What the three general farm organizations are up to in the new year

Ontario farm lobbies

Christian Farmers Fed. of Ont.

President: Lorne Small, a Wellington County sheep and rabbit farmer

Election: Acclaimed Dec. 2

Top achievement of 2014: Impacting provincial decision-making on land use, including participating in a review of the Provincial Policy Statement, which incorporated increased opportunities for farm businesses and farmland preservation

Key issues: Encouraging water stewardship, including water quality and optimal water use for food production, examining regulatory reform, and building its knowledge base on water issues; advocating for farmland preservation.

Number of members: 4,100

Membership profile: Rooted in Dutch immigration following the Second World War. Includes farm families across the province from different faith-based backgrounds, representing a wide variety of commodities and full-time, part-time, and second-career farmers; looks at the long-term impact of agricultural policy

Executive members and directors from Eastern and Western Ontario:

Vice-president Ted van den Hurk (chicken farmer from Stayner, in Simcoe County)

Second vice-president Ed Scharringa (cut flower, greenhouse, and specialty crop producer from Rockton, in the City of Hamilton)

Richard Blyleven (crop and egg farmer from Fisherville, in Haldimand County)

Bethanee Jensen Chagnon (sheep farmer from Brussels, in Huron County)

Clarence Nywening (crop farmer and broiler-breeder operator from Thamesville, in Chatham-Kent)

Peter Peeters (beef farmer from Peterborough)

Simon de Boer (dairy and beef farmer from Tara, in Bruce County)

Head office: Guelph

Phone: 855-800-0306

National Farmers Union in Ontario

President: Karen Eatwell, a crop, beef, pork, and poultry farmer from Denfield, in Middlesex County

Election: Secret ballot at March annual general meeting

Top achievement of 2014: Retaining accreditation and working with provincial agriculture and environment ministries to develop a discussion paper and regulatory proposal on neonicotinoids

Key issues: Increasing and retaining membership; promoting food sovereignty, supporting local food and domestic food policy to strengthen farmers power within the existing food chain; educating farmers about the potential impacts of trade agreements; researching farmland protection.

Number of members: 1,500

Membership profile: Smaller family farms, with a focus on seeking alternatives for and questioning some generally-accepted agricultural practices

Council members from Eastern and Western Ontario:

Joe Dama (crop farmer from Leamington, in Essex County)

Joe Vye (crop farmer from Brigden, in Lambton County)

Charlie Nixon (sheep and crop farmer from Chesley, in Bruce County)

Tony Straathof (crop and veal farmer and maple syrup producer from Westmeath, in Renfrew County)

Katie Ward (sheep and vegetable farmer from Woodlawn, in Carleton County)

Bernard Foley (organic vegetable and mixed grain farmer from Williamsburg, in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry)

Head office: Guelph Phone: 888-832-9638

Ontario Federation of Agriculture

President: Don McCabe, a crop farmer from Inwood, in Lambton County

Election: Earned his first term on the third ballot with 58 per cent of the vote on Nov. 24, with 147 votes vs. 106 for incumbent Mark Wales

Top achievement of 2014: Progress on natural gas expansion to rural Ontario

Key issues: Supporting neonic regulations that consider all risks to pollinator health and are based on evidence rather than the precautionary principle; helping farmers adapt to climate change; protecting farmland near urban centres by participating in reviews of provincial conservation legislation; and promoting food literacy, nutrition, and food preparation skills among youth.

Number of members: 37,000

Membership profile: Farm businesses spanning all commodities, including 85 per cent of Ontario farm families, from small farms grossing $7,000 to multi-million dollar operations

Executive members from Eastern and Western Ontario:

Vice-president Keith Currie (dairy and crop farmer from Collingwood in Simcoe County)

Executive member Mark Reusser (chicken and crop farmer from New Dundee, in the Region of Waterloo)

Debra Pretty-Straathof (family-run dairy operation near Arnprior, in Renfrew County)

Bruce Webster (beef and crop farmer from Little Britain, in the City of Kawartha Lakes)

Eleanor Renaud (beef and crop farmer from Elizabethtown-Kitley, in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville)

Bruce Buttar (crop farmer from Gores Landing, in Northumberland County)

Rejean Pommainville (crop farmer from Limoges, in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell)

Louis Roesch (crop, hog, and egg farmer and processor from Kent Bridge, in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent)

Paul Wettlaufer (beef and crop farmer from Neustadt, in Grey County)

Larry Davis (dairy and crop farmer from Burford, in Brant County)

Mark Wales (vegetable farmer from Aylmer, in Elgin County)