NEWS RELEASE
HARRISTON, ON – August 6, 2024 – Ontario Bean Growers (OBG) announced license fees are now $5.50 MT for all dry beans in Ontario under the organization, a reduction in by $1.00 a MT (metric tonne) for the 2024-25 crop year. “OBG’s fee is down again from a high of $6.80 in 2021 because of efficient management and increased yields.” Said Ryan Koeslag, Executive Director of OBG.
The OBG has worked hard to be cost efficient while at the same time continuing to invest in the priorities that matter most to dry bean farmers in Ontario. Research spending is up, promotional activities continue and OBG continues to work with researchers to identify new areas of opportunity. For the last several years OBG has operated under significant surpluses of which 50% of all surpluses go into a research fund. The organization has done well to manage its expenses and invest the farmer’s dollars wisely. The administrative arrangement with Ryan Koeslag as Executive Director via his consulting company has also resulted in a cost-effective way to manage the day-to-day operations of the organization. It’s an all-round, good news story for our industry.
OBG will be monitoring their financial operations closely over the next year and is prepared to enter deficit budgets with contingency funds available to ensure no opportunity is missed that may arise. OBG works to be responsive and fluid by setting its license fee annually following the planted acres report from Agricorp. This year’s report indicated an increase in acreage for 2024-25 to just over 115,000 acres.
“We hope that farmers recognize that, during these years of significant cost increases around the world, your farmer organization is working to reduce costs and bring value to farmers by spending their hard-earned check-off dollars in a fiscally sound manner.” Jamie Payton, Chair of OBG.
Ryan Koeslag, Executive Director, Ontario Bean Growers – 519 510-8556;
