GrainTALK for March 2021

NEW STRATEGIC PLAN

Grain Farmers of Ontario has released a new Strategic Plan. It outlines our commitment to our core values: our farmer-members, our team, our community, our results, our innovation, our honesty and integrity.

Our updated vision and mission statements are:
VISION: Thriving farms. Responsible production. Trusted grain farmers.
MISSION: Our mission is to build, defend and promote an inclusive, innovative and sustainable business environment that enables grain farmer members the opportunity to prosper.

The complete 2021-2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario Strategic Plan is available at www.gfo.ca/2021-Strategic-Plan. •

DISTRICT MEETING PRIZE DRAW WINNERS

Thank you to all of our farmer-members who attended the Grain Farmers of Ontario January District Meetings. Participants were entered into a drawing for one of three tech prizes.

Congratulations to our winners*!
Grand Prize (Apple MacBook): Steve Kell (District 11 Dufferin, Simcoe, Halton, Peel, York)
1st Runner Up Prize (Apple iPad): Eleanor Renaud (District 13 – Prince Edward, Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Renfrew, Ottawa)
2nd Runner Up Prize (Apple iPad): Doug Johnston (District 9 – Perth)
*winners may substitute a comparable Windows or Android device

MARKET COMMENTARY

by Philip Shaw
Grain markets have been volatile. On January 12, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) threw a bomb into the mix. USDA lowered U.S. domestic corn production by 3.8 bushels per acre down to 172 bpa. This dropped total production down 325 million bushels down to 14.182 billion bushels. In addition to this, USDA actually trimmed the old crop carryover by 76 million bushels, thus lowering corn supply by 400 million bushels. USDA also lowered corn exports by 100 million bushels.

$7 old crop corn and $17 old crop soybeans with corresponding lower new crop values have led to many marketing opportunities. The lower Canadian dollar has also added to the stimulus in Ontario grain prices. •