GrainTALK for November 2024
AN UPDATE ON GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO NEWS AND EVENTS
2025 MARCH CLASSIC
Save the date! The 2025 March Classic, Leading the Way, will be held Tuesday, March 18, at RBC in London, Ontario. Join us as Grain Farmers of Ontario celebrates 15 years of leading the way in Ontario agriculture.
Visit www.gfo.ca/marchclassic for more information. •
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Grain Farmers of Ontario launched its farmer- member survey in September. We want to know what you think about the work we do on your behalf. The survey and a postage-paid return envelope were distributed with the September issue of the Ontario Grain Farmer, or you can complete your survey online by visiting www.gfo.ca/survey.
Everyone who completes the survey is entered for a chance to win a BBQ prize pack valued at $500. Farmer-members who fill out the survey online will be entered into a monthly draw for a $50 gift card of their choice. The online survey requires an access code to complete. Find the code on your printed copy of the survey, or email Rachel Telford, manager of member relations, rtelford@gfo.ca. •
GRAINS IN ACTION 2025
Grains in Action 2025 is heading east! Grain Farmers of Ontario has created a new tour for its popular young farmer program that showcases the grain value chain. Tour stops in 2025 include Port of Johnstown, Ingredion, the Canadian Senate, Ottawa Valley Grains, Sevita, Kawartha Ethanol, and Maizeing Acres, among others.
Registration is open and is limited to 30 participants. A waitlist will be implemented once capacity is reached.
Grains in Action is a four-day program for young farmers to gain knowledge about the end uses of the grains they grow. Participants also learn about the role of Grain Farmers of Ontario within the grain industry and how they can become active members of the organization. Young farmers or college/university students aged 19-35 are eligible to participate. •
2024 IPM VIP EVENT
Grain Farmers of Ontario hosted MPPs and special guests at the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo on October 1 in Lindsay, Ontario. Premier Doug Ford, Green Party leader Mike Schreiner, NDP leader Marit Stiles, and Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie tried their hand at plowing, coached by Grain Farmers of Ontario directors Jeff Harrison, District 12 (Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings), Gus Ternoey, District 2 (Kent), Julie Maw, District 3 (Lambton), and Josh Boersen, District 9 (Perth). •
MARKET COMMENTARY
by Philip Shaw
Harvest is in full swing across the great North American corn belt as of October 9. Will the big crop get bigger? It’s hard to say, but we’ve had quite a rally off August market lows. The United States Department of Agriculture released its quarterly stocks on September 30. Corn stocks were up 23 per cent from September 2023, soybean stocks up 29 per cent and all wheat stocks up 12 per cent. In short, despite recent price gains, there is still a lot of grain everywhere. Brazil farmers are also busy planting what is projected to be another record crop.
In Ontario, wide open, sunny weather helped push soybean harvest progress through early to mid-October. Winter wheat planting aggressively advanced as producers had good opportunities to plant. The Canadian dollar continues to flutter at the 73 cent U.S. level, adding stimulus to Ontario’s cash grain prices. •
2025 ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETINGS
The date and time of your district meeting has been confirmed and is listed below. Please go to www.gfo.ca for additional meeting details as they become available. Information is subject to change.
| DISTRICT | DATE | TIME | LOCATION/DISTRICT DIRECTOR |
| District 1 Essex | Jan 16 | 9 a.m. | St. John’s Parish Hall, County Road 46, Woodslee, Ont. |
| District 2 Kent | Jan 15 | 3 p.m. | Hidden Hills Golf and Country Club, 25393 St. Clair Road, Dover Centre, Ont. |
| District 3 Lambton | Jan 13 | 4 p.m. | Wyoming Fair Grounds, 595 Main Street, Wyoming, Ont. |
| District 4 Middlesex | Jan 16 | 9 a.m. | Ilderton Community Centre, 13168 Ilderton Rd, Ilderton, Ont. |
| District 5 Elgin, Norfolk | Jan 7 | 9 a.m. | Malahide Community Place, 12105 Whittaker Road, Springfield, Ont. |
| District 6 Haldimand, Brant, Hamilton, Niagara | Jan 13 | 9 a.m. | Mutual Room, Riverside Exhibition Centre (Caledonia Fairgrounds), 151 Caithness Street E, Caledonia, Ont. |
| District 7 Oxford, Waterloo | Jan 17 | 9 a.m. | Innerkip Community Centre, 695566 17th Line, Innerkip, Ont. |
| District 8 Huron | Jan 14 | 9 a.m. | Holmesville Community Centre, 180 Community Centre Road, Clinton, Ont. |
| District 9 Perth | Jan 15 | 5:30 p.m. | Mitchell Golf and Country Club, 81 Frances Street, Mitchell, Ont. |
| District 10 Grey, Bruce, Wellington | Jan 17 | 9:30 a.m. | Clifford Community Hall, 2 William St., Clifford, Ont. |
| District 11 Dufferin, Simcoe, Halton, Peel, York | Jan 16 | 10 a.m. | Faith Community Presbyterian Church, 206 Murphy Rd., Baxter Ont. |
| District 12 Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings | Jan 9 | 9:30 a.m. | The Best Western Plus, 930 Burnham Street, Cobourg, Ont. |
| District 13 Prince Edward, Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Renfrew, Ottawa | Jan 8 | 10 a.m. | Elgin Lions Club, 19 Pineview Drive, Elgin, Ont. |
| District 14 Prescott, Russell, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry | Jan 7 | 9 a.m. | North Stormont Place, 16299 Fairview Drive, Avonmore, Ont. |
| District 15 Northern Ontario | Jan 9 | 9 a.m. | Dymond Hall, 181 Drive-In Theatre Rd, Temiskaming, Ontario. * new location for 2025 |
