GFO Newsletter for November 2014
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ONTARIO PROVINCIAL PREMISES REGISTRY
Established in 2008, the Provincial Premises Registry (PPR) registers unique parcels of land in Ontario associated with agri-food activities. Being able to trace your products as they move through the supply chain on their way to the customer is beneficial because it can protect your reputation in a food safety incident and open new market opportunities.
Registering with the PPR is the only way to obtain a Premises Identification Number (PID) in Ontario. Possession of a PID also qualifies you to participate in various agricultural programs. Registering your premises is quick, easy, and free. Simply fill out the online application form at www.ontarioppr.ca or call Angus GeoSolutions Inc. (AGSI is the official Registrar of the Ontario PPR), at 1-855-697-7743 to register in English or French.
You will be asked to describe the agricultural or agri-food activities that occur on your premises, to provide emergency contact information for your business, and to accept the PPR consent statement. Once registered, producers should keep their information up-to-date. •
CANADA’S OUTDOOR FARM SHOW
Thank you to all of our farmer-members who stopped by our corporate booth and Growing Connections exhibit at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in September. For many of you, it was your first opportunity to see the trailer exhibit and the investment that has been made into consumer outreach and education. We were pleased to answer questions and discuss important issues such as the wheat marketing program, pollinator health, and our new Good in Every Grain campaign. •
RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Grain Farmers of Ontario has issued a Call for Research Proposals that focus on three specific priority streams for funding starting in 2015. They are Crop Utilization and Crop Quality, Soil Health, and Insects and Diseases. These streams represent areas requiring increased emphasis in our research investment portfolio as identified by the results of a survey conducted amongst elected delegates at the 2014 Annual General Meeting. Grain Farmers of Ontario will continue to support ongoing research in other priority areas, including agronomy and breeding. More information is available online at: www.gfo.ca/research. •
AT THE 2014 IPM
Grain Farmers of Ontario had a strong presence at the 2014 International Plowing Match (IPM) in Ivy, Simcoe County in September as a silver sponsor. The Grain Farmers of Ontario truck participated in the opening day parade, both the Growing Connections and Grain Discovery Zone exhibits were on-site for the entire five-day event, and the Grain Farmers of Ontario VIP plowing field hosted politicians on opening day.
The Grain Discovery Zone, located within the agricultural education centre, was busy with school tours all week. The Growing Connections trailer was at a prime location inside tent city near the grandstand, ensuring high visibility and plenty of traffic through the exhibit. Both venues were an opportunity to talk to the general public about Ontario grain and it was great to see many of our farmer-members who stopped by as well.
More than one hundred people, including the political leadership across all parties, attended the opening day lunch hosted by Grain Farmers of Ontario in the VIP tent. Henry Van Ankum, chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario, spoke at the event and highlighted the Good in Every Grain campaign as well as our efforts to protect pollinators. Senior staff members and directors Don Kenny (District 13), Gerry Prentice (District 6), Mark Brock (District 9), and Mark Huston (District 2) also represented our organization.
After lunch, the VIP plowing event was an opportunity for the politicians to try their hand at the wheel of a tractor. Premier Kathleen Wynne, who participated in last year’s VIP event, put her experience to good use in this year’s field. •
REPRESENTATION FOR OAT AND BARLEY
The Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission is conducting an expression of opinion vote during the first two weeks of November to determine whether oat and barley producers want to be represented by Grain Farmers of Ontario. If you did not register to receive the information package and ballot, you can still participate in the vote by contacting the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission at 519-826-4220 during the voting period. •
REMINDER: SOYBEAN DRYING CHARGES
Soybean producers are reminded about the change made last year to the way drying charges are calculated under the Agreement for Marketing the Ontario Soybean Crop made under the Farm Products Marketing Act (O.Reg 485/09).
Soybean drying charges are no longer tied to the price of soybeans. Cleaning and handling charges, as well as soybean drying charges/moisture discounts, are agreed upon by the dealer and the producer through competitive market forces, similar to the corn and wheat markets.
Producers should confirm all terms and conditions with their buyer before making their deliveries. •
MARKET COMMENTARY
by Philip Shaw
Corn harvest is in full swing in the United States with good yields working toward the 171.7 bushels/acre that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicted in its September report. In fact, there are many private analysts who are predicting the October report (not yet released at press time) will raise both the corn estimate and soybeans estimate currently sitting at 46.6 bushels/acre.
Frost in Eastern Ontario on the weekend of September 12 damaged crops. This is still being measured. Wet weather has also impacted the province and slowed harvest. This is happening in an environment with a much higher U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar now below 90 cents U.S. This has put somewhat of a floor under Ontario cash grain values. •
