History

The Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board

The Ontario Bean Producers’ Marketing Board came into existence in 1944 through provincial legislation.  At the time the industry, and growers of White Pea Beans in particular, hoped such an organization would and could stabilize farm gate prices.  Total production in these early years (approximately 30,000 Mt.) more or less matched domestic consumption.  Some years there was a surplus of up to 8,000 Mt. As time went on production regularly out paced domestic use and pea beans needed to be exported abroad.  Today over 85% of Ontario’s production is exported. 

The Board was then, and is today, composed of farmers duly elected from their respective growing regions.  True to their origins as entrepreneurs they sought innovative ways to get better returns for the Ontario producer.  Even when some of these initiatives brought turmoil they did not flinch from controversy.

In the 1950’s when no one else would risk it the Board opted for and introduced into Ontario the latest colour sorting technology known then as “electric eyes".  They built and owned a primary elevator.  They worked for and got cross border tariff equalization between Canada and the USA.  They were perhaps one of the first farm organizations to use a radio advertising campaign (1948) to promote eating beans.
The OBPMB has the unique distinction of being the only marketing Board that has ever had its powers suspended (1966) by the government of the day.  In 1968, after a hasty reorganization the Board with industry concurrence opted for “agency powers" after having declined a similar offer in the early 1960’s.  Agency powers allowed the Board to ‘control’ 100% of the crop and pool grower returns. 

During the 70’s and throughout the 1980’s imperceptible seismic shifts were underway.  All the research into higher yielding, shorter season maturing and better plant architecture (easier harvest ability) were paying off.  During this period there was a wholesale migration of acres away from the Great Lakes basin (Michigan and Ontario) into the Red river valley – first Minnesota and North Dakota and then in the early 90’s and into the new millennium it was Manitoba.  Rationalization in the canning and processing industry was also well along. 

Pressures built on the Board to address the new emerging paradigm which spoke to getter marketing flexibility for the grower.  Subsequent to a ‘…Pricing Alternative …" study the Board opened up the Marketing Plan in 1997 to allow “Partial Production Contracts".  These contracts allowed growers to market directly to elevator dealers and not be part of a pooling system.  After some initial success and resurgent pressures both from growers but mostly from the dealer fraternity the Board in 2001 after extensive grower consultations, opened the Marketing Plan completely.

However it did keep a grower (OBPMB) administrated pool for those growers wishing to market in that fashion.

ANNUAL REPORT

--the Ontario Bean Producers' Marketing Board's annual report, including reports from the chairman, general manager, secretary treasurer, promotions coordinator, all committees of the Board, financial statements and production statistics. Statistics

THE FIRST 50 YEARS 1944-1994

--historical overview of the first 50 years since the inception of the Ontario Bean Producers' Marketing Board and how the OBMPB became what we are today