20 An update on Grain Farmers of Ontario news and events 2022 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Grain Farmers of Ontario held its Annual General Meeting on September 13 at the Craigowan Golf Club in Woodstock. The financial statements for the 2021 - 2022 fiscal year (June – May) were presented by the auditors, RLB LLP, at the meeting. The financial statements are included immediately following this newsletter for the easy reference of all farmer-members. The financial statements can also be found in the 2022 Annual Report, available online at www.gfo.ca/about. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS Ontario voters will go to the polls on Monday, October 24, 2022, to elect their municipal leaders and school board trustees. Municipal elections are held every four years in Ontario. Grain Farmers of Ontario encourages our farmer-members to engage with local candidates to ensure that agricultural issues are top-of-mind when new municipal governments are formed. As municipalities deal with more localized matters, each community will have differing priorities, and candidates will have varying levels of understanding of the importance of agriculture to their local economy. By taking some time to talk to candidates about the issues that are important to you as an Ontario grain farmer, you can help bring awareness to the important local agricultural issues in your community. Grain Farmers of Ontario has a number of resources that you can share with municipal candidates to help them learn about grain farming and its importance to Ontario’s economy: • Ontario Grain Farming 101 is a 10-video series that introduces viewers to the various aspects of the Ontario grain and oilseed industry. Find it at www.gfo.ca/ research/farming101. • www.GrainforGood.ca tells Ontario’s sustainability story. • www.GoodinEveryGrain.ca has a wealth of information about how grains are grown, what they are used for, and how they impact our everyday life. Specific information on when, where, and how to vote will vary depending upon your local municipality, and information can be found by visiting your municipality’s website or contacting their office. General information about municipal elections, including information on how to register to vote, updating your personal information, and identification requirements to vote, can be found at www.ontario.ca/page/municipalelections. WOMEN’S GRAIN SYMPOSIUM Join us November 28 - 29 for the Grain Farmers of Ontario’s annual Women’s Grain Symposium. The event will be held in person at the Delta Hotel and Conference Centre. The agenda will feature a varied program, including guest speakers, leadership training, and networking opportunities for women who are farmer-members or work in the grain and oilseed industry. Registration is free. Interested participants can find more information and registration forms by visiting www.gfo.ca/womens-symposium or by contacting Rachel Telford, manager of member services, at rtelford@gfo.ca. GRAIN DISCOVERY ZONE As the 2022 fair and festival season comes to a close, the Grain Discovery Zone is wrapping up another year of travelling across the province to help consumers learn about grains and grain farming. The Grain Discovery Zone visited more than 20 events in 2022, crisscrossing the province from Leamington in the southwest to Vankleek Hill in eastern Ontario. FROM THE CHAIR A Q&A with Brendan Byrne, chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. What is Grain Farmers of Ontario doing to open up new markets for Canadian grains and oilseeds? There are a number of initiatives at Grain Farmers of Ontario that specifically focus on growing and developing existing markets and opening doors for Ontario grain in new markets. After the shift in thinking that came during the lockdowns and travel restrictions, I am very happy to say that we will be and have been much more active on trade missions and other market access activities. In August of this year, we attended and presented at the International Oilseed Producers Dialogue, where we learned about the issues impacting oilseed growers from every corner of the world and were able to share numbers and learn from each other. In September we participated in trade missions centred around Central and Latin America, which are incredibly important developing markets for Ontario grain. With harvest in full swing, I want to wish everyone a safe and bountiful fall. Work safe and please contact me or the office with any concerns that may arise. • Do you have a question for our chair? Email GrainTALK@gfo.ca.
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