MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Richard Horne EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I would like to start by thanking the BFO Board of Directors, Advisory Councillors, committee representatives, staff, and membership at-large for their relentless dedication and commitment to the Ontario beef industry. I am privileged to work for a sector rooted in such deep history and tradition, and that has such pride in the work done each and every day by men and women across this great province who are committed to raising and feeding cattle to the highest standards while producing some of the best beef in the world. Although directors and staff weren’t able to
for discussion and feedback. On this front,
BFO, Ontario Pork and Veal Farmers of
meet with producers and industry partners
large steps were taken this year that I hope
Ontario. This coalition was instrumental in
in the way we have been accustomed to
we can build on in 2021, and we welcome
helping deliver the additional $50 million
and would like over the past year, BFO
new ideas on how we can improve our
in government funding for the Ontario Risk
made a concerted effort to increase our
communication with members.
Management Program.
BFO was forced to double down on our
Similarly, our partnership with the eastern
political presence and lobbying efforts,
cattle coalition, comprised of members
and we returned our focus to more
from Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes,
collaborative approaches with other
helped drive discussions at the national
organizations to address issues of shared
table with respect to important requests of
concern. I believe this allowed BFO to
government regarding specified risk material
achieve far more than we could have done
(SRM) removal requirements, business risk
on our own.
management enhancements, trade barriers
communications and outreach to local associations, committee representatives, supply chain partners, and the broader BFO membership to ensure important information was communicated in as broad and timely a manner as possible. We launched a COVID-19 webpage that was updated on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. Regular industry update calls were held throughout the year to update local leadership on topics such as government decisions and announcements, BFO advocacy activities, market conditions and marketing efforts, and to serve as a forum
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BFO ANNUAL REPORT 2021
The renewal of the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Coalition welcomed back the Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario
with South Korea, and the trade imbalance with the European Union and the United Kingdom, among others.
Sheep Farmers and the Ontario Fruit and
Our collaboration with the Ontario
Vegetable Growers’ Association, joining
Federation of Agriculture and the other
