GrainTALK for December 2024/January 2025

YOUR GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO TEAM

NICOLE KOOPSTRA CREATIVE SPECIALIST

Nicole (Ford) Koopstra joined Grain Farmers of Ontario in May as the creative specialist. Over the past six months, she has played a vital role in supporting the communications team on several projects for farmer-members, including the Ontario Grain Farmer magazine, digital and print resources for events, and the Good in Every Grain STEMterprise education program.

Koopstra graduated from Humber College in June 2018 with a diploma in the Advanced Graphic Design Program, where she honed her skills in print, digital, and web design. Her passion for agriculture was ignited during summers spent working at a garden centre in her hometown of Milton, Ontario, where she nurtured plants, herbs, and vegetables.

After relocating to Mississauga, Koopstra began her career as an art director at BASF, where she tackled important issues faced by farmers across Canada, creating innovative solutions to support their needs. Koopstra is excited to bring her creative vision to Grain Farmers of Ontario to enhance communications and foster connections within the farming community. With her blend of artistic talent and agricultural knowledge, she is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of members and advancing the interests of the grain farming industry.

EUROPEAN AND UNITED KINGDOM TRADE MISSION

In October, Jeff Harrison, chair and director of District 12 (Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings), Crosby Devitt, CEO, and Dana Dickerson, manager of market development and sustainability, took part in a trade mission led by Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness minister, the Honourable Rob Flack. The U.K. and EU countries represent some of the largest export markets for Ontario corn and soybeans, and they are emerging markets for Ontario wheat due to recent import tariff reductions. Grain Farmers of Ontario promoted the quality, reliability, and sustainability of Ontario grains and engaged with key customers and policymakers on market access issues. •

2025 ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETINGS

The date and time of your district meeting has been confirmed and is listed at gfo.ca/about/district-meetings. Please go to www.gfo.ca for additional meeting details as they become available. Information is subject to change. Please note that there will be no remote (Zoom) option for this year’s meetings. •

MARCH CLASSIC LEADING THE WAY

Join Grain Farmers of Ontario on Tuesday March 18, 2025 for the annual March Classic at RBC Place in London, Ontario.

From government policy to new and expanded markets, growth in key research areas, increasing public trust, and changes in governance that encourage equity, diversity, and inclusion, Grain Farmers of Ontario has led the way in Ontario’s agriculture industry for more than 15 years. Join Grain Farmers of Ontario at the 2025 March Classic: Leading the Way to celebrate 15 years of strength, leadership, and a legacy of making a difference for grain farmers. At this event, we will look at what the future might hold for agriculture and find new opportunities for grain farmers in Ontario to continue leading the way.

Speakers include the U.S. Farm Report with host Tyne Morgan, and banquet entertainment provided by Canadian singer-songwriter Owen Riegling. Online registration opens Monday January 6, 2025. Find out more at www.gfo.ca/marchclassic. •

AWARD-WINNING WORK

In October, Grain Farmers of Ontario’s editorial Global hunger, farming, and climate change, published in the Hill-Times in June 2023, received a silver award at the annual Canadian Farm Writers Federation’s annual award ceremony. The Ontario Grain Farmer story, Rural daycare challenges, published in August 2023, received a bronze award.

At the Canadian Agri-food Marketers Alliance (CAMA) Best of CAMA awards in November, Grain Farmers of Ontario was awarded Certificates of Merit for the STEMterprise educational program and the 2023 Holiday Chef Influencers social media campaign. •

FARMER-RESEARCHER CONNECT

Are you interested in participating in the latest research? Grain Farmers of Ontario is launching a new initiative to connect farmers and researchers across Ontario: Farmer- Researcher Connect.

We are asking farmer-members interested in working with researchers on research projects to register with Farmer-Researcher Connect. This is a database that will help Grain Farmers of Ontario connect researchers with grain farmers interested in participating in their research projects.

Grain Farmers of Ontario will collect contact information from you through a form at www.gfo.ca/research – click the farmer registration form button in the Farmer- Researcher Connect space. •

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.

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. Online submissions are preferred. •

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, amongst others. 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. •

CHATHAM-KENT FARM SHOW

Grain Farmers of Ontario is exhibiting at the Chatham-Kent Farm Show, January 29-30, at the John D. Bradley Centre in Chatham, Ontario. Drop by to chat with staff and directors, share your thoughts and concerns, and learn more about what Grain Farmers of Ontario is doing on your behalf. •

MARKET COMMENTARY

by Philip Shaw

On November 8, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its latest WASDE report. The USDA lowered both corn and soybean estimates. Corn was decreased 60 million bushels down to 15.143 billion bushels at a domestic yield of 183.1 bushels per acre. Soybeans came in at 4.461 billion bushels after a big drop of 1.4 bushels per acre from last month down to 51.7 bushels per acre. Soybean ending stocks are 80 million bushels less than last month, coming in at 470 million bushels. The lower numbers, especially in soybeans, were a bit of a bullish surprise.

In Ontario, harvest has progressed quickly with the good weather. Prices are lower than a year ago but have bounced off their August and September lows. The Canadian dollar continues to add stimulus to our cash grain prices, fluttering at the 72-cent U.S. level. •