GrainTALK for April/May 2022

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTED

At the Grain Farmers of Ontario inaugural board meeting, held in February, the Executive Committee was voted into office for the year. Brendan Byrne, director for District 1 (Essex) has been re-elected as chair. Jeff Harrison, director for District 12 (Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings), and Scott Persall, director for District 5 (Elgin, Norfolk), will serve as vice-chairs. Josh Boersen, director for District 9 (Perth), will hold the position of executive member.

A full listing of the 2022 Board of Directors, as well as a contact list for all district delegates, can be found at www.gfo.ca/about/districts. •

ONTARIO PROVINCIAL ELECTION

Ontarians will head to the polls in June for the Ontario general election. As we approach election day, Grain Farmers of Ontario will be sharing election-related news, commentary, and information on the website, and in the weekly GrainTalk e-newsletter.

We will be actively engaging with candidates to tell the Grain Farmers of Ontario story, outline our provincial priorities, and to make agricultural issues top-of-mind in this election. To learn more about our election platform and what candidates are saying about agricultural issues, visit www.gfo.ca/government-relations/provincial-priorities. •

AALP DREAM AUCTION

The Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP), from the Rural Ontario Institute, is hosting their biennial Dream Gala on June 24, 2022, at the Delta Hotels Guelph Conference Centre. The event, themed ‘A Whole New World’, will include a cocktail hour featuring a “Celebration of Ontario” tasting experience, dinner, and a live auction. New this year, AALP will also be hosting a golf tournament at the Victoria Park East Golf Club.

Grain Farmers of Ontario manager of communications and Class 18 participant, Victoria Berry, is a co-chair of the 2022 Dream Auction. The event raises funds to support AALP Class 19, including participants Jeff Harrison, vice chair of the Grain Farmers of Ontario Board of Directors and director for District 12 (Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings), and Mike Buttenham, environment and sustainability lead at Grain Farmers of Ontario.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.aalpdreamauction.com. •

FARMER WELLNESS WEBINAR SERIES

The final installment of the Grain Farmers of Ontario Talk, Ask, Listen Farmer Wellness Webinar Series, featuring the topic ‘Self Care’, will be held on April 7, 2022, at 1 p.m. For more information, to register, or for more wellness resources, visit www.gfo.ca/farmerwellness/prevention. •

MARKET DEVELOPMENT NEWS

The Market Development team have been promoting Ontario grains by participating in virtual trade missions. The Cereals Canada’s New Crop Missions, held in a series of four webinars in November 2021, reached buyers from 34 countries. The mission provided buyers with technical information to help them understand the quality differences of each new crop year. In March 2022, Grain Farmers of Ontario participated in Soy Canada virtual seminars with Japan and Asia. Steve Twynstra, director for Region 4 (Middlesex) represented Grain Farmers of Ontario. •

CEREAL RYE

Growers of cereal rye have expressed interest in increasing future opportunities for the crop and have asked Grain Farmers of Ontario to consider adding this crop to its mandate. Should this occur, Grain Farmers of Ontario would look at leveraging agronomic research, market development, public communication, and advocacy for programs and policies for cereal rye.

As part of the process, all farmers that grow and harvest cereal rye are asked to register. This registration does not imply support for the inclusion of cereal rye to the Grain Farmers of Ontario mandate. Rather, the registration will be used to keep farmers growing cereal rye updated on the issue and seek input, as required. To register, visit www.gfo.ca/marketing/ cereal-rye-growers. •

MARKET COMMENTARY

by Philip Shaw
On February 9, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. USDA decreased Brazilian soybean production down 5 million metric tonnes to 134 million metric tonnes. They also adjusted Argentinean production down 1.5 million metric tonnes to 45 million metric tonnes.

CONAB, the Brazil government agency, dropped the Brazilian crop to 125.5 million metric tonnes on February 10. In addition, on February 24, USDA released preliminary 2022 crop acres at 92 million for corn and 88 million for soybeans. This will be updated on March 31. This was a sideshow to the eruption of war between Russia and Ukraine on February 24 which sent grain markets into violent war volatility.

The Canadian dollar continues to flutter in the 78-79. •