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Wynne Leaves Ag Portfolio in Post-Election Cabinet Shuffle

Jeff Leal Named Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced a new agriculture minister Tuesday.

Wynne had a major cabinet shuffle following her 58-seat majority victory in the June 12 provincial election. And the agriculture portfolio goes to Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal, a familiar face in the agriculture community. 

Leal previously held the Rural Affairs, when the portfolio was split into two, in order to allow Wynne to take on the role as Minister of Agriculture and Food for a year, a promise that she made during her Liberal leadership bid in 2013. She doubled as premier and minister of agriculture from February 2013 until June 2014.

Farm Lobby Group Welcome Leal

The province’s largest farm lobby group, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), says it is supportive of the post-election cabinet shuffle, adding that it welcomes returning Minister Jeff Leal to his expanded portfolio as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

 “As former Minister of Rural Affairs, Leal is familiar with both the rural and agricultural landscape,” OFA said in a release.

In addition to working with the Agriculture Minister, OFA says it is committed to working with other key members of the new cabinet, especially with respect to campaign promises made during the election. The farm organization notes that it will work with the following ministers tied to its priority areas:

  • Brad Duguid (Minister of Economic Development) – expanding natural gas infrastructure
  • Dr. Eric Hoskins (Minister of Health) and Liz Sandals (Minister of Education) – introducing food literacy/nutrition into the school curriculum
  • Ted McMeekin (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing) – reviewing the Greenbelt, Oak Ridges and Niagara Escarpment Plans
  • Reza Moridi (Minister of Research and Innovation) – advancing agriculture research

Trending Video

US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops

Video: US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops


A dry August and a “flash drought” in the ECB (Eastern Corn Belt) the driest top 10 to 15 years in 150 to 160 years (Ohio the driest in 133 years) plus disease is taking a bite out of the 2025 U.S. corn and soybean crops.
It's going to be an early harvest. This could be the start of the 89-year drought cycle that may have been delayed until 2026 as La Nina maybe returning.
The USDA September crop report is all about record corn ears and record soybean counts but the October USDA crop report will be about pod and ear weights.
Stats Canada reported higher forecasts for the 2025 Canadian Prairies all wheat and canola crops vs. last year based on satellite imagery but are they overestimating production?
The 2025 Great ON Yield Tour and Quebec crop tours are projecting corn and soybean crops below the 10-year average.
China's Vice Commerce Ministry Li Chenggang visits Washington this week as we continue to connect the dots is a positive sign towards a China/U.S. trade deal. But will U.S. farmers have a winter without China as they buy more soybeans from Uruguay/Argentina? U.S. Northern Plain soybean farmers are seeing red with flat prices at $8.97/bu!
U.S. corn exports on record pace up 99% vs. last year.
Fund short covering continues in corn futures bottom is in!