(Guelph, ON – June 05, 2006) More than $600,000 will be invested in six projects to develop business management tools, resources and training needed by farmers in today’s economic environment, through the Agricultural Management Institute (AMI) program.

“The economic environment in farming is rapidly changing in Ontario and to manage it, farmers need new business management skill sets. Niche marketing, consumer demand considerations, and value adding on the farm require new knowledge that goes beyond traditional farm business management practices,” explains Pierre Glaude, vice-chair (acting-chair) of the AMI panel. “Through the AMI program farmers, farm managers and their business advisors have access to $5 million to acquire these new skills.”

Benchmarking and best management practices, management of business risk, human resources development and innovation and market opportunities are some of the key elements encouraged through the AMI program. The projects include: Learning from Others: Tools to Enhance the Competitiveness of the Agri-Food Industry (ACC Farmers' Financial); Agri-Food Marketing: What Everyone Should Know (L'Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens); Request for Incentive Funding for Individual Participants in the Initial Web-classroom (The OATI Learning Group); Benchmarking for Aboriginal Farmers (Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario); Farm Financial Business Planning - Awareness Campaign (ACC Farmers' Financial); and The Top Manager Team (AgVision Inc.).

Kevin Stewart, producer and host of AgVision TV, is one of the six successful proponents. Stewart applied for AMI funding to enhance the Top Manager Team feature on his weekly television program. He says this project is in response to numerous viewer requests for features with ‘real’ farmers who have taken the necessary steps and are making their value-added ventures work on their farms. Viewers don’t just want to hear about it or talk about it, they want to see it.

“That’s what we’ve decided to do, is to find producers who are contracting for a particular practice in their operation, then bring it back to our Top Manager Team to examine,” says Stewart. He adds that the Team will take a methodical look at the risks the farmers have incurred, the business tools they’ve used and the various aspects that any farmer has to consider. “That’s the impetus behind this, to encourage them, and think of ideas and how you can bring on some of these people, without all the risk, without all the cost, and still get some of this stuff done.”

“The only thing that any of us will have in common will be the actual management principles,” says Stewart. “It won’t matter whether its cotton, corn or canola, the basic principle of strategic management will be the same.”

ACC Farmers’ Financial is a strong advocate of farm business planning. “In order for producers to achieve their financial and business goals, they need to be aware of the business management tools, resources and programs available to them to assist in making correct management decisions and maximize their business profits,” says Brian Hughes, ACC Farmers’ Financial Executive Director. “The funding we’ve received through the AMI program will assist in raising the awareness of farm business management to farm advisors and producers and will be invaluable in demonstrating how farm business planning services can assist producers in moving their business forward.”

The AMI program is funded through the Renewal chapter of the federal-provincial-territorial Agricultural Policy Framework, an initiative designed to position Canada’s agri-food sector as a world leader. The Agricultural Adaptation Council administers the AMI program on behalf of the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario. For more information on the AMI program, contact the Agricultural Adaptation Council at (519) 822-7554, ami@adaptcouncil.org or visit the AAC website at www.adaptcouncil.org


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APPROVED PROJECTS – December 2005-March 2006:
 

Project Title/Applicant	Priority Area	Project Description	Total AMI Funding
Learning from Others: Tools to Enhance the Competitiveness of the Agri-Food Industry/ACC Farmers' Financial	Human Resources Development and Training	This project will result in the development of a CD ROM that will be positioned as an entry-level initiative for introducing producers to approaches and concepts that enable them to better manage their business/value chain.	$161, 470.00
Agri-Food Marketing: What Everyone Should Know/L'Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens	Innovation and Market Opportunities	The purpose of this project is to provide current and future farm and agri-food entrepreneurs with new tools to develop their skills at creating added value by making the most of the business opportunities in the province.	$102,075.00
Request for Incentive Funding for Individual Participants in the Initial Web-classroom/The OATI Learning Group	Benchmarking and Business Best Management Practices	This project will provide an incentive for the initial offering of their web-classroom courses. This incentive is designed to make taking these initial courses a more appealing opportunity for members of the agricultural community.	$8,800.00
Benchmarking for Aboriginal Farmers/Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario	Benchmarking and Business Management Best Practices	The Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario (IAPO) will obtain farm data required for input into IAPO's database. The completion of data input will result in production of benchmarks which will be used as tools for improvement and evaluation of Aboriginal Farmers both individually and collectively.	$26,600.00
The Top Manager Team/AgVision Inc.	Benchmarking and Business Best Management Practices	The Top Manager Team is a two-year project which will provide farmers with the opportunity to ask questions of management experts. The questions will be answered via e-mail, phone or featured on AgVision TV.	$235,000.00
Farm Financial Business Planning - Awareness Campaign/ACC Farmers' Financial	Benchmarking and Business Best Management Practices	This project aims to increase awareness of the importance of farm business planning through an aggressive information campaign and measure the results.	$86,250.00

For more information:
Nadine Buitenhuis
Communications Manager
Agricultural Adaptation Council
Phone: 519-822-7554
E-mail: nbuitenhuis@adaptcouncil.org
Website: www.adaptcouncil.org