Status of Resolutions Carried at the
March 2005 Annual Business Meeting

MRI Re-instatement
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the OCPA work with other grains and oilseed associations and marketing boards towards re-instating the MRI program for 2004.
STATUS: Lobbying efforts of Ontario's grain and oilseed groups were successful in getting the residual $88 million MRI pot distributed earlier this year and an additional $79 million from the province as a MRI top-up for the 2004 crop.

MRI for 2004-2005
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ontario Corn Producers' Association (OCPA) encourage all producers to join them in a strong lobby effort to the Provincial and Federal Governments to guarantee full funding of MRI for the 2004-2005 crop year.
STATUS: The grain and oilseed groups encourage all producers to get involved in lobbying efforts since this activity at die grassroots level contributes considerable strength to the lobbying efforts at die Provincial and Federal government levels. Governments look for producer support when lobbied by agricultural groups.

MRI Replacement
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OCPA continues to lobby aggressively for a properly funded replacement program to be in place as early as possible in 2005.
STATUS: Ontario's grain and oilseed groups have launched an aggressive lobbying campaign, Farmers Feed Cities! to promote the Risk Management Program, a replacement program for MRI.

MRI Replacement
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the new MRI/Production Assurance Program be implemented immediately for the 2005 crop with adequate provincial and federal funding.
STATUS: Ontario grain and oilseed groups have been lobbying for government acceptance of die Risk Management Program. To-date we are continuing with an aggressive lobbying campaign for the Farmers Feed Cities! lobby efforts. The grassroots level needs to assist with die lobbying efforts.

MRI Replacement
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED dial the MRI replacement program be jointly funded on a 60% federal: 40% provincial split.
STATUS: Lobbying efforts of the grains and oilseed groups continue to promote the Risk Management Program, to both levels of government, as a patch to CAIS to cover the shortfalls of the CAIS program experienced by the grains and oilseeds sector.

MRI Replacement
BE IT RESOLVED that the corn, soybean and wheat producers lobby the federal government to supply funding to a new MRI type program to cover shortfalls for die CAIS program.
STATUS: Ontario's grain and oilseed groups are promoting die Risk Management Program as a patch to CAIS that would address the shortfalls of CAIS for die grains and oilseeds sector.

Caps
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the OCPA work with the other grain and oilseed groups to lobby the federal and provincial governments to cap the MRI replacement program at $200,000.
STATUS: The grain and oilseed groups spent a considerable amount of time discussing caps. The RMP has been modeled after die US programs in terms of die diree entity rule and die caps.

Deposit Requirement
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all producers in Ontario lobby die federal and provincial governments for no producer deposits in the CAIS program in the future.
STATUS: In June 2005, die government announced that producers could use all the funds in their CAIS accounts. The 1/3 deposit deadline for the 2005 program has been extended to March 31, 2006. Alternatives to deposits are being discussed.

CAIS
THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OCPA continues to lobby for changes in CAIS to address this situation.
STATUS: OCPA along with the other grain and oilseed groups have lobbied for changes to the CAIS program. Government agrees that CAIS does not work for the grains and oilseeds sector. The Risk Management Program, as a patch to CAIS, would offset price depression from artificial marketplace distortions for die grains and oilseeds sector.

Competitive support program
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the OCPA work with the other grains and oilseeds groups in conjunction with our national and provincial General Farm Organizations (GFO's) to lobby the federal government for a competitive support program that mitigates the farm income and value added industry losses caused by competing farm support programs, until the federal government succeeds in reducing trade distorting farm supports.
STATUS: The Risk Management Program (RMP), developed by the grain and oilseed groups, will level the playing field for Ontario producers through price support mechanisms. The RMP is being promoted to both levels of government as a patch for CAIS that will address the shortfalls of CAIS for the grains and oilseeds sector.

Inclusion of farm-fed grains
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all new and continuing grains and oilseed safety net programs continue to include home grown feedstocks that are fed on-farm.
STATUS: The Risk Management Program is based on acreage and production thereby including farm-fed grains and oilseeds.

Long-term financial support program with COP
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the OCPA work widi die other grains and oilseed associations and marketing boards with die support of other organizations to develop and work toward implementing an action plan in a timely fashion to ask die Ontario government to establish a long term financial support program that follows closely the cost of production. This action plan will have to have producer participation and input.
STATUS: The grains and oilseeds sector developed die Risk Management Program (RMP), created for farmers by farmers, as a replacement program for MRI. The RMP provides a set of economic tools to level the playing field with die US and other provinces dirough price support mechanisms.

Revenue Assurance Program with COP
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that grain and oilseed producers lobby for a long term revenue assurance program with a cost of production calculation.
STATUS: The grains and oilseeds groups have worked togedier to develop the Risk Management Program which is a longer-term solution to mitigate risks associated widi die market. Producers choose the level of support which best protects dieir cost of production.

Domestic support level
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OCPA lobby to have the Ontario level of support for grains and oilseed producers increased rather than lobby for the domestic support programs in Quebec and die U.S. to be reduced to our domestic support level.
STATUS: The grains and oilseed groups have launched the Farmers Feed Cities! campaign with the message to the Ontario Government to increase die budget for Ontario agriculture. The province needs to raise the investment from the current 0.7% of the provincial budget to 1.4% which was the level of support two decades ago.

MRI Reinstatement
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OCPA lobby die Ontario Government to reinstate die MRI program as soon as possible.
STATUS: OCPA, along with the other grains and oilseed groups are promoting the Risk Management Program as a patch to CAIS that would cover the shortfalls of CAIS for the grains and oilseed sector.

Trade Remedy
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OCPA insists on compensation for trade injury immediately.
STATUS: OCPA continues to lobby for trade injury remedies. Since government has not been willing to address trade injury, OCPA has been involved in promoting die Risk Management Program which will provide support for artificially depressed prices, thereby leveling die playing field widi other jurisdictions.

Participation in protests
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this organization be prepared to participate in active protesting by farmers to force dieir government to listen to dieir concerns.
STATUS: OCPA is supportive of organized protests such as die rally held at Queen's Park March 2, 2005. OCPA was involved in the organization of the rally and will participate in future rallies if required.

Letter Writing Campaign
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the OCPA encourage a letter writing campaign by all producers to the Ministers of agriculture and all MPPs and MPs.
STATUS: OCPA along with the odier grain and oilseed groups have encouraged producers to write letters, send emails or call dieir local representatives. Every letter, email and phone call helps with the lobby efforts at die government level. Producers are also encouraged to assist the Farmers Feed Cities! postcard campaign.

United Voice
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the OCPA join a united voice for grain and oilseeds and for agriculture as a united industry.
STATUS: OCPA is committed to working widi our industry partners to increase Ontario's agricultural budget from the current 0.7% to 1.4% of die provincial budget. OCPA has been actively participating in die Unified Voice movement which has involved joint lobbying for the agriculture industry.

Nutrient Management Act Implementation
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the implementation of the N.M.A. be put on hold indefinitely until the overall need for the economic and farm business impact of and the value of a N.M.A. is more thoroughly scrutinized by and accepted by all stakeholders.
STATUS: OCPA was involved in consultations in April 2005 (widi an OMAFRA press release in June 2005) which saw a realignment of Nutrient Management Regulation. Some of die proposed changes included NMan program conversion to a Best Management Practice in a move towards a risk-based system, and an increase of eligible funding from $45,000 to $60,000. Future environmental regulation will occur under die Source Water Protection Legislation currently being constructed.

Water Exemptions
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the corn producers stand together widi farmers and farm organizations from across Canada in calling on the Government of Canada to immediately:
1. Secure an explicit exemption for water under die goods, services and investment provisions of the NAFTA and the FTA;
2. Place a moratorium on any new water export initiatives until such an exemption is in place; and
3. Secure an explicit exclusion for water and water related services under the General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS), the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) and all subsequent agreements related to international trade.
STATUS: OCPA has been working widi die Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition (OFEC) to address water resource concerns. One such current initiative has the group looking at die Great Lakes Charter which deals with all the US states and Canadian provinces which are exposed to the Great Lakes System.

Crop Production
BE IT RESOLVED that the corn, soybean and wheat producers lobby the government that fanners can still plant dieir own seed.
STATUS: OCPA supports the farmer saved seed privilege and has written letters of support detailing this position.

Drainage
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OCPA lobby OMAF for funding for drainage outlets and maintenance of same. STATUS: When die provincial government announced the termination of die grant program for municipal drains under die Drainage Act, OCPA wrote the provincial government expressing our disappointment and support of the OFA position. This situation has since been addressed by the government with die reinstatement of the program.

Trade Remedy
BE IT RESOLVED that Ontario Corn Producers' Association consider the possibility of a countervail and/or antidumping action.
STATUS: August 31, 2005 - OCPA along widi Manitoba and Quebec announced a three-pronged trade action against die U.S.; Byrd Amendment Retaliation; WTO Case, and Anti-dumping and Countervail Duties under die Special Imports Measures Act

Trade Remedy
BE IT RESOLVED that the corn, soybean and wheat producers lobby the federal government along with governments from other countries to take trade action against the U.S. to have the U.S. live up to their trade agreements.
STATUS: August 31, 2005, OCPA along with the Manitoba Corn Growers' Association and the FPCCQ launched a three-pronged trade action against the US. The federal government is encouraged to act on the Byrd Amendment Retaliation and a WTO case on US corn.

Support of Supply Management
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that statements of support for the supply management sector be made by the Ontario Com Producers' Association and FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Ontario Com Producers' Association dissuade the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) from working to destroy the supply management sector. STATUS: Recognizing that the supply managed commodities utilize a large portion of Ontario's corn supply, OCPA has stated our support for the supply managed commodities through the Grain Growers of Canada.

Ethanol Incentives
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a company or entity building or operating an ethanol plant in Ontario would only qualify for grants or incentives from either level of Government provided that the company or entity does not violate the agreement, and provided that this condition applies under Canadian trade laws, then all grants and incentives given to the Company would be forfeited.
STATUS: OCPA actively lobbied for an Ontario Ethanol Corn Purchase Incentive Program that would provide assistance based on purchases of source-verified Ontario corn. The government chose to implement an incentive program based on ethanol output, regardless of the source of corn.

Benefit of Ontario Agriculture
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that OCPA lobby the General Farm Organizations (GFOs) for a report outlining both the monetary and non-fiscal contributions that agriculture provides to Ontario's economy and society
STATUS: The grain and oilseeds groups have issued a Letter of Intent for a research project to quantify the all-encompassing impact the Ontario grams and oilseeds sector has on the rural Ontario economy, and die Ontario economy as a whole.

Joint Newsletter
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all three commodities join forces to produce one newsletter.
STATUS: After the groups are located under one roof, different areas will be reviewed for possible streamlining, one of which may be the organizations' newsletters.

Consumer Awareness
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the grain sector try a new approach and influence consumers directly by starting a pilot project by designing, distributing and financing agriculturally supportive placemats to be distributed free of charge to, for example, every McDonald's Restaurant (any others) in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-die-Lake focus areas and assign a researcher to assess the effectiveness of diis approach to influence the consumers and politicians.
STATUS: Deferred to the Communications Action Team for consideration at a later date. Considerable resources by OCPA and the other grain and oilseed groups are being dedicated to the Farmers Feed Cities! campaign at this time.

Refrain from negatives
BE IT RESOLVED that OCPA or any agricultural group refrain from saying any negative comments about anything concerning any other farm organization.
STATUS: OCPA conducts its business in a professional manner and recognizes die strength gained by working co-operatively with odier farm organizations dirough the Unified Voice movement.

District Alignment
BE IT RESOLVED that OCPA promote cooperation amongst die three commodity groups (corn, soy, and wheat) particularly at die local level in the areas east of Toronto. This should include realigning to common district representation.
STATUS: District alignment will be an element reviewed by the political merger team.