GFO Newsletter for September 2015
GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO
BREEDING AND GENETICS RESEARCH INSERT
Grain Farmers of Ontario invested $1.5 million in new and ongoing research projects in 2014 – 2015 and was directly involved in 71 projects in our core priority areas of Agronomy and Production, Insects and Diseases, Crop Utilization and Quality, and Breeding and Genetics. Included with this issue of the magazine is a research insert highlighting some of the projects currently being funded by Grain Farmers of Ontario in the priority area of Breeding and Genetics. An electronic version of this insert is also available online at www.gfo.ca/research.
MEMBERSHIP SURVEY
Grain Farmers of Ontario is conducting a membership survey. Your confidential feedback will help our planning and make our organization more responsive to your needs. Included with this issue of the magazine is a paper version of the survey and a business reply envelope. Farmer-members have until December 31, 2015 to complete and return the survey. The membership survey can also be completed online at www.gfo.ca/survey. The electronic version is compatible with smartphone and tablets.
Farmer-members who complete the survey have the chance to win one of three Carhartt jackets (custom ordered to size) by providing their name and contact information. All survey responses will remain confidential.
REMINDER: SOYBEAN DRYING CHARGES
Soybean producers are reminded about the need to confirm drying charges which are now 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.
2015 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
All farmer-members are invited to attend Grain Farmers of Ontario’s 2015 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, September 15 at the Quality Hotel & Suites in Woodstock. The business portion of the meeting will be held in the morning and all attendees will be given passes to attend Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in the afternoon.
Location:
Quality Hotel & Suites
Vansittart Room
580 Bruin Blvd, Woodstock, ON N4V 1E5
Agenda:
8 a.m. Registration and breakfast
9 a.m. Meeting starts
Noon Lunch
1 p.m. Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show
3 p.m. Barley and oat welcome reception at
Grain Farmers of Ontario tent (1st Lane)
Accommodations:
The room block at the Quality Hotel has been sold out, however, a block of rooms is available at the Four Points by Sheraton.
Location: 210 Preston Parkway, Cambridge, Ontario N3H 5N1, Canada
Phone: 519-653-2690
Reference GFI14A – Grain Farmers of Ontario
Cost: $109 per night plus HST
CANADA’S OUTDOOR FARM SHOW
Grain Farmers of Ontario will be at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show from September 15 – 17. You can find us on 1st Lane (Seed Alley). Stop in for a coffee and a chat with a staff member or director.
INTERNATIONAL PLOWING MATCH
Grain Farmers of Ontario is a bronze sponsor of the 2015 International Plowing Match in Finch being held September 22 – 26. We will also once again be sponsoring the VIP tent and plowing match. The Growing Connections trailer exhibit will be on display to showcase the Good in Every Grain and Grain Farmers of Ontario’s District 14 (Prescoot, Russell, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry) will also have an exhibit in the educational tent.
QUESTIONS ABOUT BARLEY AND OATS?
Grain Farmers of Ontario is beginning to process barley and oat transactions as sales of these crops take place during the 2015 harvest. If dealers have any questions about completing the required documentation or if farmers have any questions about their check-off fees, please call the Grain Farmers of Ontario office
at 1-800-265-0550.
OHL BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING
As a sponsor of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Grain Farmers of Ontario recently had the unique opportunity to host a Spirits Canada whisky sampling for the League’s Board of Governors Meeting.
The event was held August 13 in Niagara-on-the-Lake following their summer board meeting. During the whisky sampling and reception, Grain Farmers of Ontario chair Mark Brock, director Scott Persall, CEO Barry Senft, and communications manager Meghan Burke, enjoyed sharing information about the Ontario grain industry with those in attendance. Each owner also left with a Good in Every Grain gift bag.
We look forward to a great year working with the OHL to promote the Good in Every Grain!
FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS WANTED
Grain Farmers of Ontario is looking for participants to join a focus group for women in grain farming. The focus group will meet at the end of September to discuss the role of women in grain farming, what prevents them from assuming leadership roles in organizations such as Grain Farmers of Ontario, and what barriers they face as women in the industry. If you are interested in participating, contact Erin Calhoun at ecalhoun@gfo.ca or 519-767-4137. The focus group is tentatively scheduled to be held in Guelph, however, video conferencing and telephone participation will also be available.
WHEAT MARKETING
Grain Farmers of Ontario offers several wheat marketing options for producers. Those interested in the Wheat Pool have until September 30 to participate. You can find more information about your marketing options, including a list of authorized agents, at www.gfo.ca/ Marketing. You can also call the Grain Farmers of Ontario marketing team at 1-800-265-0550.
FEDERAL ELECTION
A federal election has been called for October 19, 2015. Grain Farmers of Ontario is looking to the federal government to demonstrate leadership on several key issues for the grain industry in this province:
Trade: support efforts to increase exports of Ontario grain and oilseeds by seeking out new trade agreements and by making efforts to conclude and implement trade agreements that are currently under negotiation or not yet implemented.
Business Risk Management: a commitment to review the AgriStability program for grain and oilseed producers with a view to replacing it with a more predictable and transparent program that works to provide income stabilization for grain and oilseed farmers.
Regulatory environment: pass legislation to ensure that all farmers across Canada have equal access to federally regulated technology.
Support for research: increase agricultural research funding levels for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; a renewed Growing Forward 3 policy framework that provides incremental project funding opportunities that industry can lead with government support.
Support for the bio-economy and renewable fuels: adopt comprehensive policy approaches that have worked in the past to develop low carbon industries, such as the ethanol and bio-diesel industries; a comprehensive national bio-economy strategy that supports innovation and provides innovative opportunities for the use of grains and oilseeds.
MARKET COMMENTARY
by Philip Shaw
In the United States, the run-up in corn and soybean prices caused by heavy rains through July 14 was short- lived. Good crops in the western Corn Belt have balanced out the rain-soaked crops in the eastern Corn Belt. This combined with dryer weather in the eastern Corn Belt has taken away all the premium in futures markets gained in late June and early July. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expected to drop expected yields, but not to the extent once expected. A drop in expected harvested acreage maybe a way for the USDA to explain yield variability.
The Canadian dollar has fallen further into the 75-76 cent U.S. range mitigating some of the loss in futures price values. Weather going forward into September will remain key to future price direction. •
