Ontario Grain Farmer August 2021

18 An update on Grain Farmers of Ontario news and events NEW MINISTER FOR OMAFRA Lisa Thompson, Member of Provincial Parliament for Huron-Bruce, was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs during a cabinet shuffle in June. Thompson has continuously advocated for agriculture in her various roles in the provincial government and understands the need of rural communities and farmers. DONATION PLEDGED TO RIDGETOWN CAMPUS Grain Farmers of Ontario has pledged $200,000 to the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus for its new Crop Research and Innovation Centre. The Crop Research and Innovation Centre will be a key resource for future research innovations in crop production, management, and sustainability. Investment in research and innovation that helps farmers improve crop yield and quality and reduce environmental impact is imperative for the growth of the province's economy. The new facility will house several scientific labs equipped with the latest technology to allow scientists to raise the bar on the types of crop research projects they will be able to complete. The new facility will also provide engaging training opportunities for agri-food students and other industry stakeholders to learn important practical skills they can apply on their farms and agribusinesses. PESTICIDE SAFETY CERTIFICATION EXTENDED Ontario farmers require pesticide safety certification to purchase and use Class B and C pesticides on their farms. For farmers whose certification expired on or after January 1, 2020 and who were unable to renew their certification during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has extended their certificates until December 31, 2021. This extension will accommodate those who continue to be unable to renew their certificates either online or in-person, and allow Ontario’s farmers to continue to purchase and use the products they need for the 2021 growing season. Farmers who are eligible for this extension should have received an email from the ministry. If you did not get this email — you can obtain a copy of the letter on the Ontario Pesticide Education Program website, and use as evidence of the extension. INFORMATION NEEDED FROM ONTARIO GRAIN DRYER OWNERS If you own one or more grain dryers, researchers at the University of Guelph want to hear from you. Dryers are essential to Ontario grain production, but there is very limited information available on the numbers and types of dryers in Ontario, how they are used, or the experience and concerns of dryer operators. Understanding dryer usage in Ontario is also a first step in assessing ways to reduce dryer energy use or develop methods to reduce potential noise or dust impacts on neighbors. Dryer owners are asked to complete a short survey (10 minutes or less) to help address this lack of information. Individual results are anonymous, and no identifying business or personal information is requested. Aggregated survey results will be shared with the drying community after the study is complete. Respondents can choose to be entered into a draw for one of several $25 Tim Horton’s gift cards. www.uoguelph.ca/ engineering/dryer-survey 2021 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING All farmer-members are invited to attend the 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) being held online via Zoom on Tuesday, September 14. The AGM will provide an update on recent activities of the organization and a review of the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. For more information and to register, go to www.gfo.ca . FROM THE CHAIR A Q&A with Brendan Byrne, chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. Did Grain Farmers of Ontario have a role in the carbon tax rebates or the exemption for on-farm fuel used for drying that were recently introduced? Grain Farmers of Ontario has been very active in the carbon tax discussions at every level, and our consistent action on this issue helped bring about these changes. Beginning in 2019, we were vocal about our disappointment that grain drying fuel was not exempted and we worked with government influencers to understand why this happened and how it could be corrected. Our chief economist and our manager of Government Relations pulled together credible data to show the true costs of the carbon tax on grain drying and the impact to farmers. From creating and releasing an editorial cartoon, to media interviews, to encouraging our farmer- members to speak directly to their MPs, carbon tax was a constant priority over the last two years. We continue to push the government for a full exemption, and to get details on the proposed rebate, which needs to be timely, simple, and as close to a full rebate as possible. • Do you have a question for our chair? Email GrainTALK@gfo.ca .

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