GrainTALK newsletter – GrainTALK for April/May 2026

Your Grain Farmers of Ontario Team

Here is our next installment of profiles of your Grain Farmers of Ontario staff to help introduce you to the team.

Kristy Nudds
Managing Editor/Editorial Specialist

Kristy Nudds joined Grain Farmers of Ontario in January 2026 as Managing Editor/Editorial Specialist. In this role, she will manage content for the Ontario Grain Farmer Magazine and collaborate with communication team members to help build a relevant communication strategy and content for member. She also works with each internal department to understand editorial opportunities for story-sharing with farmer-members through the magazine and e-newsletter, as well as providing editorial services to the organization to ensure copy is concise, error-free and has consistent messaging.

Kristy brings more than 20 years of experience in agriculture media and communications to the role. She has served as editor of several leading agriculture publications, including Canadian Poultry, Food in Canada, and most recently, Farmtario. She holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Guelph and is a current class 21 participant in the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program from the Rural Ontario Institute. •

Grain Farmers of Ontario attended Commodity Classic 2026

Last month, Grain Farmers of Ontario CEO Crosby Devitt, Chair Jeff Harrison and Executive Board Members Josh Boersen, Julie Maw, and Steve Twynstra attended the Commodity Classic in Texas. With more than 12,000 people on site, it’s one of the largest gatherings of farmers and ag leaders in North America. It was great to reconnect with Ontario farmers who made the trip south, as well as farmers from across the U.S.

Grain Farmers of Ontario had excellent discussions with American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association board members, as well as representatives of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Thank you to our U.S. colleagues for the warm hospitality.

Key takeaways:

Despite farming in different countries, we share many of the same challenges and opportunities:

• Crop input prices remain stubbornly high, raising real concerns about 2026 crop margins.
• Demand growth is essential. Canada and the U.S. have significant potential to expand biofuel production—supporting the economy, the environment, and our food and feed customers.
• Farmers continue to champion free and fair trade. A level playing field lets us compete. Renewing the CUSMA agreement is critical.
• As equipment automation advances, the real question becomes how farmers capture a return on these investments.

District 6 supports Haldimand-Norfolk hospice project

Grain Farmers of Ontario District 6 (Haldimand, Brant, Hamilton, and Niagara) supported the Haldimand–Norfolk hospice project through the Grain Farmers of Ontario Community Investment Program.

Currently, there are no local hospice beds in the region, requiring families to travel outside the region to access hospice and palliative care services. This project will help address that gap by bringing compassionate, home-like care closer to home and ensuring individuals and their loved ones can remain in their community, surrounded by familiar faces and support.

The new centre will include residential hospice beds, in-home outreach services, and expanded caregiver and community programs, strengthening end-of-life care options across the region.

Grain Farmers of Ontario is proud to invest in initiatives that strengthen the health and wellbeing of rural communities across the province. •

Grain Farmers of Ontario – Corteva Farmer Leadership Program

In February, 25 Grain Farmers of Ontario delegates and three emerging leaders from within the grain sector came together at Ivey Business School to strengthen their leadership skills, build connections, and grow as advocates for Ontario’s grain farmers through their participation in the Grain Farmers of Ontario – Corteva Farmer Leadership Program. The program is funded with support from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA).

The program focuses on collaboration, negotiation, how to pitch your ideas, and public speaking skills. Participants from across all 15 Grain Farmers of Ontario districts were encouraged to work together in small group sessions and one-on-one learning activities, fostering a shared sense of purpose and connection. One of the goals of the program is to help create a strong, unified voice for our organization and the grain sector.

Grain Farmers of Ontario would like to extend its appreciation to both Corteva and OMAFA for their ongoing commitment to fostering agricultural leadership and supporting the growth of future leaders in Ontario. •