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

Grain Farmers of Ontario

Author: Jeanine Moyer

Weighing debt options

CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS EXPERTS

February 2024 - (J.M.) What do farmers need to know about today’s debt options? (R.L.) Farm financing has become a lot more complex in recent years. The fluctuating economic environment, rising interest rates, variable commodity markets, and rising…
Giving from the farm

CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS EXPERTS

December 2023 - (J.M.) HOW IS CHARITABLE GIVING ACCOUNTED FOR IN A FARM BUSINESS? (K.A.) The ability to support your local community or organizations that are important to you is so rewarding. For some, that means charitable giving…
Farm financial software

CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS EXPERTS

November 2023 - (J.M.) WHAT ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE ARE AVAILABLE FOR FARM BUSINESSES? (A.G.) The majority of farm businesses have transitioned to a desktop or cloud version of an accounting and financial management system. QuickBooks, Sage 50,…
Fall financial checkup

CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS EXPERTS

October 2023 - (J.M.) WHY IS A FARM FINANCIAL CHECKUP IMPORTANT? (K.M.) Winter and tax season are common times when grain farmers conduct a farm financial checkup. And while that makes sense to do on an annual basis,…
Professional agri-contractors

CUSTOM FARMING SERVICES AND RATES ARE ON THE RISE

September 2023 - WHEN IT COMES to outsourcing fieldwork, Martin VanZandwyk says hiring a professional agri-contractor is a no-brainer. Not only does he have access to the latest planting and harvesting technology, but VanZandwyk is realizing higher crop…
Foreign farm workers

CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS EXPERTS

September 2023 - (J.M.) WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO HIRE FOREIGN WORKERS IN CANADA? (J.F.) Most agricultural businesses fall under the agricultural stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. This program allows farm employers to hire foreign workers…
Weed science research

WOMEN TAKING THE LEAD

August 2023 - THE UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH’S Plant Agriculture department continues to build on its world-renowned reputation for research and innovation. Weeds are an increasingly common problem across all crops. From increasing rates of herbicide resistance to finding…
Underused housing tax

CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS EXPERTS

August 2023 - (J.M.) WHAT DO FARMERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UNDERUSED HOUSING TAX? (B.Z.) The Underused Housing Tax (UHT) is a new tax that took effect on January 1, 2022. It requires an annual return to…
Integrating Indigenous knowledge

NEW ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE DEGREE INSPIRES STUDENTS

June 2023 - JESSICA PELCHAT BELIEVES our society can achieve a balance between respecting the land through traditional practices while applying Western science to feed the world. Such a holistic approach has been inspired by her enrollment in…
Agricultural labour laws

CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS EXPERTS

June 2023 - (J.M.) WHAT LAWS GOVERN FARM EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN ONTARIO? (S.L.) Four Ontario workplace laws apply to all employers and workers under provincial jurisdiction (including farm workers):• Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) — sets…