Ontario Grain Farmer Magazine is the flagship publication of Grain Farmers of Ontario and a source of information for our province’s grain farmers.

Looking back…

Fifteen years of global experiences

For 15 years, Ontario Grain Farmer has brought you stories from around the world featuring profiles of farmers facing similar challenges to Ontario farmers, such as threats from weeds, disease, and pests, climate change, and government policies that impact their ability to farm; stories about the markets that import Canadian grains; stories about international industry collaboration and research; and stories about farmers facing unimaginable challenges such as war and global conflicts.

International farm risk management

Selling Canadian soybeans in Asia

Global economic challenges

Growing Asian markets

Farming in a war zone

Growing great wheat

Also in this issue

August 2025

Story by:

Ontario Grain Farmer

In this issue:

Trump’s agricultural agenda

Farmers everywhere are impacted

August 2025 - Agricultural exports and the future of crop protection are among the threats to American farmers since President Donald Trump began his second term, instituting highly controversial measures to fulfill his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA)…
More reason to believe in winter wheat

The grain’s performance as a cover crop adds to its value

June 2025 - One thing about the world of science is that no matter how “settled” an issue may seem, there is always room for more study or scrutiny. Some other facets can be redefined or measured with…
Trucking troubles

Moving grain a challenge for Ontario farmers

April 2025 - Insurance limitations, onerous safety regulations, and driver shortages—these are some of the factors that have been increasingly troubling for grain growers in need of efficient trucking services. Here, stakeholders in Ontario’s grain sector share some…
Record winter wheat yields

GREAT LAKES YEN’S INNOVATION AND PROGRESS

March 2025 - The fourth year of the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) marked another successful chapter of this innovative program. The concept of the YEN, which began in the U.K. in 2012 by ADAS, encourages collaboration…
FarmingSmarter withLivingLab

ONTARIO'S COLLABORATIVE APPROACH UNITING FARMERS AND SCIENTISTS

February 2025 - The Living Lab-Ontario Program, part of the Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) Program (2021-2031), unites various stakeholders in the agriculture sector to collaboratively design and trial on-farm practices and technologies aimed at lowering greenhouse gas (GHG)…
Risky business

WHEN TO LOCK IN?

December 2024 - THE PERIOD BETWEEN 2021 AND 2023 MIGHT GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS SOMETHING OF A DARK PERIOD in the business of grain farming. But not because of the prices. Cash grain prices enjoyed record highs…
Awarding innovation

CANADA’S OUTDOOR FARM SHOW INNOVATION PROGRAM AWARDS

November 2024 - INNOVATION HAS DRIVEN ADVANCES IN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY FOR CENTURIES – at the turn of the 20th century, a Canadian farmer could feed 10 people; today, that number tops 120. The constant turning of the wheels…
A new “industrial revolution”

SOYBEAN-BASED PAINTS AND COATINGS

October 2024 - FOR DECADES, CORN, WHEAT, AND SOYBEAN PRODUCTION WAS SIMPLE; corn was used for feed or processed into starch, oil, syrup, or ethanol, wheat was ground into flour, and soybeans were processed into oil and meal.…
Leading up to harvest

PREPARATION IS KEY

September 2024 - THE MODERN-DAY REALITY IN AGRICULTURE ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS NO LONGER ONE TIME OF YEAR THAT IS BUSIER THAN ANOTHER. Even winter, long considered the “downtime” for growers, now carries the opportunity for upgrading and learning.…
Opening the Cuban market

PRIVATE ENTERPRISE EXPANDS OPPORTUNITY

August 2024 - CANADA’S CONNECTION WITH ONE OF ITS FAVOURITE TOURIST DESTINATIONS, CUBA, MAY BE POISED TO REACH A NEW LEVEL — one that could be a changing market opportunity for Ontario specialty grain producers and help save…
The innovators

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

June 2024 - EVERY WINTER DURING THE MEETING SEASON, THE WORD “INNOVATION” IS MENTIONED — OFTEN WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. It may result from a previously untried processing opportunity, a seldom- grown cropping alternative, or a transition to something…
4R in the field

REAPING THE BENEFITS

April 2024 - 4R NUTRIENT STEWARDSHIP (RIGHT SOURCE, RIGHT RATE, RIGHT TIME AND RIGHT PLACE) is a well-known, well-respected and growing initiative in Ontario and across Canada. Advertisement Of course, many of its recommended practices, from split nitrogen…
Winning with wheat

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE GREAT LAKES YEN

March 2024 - OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE GREAT LAKES YIELD ENHANCEMENT NETWORK (YEN) participants have posted some pretty impressive results. In 2023, the highest yield award went to Jeff Cook, from London, Ontario, with a yield…
Strip tillage research

MAXIMIZING THE USE OF NUTRIENTS AND REDUCING SOIL LOSS

February 2024 - AS STRIP TILLAGE HAS BEEN investigated and promoted in Ontario during the last 20 years, its use has grown slowly but steadily because it can achieve a variety of aims. For example, it can lead…
Stormy skies ahead?

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2024

December 2023 - THERE ARE MANY challenges on a grain farm, and one that farmers increasingly have to worry about is erratic weather. David Phillips, a senior climatologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada, notes in one of…
Farming smarter

EXPANSION OF THE PAN-CANADIAN SMART FARM NETWORK

November 2023 - DISCOVERY FARM WOODSTOCK is now part of a nationwide agricultural technology research network designed to test, troubleshoot, and develop practical farming technologies. Advertisement WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW• Established by Olds College in Alberta, the…
Globetrotting farmers

Learning from farmers abroad brings new perspectives

August 2025 - In June, 28 farmers and extension staff from Ontario and the U.S. travelled to the UK to tour farms, research facilities, and attend the annual Cereals conference as part of this year’s Great Lakes Yield…
Weathering the storm

How U.S. research funding cuts impact Ontario science

August 2025 - Sweeping funding cuts and indiscriminate firings across a wide range of government departments in the United States marked the first few months of Donald Trump’s second presidential term. Crop-related research at land-grant universities, avian flu…
Corn leafhopper, a new pest threat

Agronomic information from Ontario's crop specialists

August 2025 - An unexpected pest made its way from the southern U.S., moving as far north as the Great Lakes region in 2024. Corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, is native to Mexico and has been infesting corn from…
Adapting to the market

Polish farmer pivots to livestock amid lower commodity prices

August 2025 - When global grain markets crashed in 2022, Polish farmer Maciej Brzozowski knew he had to make some changes on the farm. Advertisement The ‘perfect storm’ of war in Ukraine, prolonged drought and the rising cost…
Key considerations for farm employee benefits

Conversations with business experts

August 2025 - WHAT SHOULD FARM BUSINESS OWNERS CONSIDER WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS? Employee or group benefits plans can be an asset for farm employers and a significant perk for their employees. They provide coverage and…

Looking back…

Fifteen years of global experiences

In this issue:

Trump’s agricultural agenda

More reason to believe in winter wheat

Trucking troubles

Record winter wheat yields

FarmingSmarter withLivingLab

Risky business

Awarding innovation

A new “industrial revolution”

Leading up to harvest

Opening the Cuban market

The innovators

4R in the field

Winning with wheat

Strip tillage research

Stormy skies ahead?

Farming smarter

Globetrotting farmers

Weathering the storm

Corn leafhopper, a new pest threat

Adapting to the market

Key considerations for farm employee benefits

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