About Us
The Agricultural Management Institute (AMI) promotes new ways of thinking about farm business management and aims to increase awareness, understanding and adoption of beneficial business management practices by Ontario farmers.
The AMI provides funding for projects that develop business management tools, information, resources, and training for farm families, farm managers, and farm business advisors. In addition to funding projects, AMI links producers to the resources that are available and conducts research that can be shared with the industry.
The Agricultural Management Institute (AMI) is funded by the Canada-Ontario bilateral agreement to implement Growing Forward, a Federal-Provincial-Territorial initiative. The AMI is part of the Best Practices Suite of programs for Growing Forward in Ontario. The AMI is directed by a 10 member Board of Directors with diverse backgrounds and experience in primary agriculture and agriculture business.
Mission, Vision and Mandate
Mission
By stimulating ideas and funding projects, the AMI program strives to increase understanding and awareness of business management practices which enables Ontario farmers to meet their business goals.
Vision
Prosperous farms through business management practises, cooperation and innovation.
Mandate
To provide funding and stimulate ideas to develop business management and risk management tools, products, information, resource and training for farm families, farm managers and farm business advisors.
Meet the Board
The Agricultural Management Institute (AMI) has a 10-member Board that works together to review funding applications and to turn AMI’s strategic priorities into action. The members each bring a wealth of experience to the board from their involvement in producer organizations, research groups, the agri-food industry and the financial and business service sector – and, in many cases, skills from their own farm businesses.
The AMI Board includes:
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Gerald Renkema (Chair)
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Brenda Lammens (Vice-Chair)
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James Wheeler, (Secretary/Treasurer)
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Frank Hoftyzer
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David Lee
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Lorne Small
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Jim Snyder
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Jeanette Mongeon
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Teresa Van Raay
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Tom Reid
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Fred Brandenburg (AAFC Federal Liaison)
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Anne Marie Diotte OMAFRA Program Coordinator
AMI Staff
Ryan Koeslag
Executive Director
Ashley Honsberger
Communications and Client Services Lead
Jason Istead
Project Coordinator