GrainTALK for June/July 2021

WHEAT MARKETING ENDS

Grain Farmers of Ontario has ended its Wheat Pool and Forward Contract wheat marketing programs. Those using the Wheat Pool for the 2020 crop year will receive their final payment in August 2021.

Grain Farmers of Ontario will continue to offer daily reports and bids at www.gfo.ca and we will continue to support the SellSmart app. We continue to promote wheat production and wheat products to the public, retailers, and existing and new trade markets. We also continue our investment and partnership in the SGS Grains Analytical Testing Laboratory for credible quality data and enhanced consumer confidence, and are actively promoting Ontario wheat to domestic and international markets. •

CARBON REBATES

Grain Farmers of Ontario applauds the federal government’s commitment to return a portion of the proceeds from the price on pollution directly to farmers. This decision was announced in Budget 2021, tabled at the end of April. The rebate is recognition that many farmers rely on natural gas and propane in their operations and that there are no ready substitutes.

The budget states that beginning in 2021-22, farmers in backstop jurisdictions (currently Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario), will receive rebates equal to about $100 million. Returns in future years will be based on proceeds from the price on pollution collected in the prior fiscal year and are expected to increase as the price on pollution rises. Budget 2021 also proposes $50 million for the purchase of more efficient grain dryers for farmers across Canada. •

BOOSTING FOOD AND AGRI-TECH INNOVATION

Grain Farmers of Ontario and Bioenterprise, Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, have joined forces to help grow strong agriculture and food businesses in Ontario. The two organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together to advance Ontario innovation in the agri-food industry.

The two organizations will collaborate on information-sharing, finding innovative solutions to critical grain industry problems, and impact assessment and viability analysis of new innovations, technologies and solutions.

The partnership will also provide support to food and agri-tech start-ups and early-stage companies in the province, through programs including Grain Farmers of Ontario’s Grains Innovation Fund. It will also connect grain researchers to innovative companies and projects using Ontario grain, creating new opportunities for the grain industry from farm to table. •

HEALTH CANADA NEONICOTINOID DECISIONS

Health Canada has released its decisions on the risks to aquatic insects from two neonicotinoid pesticides, clothianidin and thiamethoxam.

Of note to grain farmers, both decisions include a reduction of the seed treatment rate for field corn resulting in the cancellation of the use of both of these products for corn rootworm. The maximum seed treatment rate for thiamethoxam on soybeans has also been reduced, resulting in the cancellation of its use for bean leaf beetle, European chafer, soybean aphid, and wireworm.

These changes will be implemented over the next 24 months. Grain farmers should speak to their agronomists about alternative seed treatments and production practices to combat problem insects. •

ONTARIO GRAIN FARMING 101

Pre-COVID-19 Grain Farmers of Ontario Research and Agronomy teams led researchers, research staff and upper level students from local universities on an annual day long bus trip to local grain farms and end users; expanding participant’s knowledge on Ontario grain farming practices and the industry as a whole.

As COVID-19 has put this tour on hold we will be introducing academia, researchers, students, provincial and federal government policy makers and other vital groups to Ontario Grain Farming 101, a virtual video series sharing on-farm information and experiences. Viewers will be able to meet Ontario grain farmers, learn how their businesses operate, hear the many decisions that need to be made year round and how they grow high-quality crops for domestic use and for export worldwide. The Ontario Grain Farming 101 videos will be available mid-June at gfo.ca/farming101. •

WHAT’S YOUR FOOD STORY?

Good in Every Grain launched a new program this spring called What’s Your Food Story. What’s Your Food Story was developed to foster a sense of trust between Ontarians and their food, and the farmers that produce that food. This program will start a new conversation around food, having people share their food stories or moments in their life where food played a big role.

The goal is to tie people’s thinking of food in a positive light and how it can be trusted — and the way it is produced can also be trusted.

Join in on this celebration and movement as we grow the conversation around people’s diverse and unique food stories, and the ones we have in common to bring us together. For more information please visit www.whatsyourfoodstory.ca and stay up to date on contests, challenges and other ways you can get involved. Share your food story today. •

SIGN UP FOR GRAINTALK ENEWS

Get the latest farm news and important Grain Farmers of Ontario updates delivered to your inbox each week!

Go online to www.gfo.ca and click on the button to subscribe. •

GRAINTALK PODCAST

Have you listened to the GrainTALK podcast lately? ?Go to www.gfo.ca/GrainTALK to listen to interviews with chair Brendan Byrne, our agronomy team, and our government relations team. Plus access our complete library of past podcasts on mental health, HR on the Farm, and conversations with industry leaders.

The GrainTALK podcast is produced every two weeks — and features a news update from Grain Farmers of Ontario, a feature interview, and an update from either our chair or CEO. There is always a conversation to have about the Ontario grain industry! The GrainTALK podcast can also be found on Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. •

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES

Farmer-members and industry associates who have changes to their mailing address or wish to cancel their subscription to the Ontario Grain Farmer magazine can contact Phaedra McIntosh, Grain Farmers of Ontario database coordinator, at pmcintosh@gfo.ca or 519-767-4130. •

MARKET COMMENTARY

by Philip Shaw
It is a bullish time for grains. Forward futures months are inverted describing a situation where end users are paying a premium to get the grain now. July 2021 corn on April 23 at $6.32 vs December 2021 corn at $5.50 reflect that. Farther out, November soybeans and December corn show a bullish market structure. We are at profitable prices and it is set to continue into 2021 and 2022. The April 9 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report cut corn ending stocks to 1.352 billion bushels. Soybean stocks were maintained at 120 million bushels.

The Canadian dollar continues to flutter around the 80 cent U.S. level, which is a full dime above a year ago. This always tempers Ontario cash grain prices, although at elevated futures levels, it has been a matter of degree. On April 23 the Canadian dollar closed at .80165 U.S. •