Ontario Grain Farmer August 2021

BILL C-206 WITH SENATE Grain Farmers of Ontario congratulates Canadian Members of Parliament for passing Bill C-206: An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act (qualifying farming fuel). The Bill exempts on-farm grain drying from the federal carbon pricing system. Grain Farmers of Ontario especially congratulates MP Philip Lawrence, who introduced the Bill as a private members Bill in February 2020. After passing Third Reading in the House of Commons, the Bill moved to the senate in June. It received First Reading there before the Senate adjourned for the summer. The Senate resumes business in September, but if a federal election is called, the proposed legislation will not move forward. AGRISTABILITY UPDATE The Government of Ontario has announced a provincial enhancement to AgriStability. Ontario supported the federal government proposal put forward in November 2020 to remove the Reference Margin Limit (RML) and increase the compensation rate from 70 per cent to 80 per cent. In March, federal, provincial, and territorial ministers agreed to the RML removal but have not reached agreement on the compensation rate. The province has made the decision to move ahead with providing the provincial portion of the compensation rate increase, retroactive to the 2020 growing season. MARKET COMMENTARY by Philip Shaw It is a critical time for grain markets as we move into corn pollination mid-July. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released (not available at press time) planted corn and soybean acres on June 30, setting the table for market action into July. In the June USDA report, USDA was holding firm at 14.99 billion acres of corn and 4.45 billion bushels of soybeans. This will have changed on the June 30 report. As we continue, crop weather will be instrumental in determining the true potential of this big American crop. The Canadian dollar has staggered lately currently fluttering near .8134 USD on June 25. It had breached the 83-cent level on June 1 only to retreat on U.S. dollar strength. As it is, it will continue to be a stimulus to Ontario cash prices setting up good prices for Ontario wheat which will be harvested in July. ONTARIO WHEAT HARVEST QUALITY The Ontario Wheat Harvest Quality program is underway. Go to https://gfo.ca/market-development/ exporters/ontario-wheat-quality/ to find results from winter and spring wheat classes as they are posted in the coming weeks. GrainFarmers of Ontario partnered with SGS Canada, Inc. on the development of the Grains Analytical Testing Laboratory. The lab conducted this year’s wheat harvest survey program. The program analyzes samples from across the province to create a picture of the quality of each year’s harvest. The results are shared with millers and bakers as an initiative of the Market Development department to promote the increased usage of Ontario wheat. YOUNG LEADERS WANTED Applications are now being accepted for the 2022 American Soybean Association (ASA) Corteva Agriscience Young Leader Program. The Young Leader program provides training for couples or individuals who are passionate about the possibilities and future of agriculture. Phase one of the program will take place at Corteva Global Business Center in Johnson, Iowa November 30 – December 3, 2021. The second half of the program will be held in conjunction with the Commodity Classic in New Orleans, Louisiana from March 8 - 12, 2022. ASA has 26 state affiliates, including Grain Farmers of Ontario. One actively farming couple from Ontario is selected to attend the program each year. Participants in the program engage in leadership training that helps them with their farm business and other organizations they serve, gain tools to better enable them to tell their own farming story, and connect with soybean farmers from across the U.S. For more information, contact Mel Reekie, manager of member relations for Grain Farmers of Ontario, at mreekie@gfo.ca . To apply, go to www.SoyGrowers.com. The deadline for applications is September 1, 2021. Participation in the program is subject to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions on cross-border travel. 19 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER AUGUST 2021 Win! Enter the monthly online contest for 2021 at www.ontariograinfarmer.ca . In August — enter to win 2 bags of Maizex corn or 5 units of Elite soybeans courtesy of Maizex (valued at $700 and $600 respectively). The contest is open to all farmer-members and is online only.