GFO Newsletter for April/May 2018

COMMODITY CLASSIC

Representatives from Grain Farmers of Ontario attended the 2018 Commodity Classic in California in March. The conference and trade show were a great opportunity to meet with our counterparts in the U.S. and see the latest agriculture technology that could benefit our farmer-members. Meetings were held with the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, and the National Association of Wheat Growers. Trade negotiations, regulations, and public trust were discussed.

Our organization was represented by Board chair Markus Haerle, directors Lloyd Crowe, Mark Huston, and Scott Persall, and staff members Barry Senft, CEO, and Crosby Devitt, vice president of strategic development.

We were also pleased to meet up with farmer-member Ron Rody of District 10 (Grey, Bruce, Wellington), our grand prize winner from our January District Meeting prize draw. Rody won a trip for two to the Commodity Classic which he shared with his wife Janice. •

GRAIN DISCOVERY ZONE

The Grain Discovery Zone educational trailer is off to an early start this fair season with a trip to the Earlton Farm Show, April 12 – 14. The trailer features a corn box with farm equipment toys, videos showcasing farming in Ontario, and other interactive displays that help teach young fair visitors about grains. To see when the Grain Discovery Zone will be at a fair near you, check out the event schedule posted at www.gfo.ca. •

MARCH CLASSIC

Grain Farmers of Ontario would like to thank all of our delegates, farmer-members, and industry supporters for making the 2018 March Classic a great success. Congratulations to John Williams of Atwood, our second early bird registration prize draw winner, selected at the end of February to win a Good in Every Grain prize.

Grain Farmers of Ontario would also like to thank our sponsors for their support.

Grain farmers from across Ontario gathered in London on March 20 for the Grain Farmers of Ontario March Classic. Attendees heard from guest speakers discussing strength in times of crisis, the impact of climate change, international trade relations, and the changing landscape of business. •

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GRAIN TALK WEBINAR

Grain Farmers of Ontario is hosting a Grain Talk webinar on Targeting Pest Management on April 4 from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. All farmer-members are encouraged to join and last minute registrations are welcome. The webinar will feature Russel Hurst discussing the CleanFarms program, and Mike Cowbrough, weed specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, discussing how to manage weeds pre-plant.

To sign up, visit www.gfo.ca. If you can’t attend the webinar, check our YouTube channel for a recording of the session, www.youtube.com/grainfarmersontario.

MARKET COMMENTARY

by Philip Shaw
Grain futures prices have improved over the last month, led by soybeans, which have benefited by drought headlines from Argentina. The Argentina soybean crop has been compromised. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had it pegged once at 57 MMT, but now, private estimates have reduced crop size down to 44 MMT. At the same time, rains in Brazil have pushed those soybean crop estimates up to 114 MMT. On February 8, the USDA lowered U.S. corn ending stocks to 2.352 billion bushels down 125 million bushels from January. U.S. soybean ending stocks were pegged at 530 million bushels.

The Canadian dollar has dropped down, even reaching into the 76 cent U.S. level in early March. With the lower loonie and increased grain futures prices, it has made for higher Ontario cash grain prices. •