share all of their public outreach projects, such as Hit the Trails. It involved installing 100 signs on walking trails like the Trans Canada Trail. “The idea is talk to people about what a buffer strip is when they’re actually walking by one,” she says. “That was a shared project because it’s not just about livestock or crops.”

There would be some cost saving if the two groups were more closely allied but that isn’t the main reason for pursing the initiative. The idea is to have one stronger, more effective voice on public outreach, she says. That’s especially important now with farmers being less than two per cent of the population.

Mackay says people ask questions about farming and food. “The public doesn’t differentiate by commodity so our two boards are having a discussion and saying we shouldn’t differentiate by commodity.”

The groups are also studying how they can strengthen their current issues services.

A Proposal will be developed jointly by the two organizations’ executives. Members will have their say through public forums. There isn’t a deadline for the new organization to be in place, she notes. BF