While she’s new to the role of president, Erin Gowriluk is already quite familiar with the organization she’s leading, as she’s spent the past decade working for organizations that are members of the Canada Grains Council. “I’m new to this role, but not new to the Council,” she explains, discussing her new gig with RealAgriculture’s… Read More
Category: CEO interviews
Justine Hendricks is less than a month in to her role as president and CEO of Farm Credit Canada (FCC), but she says she’s already shook about 800 hands. Hendricks, speaking from FCC’s Kanata, Ont., office, says starting in prime farm conference season has been an excellent way to meet so many faces in the… Read More
A new report commissioned by Fertilizer Canada and the Canola Council of Canada shows increased adoption of 4R stewardship practices could result in a 14 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from nitrogen fertilizer — approximately halfway to the Canadian government’s 30 per cent reduction target for 2030. The study, released September 6, compares… Read More
In June of this year, Michael Hoffort will end his 34-year career with Farm Credit Canada (FCC), having spent the last eight years as president and chief executive officer. Hoffort joined FCC in the late ’80s, a decade that was known to be particularly difficult for the farming sector, marked by sky-high interest rates, poor… Read More
The ongoing global shortage of semiconductor chips has created difficult times for farm machinery makers, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel. CNH Industrial CEO Scott Wine says equipment makers, such as the company’s Case IH and New Holland brands, still have some tough months ahead and are “probably nine months… Read More
Within the last month, three grain companies have announced plans to add nearly five million tonnes of canola crush capacity in Western Canada. Richardson first announced a doubling of production to 2.2 million tonnes per year at its Yorkton, Sask. site, then Cargill announced plans to build a new 1 million tonne plant at Regina,… Read More
It took some effort, but Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME) announced recently that the company would be going private, thirteen years after going public. In a nutshell, the move means the company is able to focus on customer’s needs, and will be able to plan longer-term, according to Garrett Ganden, chief executive officer of RME. When… Read More
The amalgamation of Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) and Cereals Canada meant finding a new chief executive officer. That role is now filled by Dean Dias, who comes from the Cigi side and brings years of experience in a variety of roles. “When I first moved to Canada in 2006, from Mumbai, India, I never… Read More
As the saying goes, if Henry Ford had listened to what his customers wanted, they would have said, “Faster horses.” For Nicole Zeni, that innovation philosophy means that while you do need to listen to your customers, you must be open to change, and challenged to thinking broadly and for the long term. Zeni manages… Read More
When the corn, soybean, and wheat growers of Ontario chose to join forces over a decade ago, they named a Westerner, Barry Senft, as their CEO. Since then, Senft has led the newly-formed Grain Farmers of Ontario through collaboration, the addition of two other commodity groups, restrictive regulations, and a big push for public outreach…. Read More
Although only in the role for under a year, Syngenta Canada president Trevor Heck is no stranger to the company. Heck has been with Syngenta for more than 26 years in various positions. Every second year in late October, Syngenta holds its annual Media Summit. While in attendance, RealAgriculture’s Jessika Guse got the chance to… Read More
Pulses will likely be on the menu as Prime Minister Trudeau meets with his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Modi, later this month, but Canada’s pulse sector is counting on them also being on the business agenda. There’s no mention of pulse crops or India’s steep tariffs on Canadian pulse exports in the notice from the… Read More
Interested in growing camelina for Three Farmers? Get ready to intercrop. Three Farmers, a Saskatchewan-based snack food company, is offering, for the first time, production contracts for camelina, an oilseed crop. A stipulation of the contract is that camelina be grown in tandem with either pea or lentil. Likely the first-of-its-kind stipulation in a crop… Read More
In the dairy food value chain processors play an integral role in product development. Dairy product development puts dairy components in protein bars, protein powder, ice cream, yogurt and baby formula. to name just a few. At Farm Journal’s MILK Business Conference, attendees heard from Micheal Dykes, President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association…. Read More
Change is good. Change is the only constant. Be the change you want to see in the world. There’s no shortage of sayings that reference change. Michael Barrett, president and CEO of Gay Lea Foods, prefers, though, to use imagery when discussing change and being ready for it. In his words, there are lines in the sand,… Read More