FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- September 14th, 2011

Ontario Goat producers encouraged to attend industry consultation meetings - Support the future direction of Ontario’s goat industry

Guelph, ON- Working towards finalizing its application to the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (OFPMC), Ontario Goat is hoping to become one unified and officially recognized organization.  The organization wants to hear from milk, meat and fibre goat producers at the Industry Consultation Meetings that will be held at various locations across the province.

Ontario Goat has been working on behalf of all Ontario’s goat producers to investigate and evaluate the organization being recognized as an official marketing board under Ontario’s Farm Products Marketing Act.  Through industry focus groups, producers have agreed that a marketing board will provide Ontario Goat with the ability to address the long term needs of the goat industry.

“We are encouraging all goat producers to attend these meetings, learn more about the proposal and show their support for the positive direction forward our goat industry is taking” stated Ontario Goat President Tobin Schlegel.   “This is the goat industry’s opportunity to truly come together and forge our future together” he added.

A draft proposal has been developed and Ontario Goat is now working on a strategic plan that outlines the specific powers and regulations of a proposed goat marketing board.  However, at this stage, producer and industry feedback is critical to make sure that the strategy forward is what the industry will support.

Meetings will be held in the following locations:

Monday, September 26th             1-3pm   Russell Curling Club (1076 Concession St., Russell, ON)
Tuesday, September 27th             1-3pm   OMAFRA Office (322 Kent Street W., Lindsay, ON)
Wednesday, September 28th      1-3pm   AgriPlex Building Rm. 136 (353 McCarthy Rd. Stratford, ON)
Friday, September 29th                  1-3pm   Holiday Inn Express (998029 Hwy 11 New Liskeard, ON)

Everyone involved in Ontario’s goat industry is encouraged to attend these meetings to give their input, and meet some of their Board members and Ontario Goat staff.  Pre-registration is not required.

Ontario Goat is a producer organization representing Ontario’s meat, milk and fibre sectors on such issues as producer education, government lobbying, marketing and research.  

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For more information contact:
Jennifer Haley, Executive Director
519-824-2942