From the CEO’s desk – November 2026

Meaningful collaboration is essential to turn advocacy, research, innovation, trade, and market access priorities into practical, long-term opportunities for Ontario grain farmers.

In the last month, farmers have been working through soybean harvest, planting winter wheat, and preparing for corn harvest. Conditions and timing vary from one part of the province to another, as they always do, but the goal is the same: get the crop off, get the next crop established, and make the most of the season’s opportunities.

At Grain Farmers of Ontario, our job is to help make sure those opportunities extend well beyond the farm gate.

At our annual general meeting in September, we were honoured to welcome federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald. His time with Ontario grain farmers created a valuable opportunity for members to speak with him directly.

Our annual meeting is where farmers come to the microphone, bring forward resolutions, raise ideas, and tell us what matters in their businesses and communities. Those conversations help establish Grain Farmers of Ontario’s priorities and guide the work we do on farmers’ behalf.

Having the federal agriculture minister see that process first-hand helped Minister MacDonald understand our priorities and where they come from.

We are also pleased to welcome Ontario Agriculture Minister Sam Oosterhoff. We have already had several discussions and look forward to working together on priorities that matter to Ontario grain farmers.

Grain Farmers of Ontario works with governments of all political stripes because agriculture needs strong champions at every level of government. Farmers and farm organizations can advocate, build relationships, share evidence, and bring solutions forward. But we simply cannot do some things alone.

Many of the forces affecting farmers are beyond an individual farm’s control. Governments are at the tables where international trade relationships are built and defended, where market access is negotiated, and where the regulatory and policy environment in which our farms operate is shaped. They also make decisions about investments in research and innovation that can strengthen Canadian agriculture today and position us for the future.

We take that reality, and our commitment to representing farmers, seriously. Our success depends in part on governments representing Canadian agriculture internationally, negotiating on our behalf, and helping create reliable, lasting market opportunities. Grain Farmers of Ontario’s role is to keep farmers’ priorities at the table and work with government to turn those commitments into practical results.

Ontario’s grain farmers are competing in a global marketplace, and we need governments that recognize agriculture’s importance, protect our ability to compete, and help develop new markets for Canadian-grown grain. That work is strongest when governments, farm organizations, researchers, industry partners, and farmers work together toward shared priorities.

Farm technology is changing quickly, but innovation extends beyond equipment. It includes research, genetics, agronomy, data, and management tools that help farmers produce efficiently, adapt to changing conditions, and remain competitive.

Plant breeding is an important part of that equation. Grain Farmers of Ontario has been involved in developing a national plant breeding strategy that identifies what farmers and the sector need from plant breeding going forward. We know continued investment and collaboration in this area will be critical to ensuring farmers have access to varieties that can meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.

As farmers, we spend a lot of time planning for what comes next. While we are harvesting one crop, we are already planting or making decisions about the next one. Our approach to advocacy is much the same. We need to address the challenges in front of us while making sure we build the right conditions for the future.

Having decision-makers come to our meetings, listen to farmers, and understand how our priorities are established is a positive step. Just as important is making sure farmers continue to help shape those priorities. The upcoming Women’s Grain Symposium and our January district meetings are valuable opportunities to participate, share perspectives, and help guide the work ahead.

Our job now is to keep those conversations going and turn that engagement into opportunities for Ontario’s grain farmers. •