Ontario Grain Farmer March 2021

NEW STRATEGIC PLAN Grain Farmers of Ontario has released a new Strategic Plan. It outlines our commitment to our core values: our farmer-members, our team, our community, our results, our innovation, our honesty and integrity. Our updated vision and mission statements are: VISION: Thriving farms. Responsible production. Trusted grain farmers. MISSION: Our mission is to build, defend and promote an inclusive, innovative and sustainable business environment that enables grain farmer members the opportunity to prosper. The complete 2021-2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario Strategic Plan is available at www.gfo.ca/2021- Strategic-Plan. DISTRICT MEETING PRIZE DRAW WINNERS Thank you to all of our farmer-members who attended the Grain Farmers of Ontario January District Meetings. Participants were entered into a drawing for one of three tech prizes. Congratulations to our winners*! Grand Prize (Apple MacBook): Steve Kell (District 11 Dufferin, Simcoe, Halton, Peel, York) 1st Runner Up Prize (Apple iPad): Eleanor Renaud (District 13 - Prince Edward, Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Renfrew, Ottawa) 2nd Runner Up Prize (Apple iPad): Doug Johnston (District 9 - Perth) *winners may substitute a comparable Windows or Android device MARKET COMMENTARY by Philip Shaw Grain markets have been volatile. On January 12, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) threw a bomb into the mix. USDA lowered U.S. domestic corn production by 3.8 bushels per acre down to 172 bpa. This dropped total production down 325 million bushels down to 14.182 billion bushels. In addition to this, USDA actually trimmed the old crop carryover by 76 million bushels, thus lowering corn supply by 400million bushels. USDA also lowered corn exports by 100 million bushels. $7 old crop corn and $17 old crop soybeans with corresponding lower new crop values have led to many marketing opportunities. The lower Canadian dollar has also added to the stimulus in Ontario grain prices. YOUR GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO TEAM Here is our next installment of profiles of your Grain Farmers of Ontario team. LEO BLYDORP, DIRECTOR(DISTRICT 11 (DUFFERIN, SIMCOE, HALTON, PEEL, YORK) Leo Blydorp is the director for District 11 (Dufferin, Simcoe, Halton, Peel, York). He was elected to serve in this role in 2021. Blydorp farms 1,300 acres in Dufferin County with his oldest son Jonathon. They grow corn, oats, soybeans, winter wheat, white beans, and canola, using minimal till and conservation tillage as much as they can. He also uses cover crops, such as red clover and cereal rye, and includes hay in their rotation. Blydorp’s fields are used for corn and soybean performance trial plots for the Ontario Corn Committee, the Ontario Soybean and Canola Committee, and seed companies. Blydorp completed a diploma in agriculture from Ridgetown College, a degree in agriculture from the University of Guelph and also has a masters in divinity from Wilfrid Laurier University. Blydorp bought his first farm in 1995. Prior to farming full time, Blydorp worked for Bayer for 25 years in technical services, product development, and product management. He has served on the federal government’s National Program Advisory Committee for Agriculture, is a policy advisor with his local council, and is an advocate for agriculture with his local MP and MPP. He believes in creating a level playing field for Ontario farmers within the global market. Blydorp is actively involved with the Dufferin Federation of Agriculture and the local Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. Blydorp and his wife, Alice, have five children and six grandchildren. When he has a few spare moments in the summer months, Blydorp likes to cycle, canoe, and kayak; in the winter, he enjoys cross country skiing. He has an interest in theology and word and deed ministry, serves in grief ministry, and attends Compass Community Church. 21 Win! Enter the monthly online contest for 2021 at www.ontariograinfarmer.ca . In March - enter to win two cases of ALPINE F18 Max TM courtesy of Nachurs Alpine Solutions (valued at $320). The contest is open to all farmer-members and is online only. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER MARCH 2021