GrainTALK for August 2019

FROM THE CHAIR A Q&A with Grain Farmers of Ontario chair, Markus Haerle. In continuation of the last two issues’ Ask The Chair, Grain Farmers of Ontario Chair Markus Haerle will focus on a third federal election ask: Q. What is Grain Farmers of Ontario asking the federal political parties to commit to getting done if they are elected next October and form Canada’s next government? n addition to a Trade War Fund, pursuit and developments of new markets, ratification and finalizing of trade deals, and updated BRM programs, Grain Farmers of Ontario wants to hear from candidates across Ontario with regard to the carbon tax and their plans for bio-fuels support. Grain Farmers of Ontario is asking candidates to commit to removing the carbon tax and to focus on climate change solutions that work, such as biofuels. There are current mandates for both biodiesel and ethanol and we want the government to turn their focus there as this will have real impact. Biofuels directly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are clearly part of a solution for climate change. Ethanol made from grain, such as corn, can reduce GHGs by 62% compared to gasoline, while biodiesel made from inputs, such as soybeans, can reduce GHGs by up to 100% compared to diesel. Supporting the ethanol and biodiesel industries supports our farmer-members. Ask your local candidates for their views on our election asks. For more information on Grain Farmers of Ontario’s election asks, please visit https://gfo.ca/federal-election/. • Do you have a question for our chair? Email GrainTALK@gfo.ca.

CANADA’S OUTDOOR FARM SHOW

Grain Farmers of Ontario will be at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show from September 10 – 12. 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 silver sponsor of the 2019 International Plowing Match in West Nipissing being held September 17 – 21. We will 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 for visitors to learn more about Grain Farmers of Ontario and Good in Every Grain. •

2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

All farmer-members are invited to attend Grain Farmers of Ontario’s 2019 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, September 10 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. Chairman’s report, CEO report,
Resolutions, Questions
Noon Lunch
1 p.m. Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show

Accommodations:
Four Points by Sheraton Cambridge. A room block has been reserved under Grain Farmers of Ontario. Call 519 653-2690. •

CHECK-OFF FEES LOWERED

Grain Farmers of Ontario has lowered check-off fees for all commodities. The Board of Directors approved the change within the organization’s budget for the fiscal year 2019-2020. The new check-off fees are as follows:

Barley $1.19/mt
Corn $0.40/mt
Mixed oats and barley $1.34/mt
Oats $1.34/mt
Soybeans $1.39/mt
Wheat $0.81/mt

For corn, soybeans, and wheat, these amounts include the premium for the Grain Financial Protection Program. The new rates apply to all grain settlements occurring on or after July 1.

Grain dealers across the province have been notified of the change. Farmers looking for more information on the new check-off fees can find them listed at www.gfo.ca/marketing/dealers/. •

EU TRADE MISSION

Grain Farmers of Ontario continues to foster relationships in key global markets. A trade mission to the European Union (EU) was undertaken in June which focused on highlighting the sustainability of Ontario grains, further enhancing relationships with key end users, and identifying new opportunities in the United Kingdom post Brexit (when the UK formally leaves the EU). Prior to 2018, the EU represented the largest market for Ontario soybeans and corn with more than one million metric tonnes of each commodity exported. This past year, soybean exports to the EU have declined significantly due to the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. •

JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA TRADE MISSION

Grain Farmers of Ontario participated in a trade mission to Japan and South Korea led by the Government of Canada and The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, in June. In Japan, discussions focused on opportunities created by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In South Korea, the Canadian delegation met with industry stakeholders and companies that have seized business opportunities offered by the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA). Barry Senft, CEO of Grain Farmers of Ontario, promoted Ontario soybeans during the trade mission. •

ASA CORTEVA YOUNG LEADER PROGRAM

Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 American Soybean Association (ASA) Corteva Agriscience Young Leader Program. The Young Leader program provides training for couples or individuals who are passionate about the possibilities and future of agriculture.

Phase one of the program will take place at Corteva Agriscience in Indianapolis, Indiana from December 3 — December 6, 2019. The second half of the program will be held in conjunction with the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas from February 25 – February 29, 2020.

ASA has 26 state affiliates, including Grain Farmers of Ontario. One actively farming couple from Ontario is selected to attend the program each year. Participants in the program engage in leadership training that helps them with their farm business and other organizations they serve, gain tools to better enable them to tell their own farming story, and connect with soybean farmers from across the U.S.

For more information and to apply, go to www.SoyGrowers.com. The deadline for applications is September 3, 2019. •

MARKET COMMENTARY

by Philip Shaw

On June 28, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) raised the corn planting estimate to 91.7 million acres from the previous June estimate of 89.8 million acres. This was a shock to the market, as gains in corn acreage were not expected. The USDA also announced American farmers would plant 80 million acres of soybeans; 4.6 million acres lower than their March estimate. Anecdotal evidence of corn acres lost in the worst spring in memory for many farmers in the Eastern corn belt is no substitute for hard USDA numbers that say otherwise. Ontario basis values have fallen for soybeans and increased for corn since the June 28 USDA report. This is largely indicative of a two cent rise in the Canadian dollar versus the American dollar. •