Ontario Grain Farmer February 2021

19 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER FEBRUARY 2021 FROM THE CHAIR Markus Haerle has served the maximum three-year term as chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario’s Board of Directors. Watch our interview with Markus Haerle about his time as chair: www.youtube.com/user/grainfarmersontario. A new chair will be elected during the February Board meeting. Due to the production schedule of the Ontario Grain Farmer magazine, the Ask the Chair feature within this newsletter will be on hiatus until our April/May issue. Farmer-members are welcome to continue to send their questions for the chair to GrainTALK@gfo.ca . YOUR GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO TEAM Here is our next installment of profiles of your Grain Farmers of Ontario team. PAUL HOEKSTRA, VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT Dr. Paul Hoekstra joined Grain Farmers of Ontario in September 2020 as the vice president, strategic development. In this role, Hoekstra is responsible for the research, agronomy, market development, and communications teams. Prior to joining our organization, Hoekstra worked at Syngenta Canada Inc. for 16 years, most recently as the government and industry relations manager. During his time at Syngenta, he played an instrumental role in regulatory affairs, communications, and stakeholder engagement to drive stewardship and sustainability initiatives across the plant science sector. Hoekstra has served on the Board of Directors for FarmSafe, the charitable arm of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, and Cleanfarms, a non-profit environmental stewardship organization. Born in Kitchener, Ontario and raised on a small farm in Tweed, Hoekstra received his undergraduate degree (BSc in Environmental Science) from the University of Waterloo and a PhD (Toxicology) from the University of Guelph. He is a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program Class 17. Hoekstra lives in Cambridge with his wife, Erin, and two children, Brayden and Ava, along with their three rescue dogs. When not in the office, Hoekstra enjoys fitness, gardening, beekeeping, and camping. DISTRICT ELECTIONS Directors and delegates were elected for the 15 Grain Farmers of Ontario districts during the Annual January District Meetings. A list of directors and delegates can be found online at www.gfo.ca/about/districts/ and will be printed in the March issue of the Ontario Grain Farmer magazine. GRAINTALK WEBINAR Taking Care of You: The Importance of Self-Care & Stress Management (in partnership with Bridges Health) March 11 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Exhausted? Stretched too thin? Wondering where the days, weeks, years are going? This workshop will talk about stress, depression, anxiety, and burnout — how to notice signs and symptoms in yourself, your co- workers, family, and other important people in your world. Learn practical strategies towards becoming more mindful; step back and gain some perspective in this fast-paced world of ours. Come together with other individuals at this session to understand how self-care is not selfish. Find the link to register at www.gfo.ca/farmerwellness/ MARKET COMMENTARY by Philip Shaw In 2021, I think we are all hoping for a better year. However, coming out of 2020, we had and still have a bullish grain market. The focus now is the January 2021 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, which gave a final update on the 2020 American crop (not available at press time). In the December 2020 USDA report, U.S. corn production was still set to come in at 14.507 billion bushels (175.8 bu/acre). On the soybean side of the ledger, USDA kept production at 4.17 billion bushels (50.7 bu/acre). If it comes to fruition it will be the lowest since 2013 - 2014. The U.S. dollar has been weaker, sending the Canadian dollar higher, reaching 79.10 on January 6. This has tempered Ontario basis. However, Ontario grain prices are at very high historical values. Win! Enter the monthly online contest for 2021 at www.ontariograinfarmer.ca In February - enter to win a Tool chest and tools courtesy of C&M Seeds (valued at $1,050). The contest is open to all farmer-members and is online only.