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: Ralph Pearce

From idea to opportunity

Two Ontario businesses advance new uses for locally grown grains

October 2026 - Two Ontario businesses are using Grain Farmers of Ontario support to create new opportunities for local wheat and soybeans through specialty flour development and value-added processing. Business development is an arduous road, despite the stereotypical…
More than the bottom line

Higher input costs and global volatility are reshaping how farmers measure risk, returns, and long-term business decisions

October 2026 - As costs climb and markets send mixed signals, farmers are looking more closely at the numbers behind each acre. Agriculture is an industry of familiar refrains: producing more with less, navigating more volatile markets, and…
Farm safety can’t stand still

Modern farms bring modern risks, and experts say prevention must evolve with them

September 2026 - Experts from CASA and WSPS say producers need practical, farm-specific training, planning, and prevention strategies to protect themselves, their families, employees, and visitors. The ideal farming environment is one where production and performance are relatively…
Liability insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all

From equipment on the road to cyber threats, farm coverage depends on the details of each operation

August 2026 - Insurance experts say farmers need to have detailed conversations with brokers or agents to understand their specific risks, avoid coverage gaps, and ensure their policies reflect the full scope of their operations. As farms continue…
Dual-edged technology helping wheat growers

A smartphone app can monitor for FHB and estimate head counts

June 2026 - The WheatScanR app is a new technological tool to help researchers and wheat growers monitor Fusarium head blight (FHB) and estimate wheat head counts for yield predictions. In 1996, Fusarium head blight (FHB) decimated more…
Farming through change

From slower markets to global volatility, Keith Black looks back on 12 years of leadership

June 2026 - Conventional wisdom often warns against thinking too much about the past because there’s no changing it. Yet there’s a difference between living in it and fondly reflecting on where a person’s come from and what…
Short-term savings, long-term costs

Federal research cuts aim to reduce spending, but may risk billions in future farm productivity and export potential

June 2026 - As public research capacity shrinks, farmers face potential limits on future crop development, prompting calls to protect Canada’s seed innovation system and maintain competitiveness. The nature of agriculture demands two key traits of participants: optimism…
Pushing the intensity on wheat production

Planting dates, growth regulators, and desiccants are all part of the picture

April 2026 - Five years of Ontario field trials reveal how nitrogen, planting date, and plant growth regulators affect lodging, yield potential, and the economics of wheat production. Measuring success in winter wheat production in Ontario has had…
Decoding weed pressure in corn

Peter Sikkema shares insights from decades of research on weed competition, resistance, and the economics of control

April 2026 - Long-term trials show corn yield loss from weeds can swing dramatically, even in the same field. Understanding weed biology, species pressure, and emergence timing is key to managing the risk. For more than 30 years,…
Rethinking the rules

From fertilizer economics to maturity group selection, fresh data is refining best practices for soybean production

March 2026 - New Ontario trials are refining fertilizer rates, maturity group selection and sulphur use—highlighting where small management shifts can protect yield and improve returns. From optimizing fertilizers to cropping practices, there are many long-held standards for…