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!

Lucknow Co-op celebrates 75 years of success!

A Diamond-White Anniversary celebration took place Sept. 7 for members, customers and friends of the co-op who enjoyed a barbecue dinner, evening entertainment and social time to mark 75 years of success and growth for the co-operative.

David Gibson, Lucknow Co-op president says that the co-op is lucky to have such strong community support. “We thank our customers, members and employees for 75 years of success and we look forward to many more years as part of this great community.”

A big community gathering at Lucknow Co-op as they celebrate under rainbow lights!

Lucknow District Co-op board of directors and general manager Allan Scott enjoy
the festivities at the co-op's 75th anniversary bash!

Come out and see Your FS Winning Team at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show next week!

744906 Oxford Road #17
R.R. #6 Woodstock, ON N4S 7W1

GROWMARK recognizes Alex Michinski with the Endure 4R Advocate award at 2019 Annual Meeting & Symposium.

Alex Michinski, AGRIS Co-operative
Essex area manager.

The Endure 4R Advocate program recognizes GROWMARK System crop specialists who engage growers in sustainable best management farming practices. These practices include implementing nitrogen management as a System, conducting MiField applied research on farms, promoting the use of nitrogen stabilizers, and more.

This year,  Alex Michinski was nominated by AGRIS Co-operative as an individual who works diligently with his growers to improve water quality, manage nutrients sustainably, and engage in soil conservation practices. “The crop specialists who serve throughout the GROWMARK System literally help farmers grow by building great relationships, providing resources, taking advantage of an optimized supply chain, and winning with innovation,” said Mark Orr, vice-president of agronomy. “They are dedicated to improving farmer profitability the right way - in a sustainable fashion that protects our environment.”

Congratulations to Alex and AGRIS Co-op!

Ontario youth well represented at "Ideas Grow Here" themed Annual Meeting in Chicago

Congratulations to Michaella Snyder this year's youth speaker at GROWMARK's Annual Meeting and Agribusiness Symposium last week in Chicago. 

Michaella Snyder speaks to more 

than 800 at GROWMARK 

2019 Annual Meeting.

She was joined on stage with three more young-leader speakers, representing FFA (Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin). Snyder represented 4-H Ontario and delivered an excellent speech on innovation in agriculture. Michaella is from Kitchener/Waterloo area and is one of six 4-H Ontario Ambassadors chosen this year.  

Also selected from Ontario to attend the three-day event was Co-operative Young Leader (CYL) graduate John Nooyen from Kent-Bridge and president of Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario (JFAO) Nic Weber from Elmira.

Each year GROWMARK provides travel opportunities to youth who have shown dedication to leadership development. They travel to Chicago to learn more about GROWMARK and network with business people and other young leaders. As part of their experience, they took part in a number of activities, including the annual meeting’s grand opening ceremonies and were able to take time to tour some of Chicago's many unique attractions. 

From L-R: At the Hilton Chicago Grand Ballroom entrance is Nic Weber representing JFAO, John Nooyen for Co-op Young Leaders and Michaella Snyder of 4-H Ontario.

Preparing for the Grand Entry of Flags ceremony.

Congratulations to all these young leaders from Ontario, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin!