GrainTALK newsletter – GrainTALK for August 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.

Jayde Deol
Member Relations Co-ordinator

Jayde Deol joined Grain Farmers of Ontario in March 2026 as Member Relations Co-ordinator. In this role, she leads the planning and execution of key events, including the Annual General Meeting, Women’s Grain Symposium, and other member-focused initiatives across the organization. She works closely with internal teams and external partners to deliver engaging, well-organized experiences that strengthen connections across Ontario’s grain farming community.

Jayde brings experience in event co-ordination, stakeholder engagement, and client-focused roles, where she developed strong skills in planning, logistics, and relationship management. Through her previous work, she gained hands-on experience co-ordinating events, supporting client needs, and managing multiple priorities in fast-paced environments, skills she now applies to creating seamless and impactful experiences for Grain Farmers of Ontario members.

Known for her attention to detail and positive energy, Jayde takes pride in ensuring every event runs smoothly, while adding thoughtful and creative touches along the way.

Outside of work, Jayde enjoys hosting and bringing people together, and usually plans her next weekend just as carefully as her events. •

Grain Farmers of Ontario hosts Grupo Trimex

Grain Farmers of Ontario hosted Mexico’s largest milling company, Grupo Trimex, in late May as part of its Ontario Wheat Intensive program.

Grupo Trimex and Grain Farmers of Ontario visited District 9 director Josh Boersen’s farm in Perth East for a firsthand look at Ontario wheat farming and the work Ontario grain farmers do to produce high-quality wheat for customers around the world.

Discussions focused on Ontario wheat production, sustainability practices, grain quality, and the partnerships across the value chain that help strengthen export opportunities for Ontario farmers.

Mexico remains one of Ontario wheat’s most important export markets, and conversations like these help build long-term relationships that support farmer success and market growth. •

Applications open for 2027 ASA-Corteva Young Leader Program

Grain Farmers of Ontario seeks a soybean farming couple or individual to represent Ontario in the 2027 class of the American Soybean Association-Corteva Young Leader Program. The Young Leaders program enhances participants’ skills through leadership, communications, and issues-based training, while building a strong peer network that supports increased success in their businesses and communities.

Phase one will take place at Corteva’s Global Business Center in Johnston, Iowa, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, 2026. Phase two takes place in conjunction with the Commodity Classic from March 1 to 4, 2027, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Young Leaders are not necessarily young in age but are new in their leadership development. The ideal candidate is looking to become more involved in Grain Farmers of Ontario.

The program focuses on leadership development, communication skills, emerging agricultural trends and issues, and building a strong network of industry peers. Spouses and partners are encouraged to participate and play an active role in all aspects of the program, even if they are not employed full-time on the farm.

Applications can be submitted to the American Soybean Association directly at www.soygrowers.com/ or by contacting Rachel Telford, manager, Member Relations for Grain Farmers of Ontario, at rtelford@ gfo.ca. •

P&H export terminal in Picton now open

Grain Farmers of Ontario Chair Jeff Harrison and Dana Dickerson, director of market development and sustainability, recently celebrated the grand opening of Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited’s new grain export terminal at Picton Terminals Ltd.

This new terminal provides vital capacity and optionality for Ontario grain farmers across the south-central region, helping them to get their grains to markets across eastern Canada and around the world.

The terminal is expected to handle 300,000 to 350,000 tonnes of grain each year, drawing from about 1.2 million acres.

The investment is a vote of confidence in Ontario grain farmers and the potential for growth in our region. •

2026 GFO Annual General Meeting

Grain Farmers of Ontario will hold its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at a new location: the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford.

The meeting will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Annual General Meeting is a chance to hear what’s happening across the organization, share perspectives, and connect with others in the industry. It is always a valuable morning to stay informed and be part of the conversation.

As a thank you for attending, all farmers who join us will receive a free ticket to Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. •

Grain Farmers of Ontario hosts federal reception

Grain Farmers of Ontario joined Senator Rob Black and partners from the Atlantic Grains Council and Producteurs de grains du Québec, through the Grain Belt East partnership, to meet with Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald on June 3.

Discussions focused on key issues affecting Canadian grain farmers, including agricultural competitiveness, trade and market access, sustainability, risk management, and the long-term resilience of Canada’s grain sector.

Meetings like this help ensure Ontario grain farmers are part of national conversations shaping the future of Canadian agricultural policy. •

Market Commentary

by Philip Shaw

Early summer represents a time of year when the USDA can make a real difference. On June 30, the USDA renewed acreage estimates for corn, wheat, and soybeans. The new U.S. corn number is 95.3 million acres, down from 98.8 million last year. U.S. soybean acreage was estimated at 85.4 million acres, five per cent more than a year ago. Wheat acreage was 42.7 million acres, much lower than expectations, and the lowest wheat acreage on record. Futures prices have slumped on the news but are still higher than a year ago.

The Canadian dollar has been trading below 71 cents U.S. in the first week of July. As always, a low Canadian dollar acts as a stimulus to Ontario cash grain prices. It’s a redeeming market feature in a year of surplus. •