The Ontario government has appointed Brendan Byrne as the new chair of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (OFPMC), effective July 29, 2025.

The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission regulates and oversees the province’s 25 marketing boards and associations for commodities such as milk, eggs and grains. Ontario’s regulated marketing system helps stabilize farmers’ incomes, strengthens their bargaining power with buyers and maintains consumer confidence in locally grown products — keeping Ontario’s agricultural sector competitive, innovative and protected from sudden market swings.

“I am confident Brendan will bring bold and positive leadership to the Commission during this time of economic uncertainty in the face of U.S. tariffs,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “With more than 20 years of agricultural experience he will be a passionate advocate for our province’s $51 billion agri-food sector —helping farmers work together to maintain the high-quality Ontario is known for.”

Brendan Byrne has dedicated his life to the agricultural community by also serving as former vice chair of the Presidents Council and former chair of the Essex County Soil and Crop Improvement Association. He is a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) and currently manages a cash crop farm operation that has been in his family for more than 100 years. As chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) from 2021 to 2024, he successfully navigated unprecedented crisis events while advocating for farmers and industry. Most recently, he served as an OFPMC commission member under the outgoing chair Amy Cronin.

Source:  Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness July 29, 2025 news release