17 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER APRIL/MAY 2024 Discover other ways to join the GrainTALK conversation: E-News, Webinars, Podcasts, Radio, Research Days, and events. Visit www. gfo.ca/GrainTALK. Ontario Agricultural College, Department of Plant Agriculture, and Ridgetown Campus; Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association; and Fertilizer Canada. GRAINS IN ACTION Grains in Action participants hit the road in February to tour end-use facilities that use Ontario-grown barley, corn, oats, soybeans, and wheat and to learn more about the Ontario grain industry and Grain Farmers of Ontario. Thirty young farmers from across the province participated in the program, touring facilities including Pride Seeds, Cargill, Sylvite, Harrow Research Centre, J.P. Wiser’s Distillery, ADM, IGPC, Ingredion, Arva Flour Mill, and Wallenstein Feed. Grains in Action is a four-day program for young farmers to gain knowledge about the end uses of the grains they grow. Participants also learn about the role of Grain Farmers of Ontario within the grain industry and how they can become active members within the organization. It is an opportunity for new experiences, building relationships, and professional growth. The 2025 Grains in Action program will feature a tour of end-use facilities in eastern Ontario. For more information on the program, visit www.gfo.ca/about/ grains-in-action/. TALK TODAY MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAM AT OHL GAMES In February, 2024, Grain Farmers of Ontario partnered with Syngenta to sponsor Talk Today, a mental wellness program developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). At 17 OHL home games, attendees from across the province heard about the connection that mental health brings to all of us — from the rink to the farm to everyone’s homes, mental health connects us, and there is strength in talking about it. The sponsorship of the program included pre-game events with farmers to discuss mental wellness programs, an in-game activation, social media campaigns, and in-game videos and call outs in Peterborough, London, Owen Sound, Windsor, Kingston, Sarnia, Oshawa, Kitchener, Ottawa, and Niagara. ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING PRIZE WINNERS Attendees at the 2024 Grain Farmers of Ontario Annual District Meetings were entered in a prize draw for door prizes; three winners from each District Meeting were then entered into a Grand Prize Draw for a $2,500 CAA Travel Gift Card, plus one-year Premier CAA membership and two runner-up prizes of a staycation package. Congratulations to the grand prize winner, Kevin Lynch, from District 4 (Middlesex), and runner-up prize winners, Eric Mann, from District 12 (Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings) and John Wiles from District 9 (Perth). FIELD OBSERVATIONS FROM THE GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO AGRONOMY TEAM With the spring planting season underway, be sure to check out the weekly field observations report from Laura Ferrier, Grain Farmers of Ontario’s agronomist, who brings you weekly updates about field conditions across the province, tips and advice relevant to the season’s conditions, and updates from agronomy partners. The field updates can be found at www. ontariograinfarmer.ca or in the weekly GrainTalk e-newsletter delivered to your inbox on Thursdays. To subscribe to the GrainTalk e-newsletter, visit www.gfo.ca/GrainTalk. MARKET COMMENTARY By Philip Shaw In the February 2024 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, all American 2023 production numbers were kept the same from January. With dry weather affecting some parts of South America, the USDA reduced Brazilian soybean production to 156 million metric tonnes (MMTs). Brazil’s corn production was reduced to 127 MMTs. Private firms and Brazil’s Conab have much lower numbers. Despite that, prices have fallen, and Brazilian cash soybeans at the ports are much cheaper than U.S. Gulf bids. In Ontario, the open winter has created unusual opportunities, with some February fieldwork being done in the deep southwest of Ontario. Cash prices have moved south with the futures prices. The Canadian dollar fluttering in the 73/74 cents U.S. level continues to add stimulus to Ontario cash grain prices. •
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