www.OntarioGrainFarmer.ca SPECIAL ISSUE: SUSTAINABILITY IN A CHANGING WORLD JUNE/JULY 2025 More reason to believe The grain’s performance as a cover crop adds to its value in winter wheat
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17 Business side Conversations with business experts 27 Crop side Agronomic information from crop specialists JUNE/JULY 2025 volume 16, number 7 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER is published 9 times a year (December/January, February, March, April/May, June/July, August, September, October, and November) through Grain Farmers of Ontario. Distribution is to all Ontario barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmer-members. Associate Membership Subscription available upon request. Views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies of Grain Farmers of Ontario. Seek professional advice before undertaking any recommendations or suggestions presented in this magazine. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40065283. Return undeliverable items to Grain Farmers of Ontario, 679 Southgate Drive, Guelph, ON N1G 4S2. © Grain Farmers of Ontario all rights reserved. Publisher: Grain Farmers of Ontario, Phone: 1-800-265-0550, Website: www.gfo.ca; Managing Editor: Mary Feldskov; Creative Specialist: Nicole Koopstra; Advertising Sales and Sponsorship Consultant: Joanne Tichborne 6 ON THE COVER Stormy skies ahead Treena Hein WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2024 From the CEO’s desk FEEDING THE WORLD 4 A year in review Laura Ferrier 10 Market review 2022 - 2023 Blair Andrews 12 Business side Conversations with business experts 9 GrainTALK newsletter An update on Grain Farmers of Ontario news and events 16 What do Canadians think about food? Mary Feldskov 14 Crop side Agronomic information from crop specialists 23 European trade policies Ontario Grain Farmer 18 More winter barley acres Matt McIntosh 20 Grain contracts guide Mary Feldskov 22 Ontario Agricultural Conference 2024 Ontario Grain Farmer 24 Stronger leadership Rachel Telford 26 Good in Every Grain Updates on our campaign 30 Farming for world hunger Rebecca Hannam 28 172024 ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETINGS CHECK HERE FOR DATES AND TIMES DECEMBER 2023 / JANUARY 2024 volume 15, number 3 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMERis published 9 times a year (December/January, February, March, April/May, June/July, August, September, October, and November) through Grain Farmers of Ontario. Distribution is to all Ontario barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmer-members. Associate Membership Subscription available upon request. Views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies of Grain Farmers of Ontario. Seek professional advice before undertaking any recommendations or suggestions presented in this magazine. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40065283. Return undeliverable items to Grain Farmers of Ontario, 679 Southgate Drive, Guelph, ON N1G 4S2. © Grain Farmers of Ontario all rights reserved. Publisher: Grain Farmers of Ontario, Phone: 1-800-265-0550, Website: www.gfo.ca; Managing Editor: Mary Feldskov; Production Co-ordinator: Kim Ratz; Advertising Sales and Sponsorship Consultant: Joanne Tichborne BIODEGRADABLE POLY 15-03 OGF DecemberJanuary 2023-24_OnGrainFarmer 2023-11-09 11:04 AM Page 3 4 From the CEO’s desk 18 GrainTALK newsletter An update on Grain Farmers of Ontario news and events 34 Good in Every Grain Updates on our campaign More reason to believe in winter wheat Ralph Pearce 6On the cover SUSTAINABILITY 10 Clearing the carbon confusion Ibrahim Mohammed 12 Building better soil Mary Feldskov 14 What is carbon intensity? Ibrahim Mohammed 22 European Union sustainability policies Matt McIntosh 24 Carbon credits Ibrahim Mohammed 30 Bio-economic boost Melanie Epp RURAL LIVING 32 Funding the future of agriculture Ontario Grain Farmer LOOKING BACK 20 Fifteen years of sustainability and environmental leadership INDUSTRY NEWS 28 Critical weed management research continues Treena Hein
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER FROM THE CEO’S DESK 4 From the CEO's desk The spring planting season comes with a sense of hope and renewed optimism for a great crop year—this is where we put all our winter planning into action. Let’s hope for a successful cropping season with good conditions and great yields come harvest time. The planting season comes on the heels of the federal election on April 28, where the Liberal Party of Canada and party leader Mark Carney formed a minority government, with the Conservative Party of Canada forming opposition. While there were some changes in riding representation, overall, there is a status quo in Ottawa when it comes to regional representation. That being said, with a new prime minister and a new agriculture minister, with Lawrence MacAuly stepping down before the election, Grain Farmers of Ontario is approaching the new government with optimism that we can work together to move the grain and oilseed industry forward. We’ve already seen some positive movement, with the price on carbon set to zero. We will continue to advocate for the total removal of the carbon tax, among other priorities, including free trade with the U.S., protecting and growing markets overseas, tax fairness, and support for risk management programs. The Grain Farmers of Ontario Board of Directors and staff will be heading to Ottawa on June 11 for our annual federal reception, where we’ll have our first opportunity to meet with MPs and government staff to advance our federal priorities. This issue of the Ontario Grain Farmer focuses on sustainability. Grain Farmers of Ontario actively promotes Ontario’s sustainability story to stakeholders, including government, trade partners, and consumers, highlighting all the positive work being done by Ontario grain farmers to improve soil health, reduce environmental impacts, and promote sustainable farming practices. While the federal government plays a big role in determining priorities for sustainability and climate-related policies, we’ve seen a shift to market-driven direction, with many of Canada’s international trade partners and industry end-users setting their own sustainability goals and requirements for the grains and oilseeds they purchase. This is where Ontario’s farmers have a distinct advantage; the focus on sustainability and a long-term view of protecting the environment means that we are wellpositioned to meet the demands of the buyers of our crops. As the growing season continues, I want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of taking some time for you and your family to rest, recharge, and focus on mental wellness. There are a lot of stressors at this time of year—we can’t control the markets, weather, disease, or pests—and there are global factors that impact grain markets and agricultural trade that impact our businesses. If you or someone in your family needs support, please reach out to a friend, your doctor, or call the Farmer Wellness Initiative at 1-866-267-6255, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to support members of the agricultural community. • Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario Spring has sprung, and by the time you read this in June, hopefully, most of you are well on your way to finishing up #plant25. As I write this in early May, equipment is starting to roll across the province, with a stretch of warm sunny weather in the forecast.
Understanding your operation’s carbon footprint with AgExpert Today’s farmers know that data is power, and that’s no different when it comes to sustainability. As the emphasis on sustainability continues to grow, AgExpert is adding features that can help farmers manage on-farm practices and meet the evolving demands of the industry. With an AgExpert Premium account, farmers can connect to Holos™, a model developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to take advantage of AgExpert’s sustainability features. HOW THE AGEXPERT SUSTAINABILITY MODEL WORKS Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to improve sustainability and mitigate climate change. Farmers using AgExpert can estimate their carbon sequestration from farm management activities using field area, weather, crop type, tillage activities, manure applications and yield data already entered in FCC AgExpert. The feature estimates a farmer’s carbon storage to provide a better understanding of the overall sustainability impact. This insight helps farmers track and prove the sustainable business management practices already implemented while identifying new practices that could be adopted. In addition to carbon sequestration, the AgExpert Sustainability Model also estimates greenhouse gas emissions from carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions. By measuring emissions combined with how much carbon is being sequestered and stored, AgExpert is helping farmers measure their farm’s sustainability footprint. This will help Canadian farmers make more informed decisions, meeting the evolving needs of the industry. GET STARTED WITH AGEXPERT TODAY Whether it’s bookkeeping or tracking what’s happening in the field, there’s an AgExpert tool designed to help. AgExpert Accounting makes it easier to manage farm finances while AgExpert Field helps keep a clear record of field performance year after year. Sign up for an AgExpert Premium account at agexpert.ca to take advantage of the range of benefits and partner integrations available.
Ralph Pearce More reason to The grain’s performance as a cover crop adds to its value One thing about the world of science is that no matter how “settled” an issue may seem, there is always room for more study or scrutiny. Some other facets can be redefined or measured with a different set of criteria. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 6 believe in winter wheat
continued on page 8 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 7 Such is the case with a literature review concerning the implementation of winter wheat in Ontario crop rotations, attempting to determine its economic viability and environmental resilience as a grain crop. The review was conducted by five University of Guelph students and drew on peer-reviewed literature, Canadian publications, Government of Ontario resources, and material from Grain Farmers of Ontario. In a subtle twist on previous research examining winter wheat in rotations, the fourth-year students, Andrea Kolodziej, Madeline Killen, Chelsea Uusitalo, Julia Perucelli, and Ria Hamilton, sought to reveal the benefits of winter wheat as a cover crop first and a grain crop second. Titled “A Critical Review of the Potential of Winter Wheat as a Tool for Enhancing Sustainability and Profitability of Grain Production in Ontario,” the project was carried out in partnership with Grain Farmers of Ontario and coordinated through Ibrahim Mohammed, Grain Farmers of Ontario’s sustainability and environment specialist. WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY The statistics for winter wheat production in Ontario indicate an increased value in the crop on its own. In the past five years, wheat yields have averaged 93.1 bushels/acre, while acreages planted and harvested have averaged more than 1.0 million acres. Estimates for the 2025 winter wheat crop were 1.184 million acres. Research into lengthening crop rotations began in 1980 with Dr. Bill Deen at the University of Guelph’s Elora Research Station. Eight rotations were studied, including two with winter wheat. In 1995, Doug Young began work on the long-term effects of maintaining winter wheat at what was then Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology (RCAT). That work was succeeded by Dr. Dave Hooker at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus. Although their treatments varied (including underseeding with red clover in 2010), the work determined that winter wheat boosted yields in subsequent corn and soybean crops and reduced the reliance on nitrogen-based fertilizer. This latest report aims to provide insights into the role of winter wheat as a cover crop, an interesting twist on research into the effects of lengthening rotations. An added focus is its potential effect on improving soil health, reducing soil erosion, and enhancing the carbon content in the soil. “Winter wheat isn’t normally considered a cover crop and is mainly used for its (grain) crop qualities,” says Andrea Kolodziej, speaking on behalf of the students involved in the review. “Within our research, we wanted to show that it has the same benefits as conventional cover crops while also being able to be used as a (grain) crop. This allows winter wheat to have increased benefits while it’s being used in rotation with corn and soybeans.” THE PROCESS The students pursued a systematic review of studies from a variety of databases, including Google Scholar and Ag Data Commons, among several others. Studies were chosen if they contained information on five key points: • how winter wheat improves soil health • how it compares to other cover crops • evaluation of its economic benefits • economic factors that might affect its adoption • possible incentives or policies that are recommended The group enlisted the help of Dr. Helen Booker, who holds the Grain Farmers of Ontario Professorship in Wheat Breeding, and Dr. Vern Osborne, a retired professor of animal and poultry science. RESULTS First on the list of findings was the effects on nitrogen, which were shown to increase nitrogen uptake within the soil profile, with some studies citing up to 67 per cent reduced leaching compared to conventional rotations without cover crops. Those effectively scavenge excess nitrogen within the profile and can reduce leaching and runoff. Winter wheat also supports microbial populations, which also help regulate excess nitrogen levels. The more resilient a microbial community, the stronger the nutrient cycling potential, particularly nitrogen cycling, resulting in reduced nitrogen losses to leaching and minimized nitrous oxide (N2O) levels. From an erosion perspective, cover crops increase the amount of ground cover days thereby reducing the risk of soil loss through wind and water erosion. The project found that incorporating winter wheat into a corn-soy rotation can increase the effective soil cover days from 70 per cent to about 91 per cent. And with this comes a WHAT'S IN A NAME? Should we call winter wheat a cover crop? Given that winter wheat has so many environmental benefits, akin to a cover crop, should it be classified as such? According to Mohammed, the term 'cover crop' serves a precise purpose—it defines a class of plants grown with the sole intent of protecting and enhancing the soil, independent of market return. If we begin including harvested crops in this definition, we risk eroding the usefulness of the cover crop term and causing confusion. That said, this study allows us to make the case that winter wheat has all of the environmental benefits of a cover crop, plus economic benefits, putting it into a class of its own. And when we advocate for governments and customers to provide winter wheat with the same regard and support as cover crops, we're making that case very clearly.
continued from page 7 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 8 substantial reduction in erosion risk, especially water erosion in the spring. Winter wheat can also improve soil structure and reduce erosion by boosting soil organic matter, thus enhancing structure and leading to aggregation and making infiltration more efficient. That leads to improved soil health via soil stability and adding biomass that adds essential nutrients to the soil. Since carbon emissions are a concern within agriculture and plants sequester carbon via photosynthesis, any increase in the number of plant cover days enhances carbon uptake and can potentially offset carbon emissions. “Winter wheat can act as a carbon source and sink for the soil,” says Kolodziej. “The ability to sequester carbon can help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. Winter wheat is also grown at a time of year in Ontario that has a reduction of carbon-sequestering vegetation. It can help reduce carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere at a time when an increased concentration normally occurs.” The difference in conventional rotations is viewing winter wheat only as a grain crop. Kolodziej and her colleagues wanted to show it could provide the same benefits to a cropping system as a cover crop with an added benefit as a grain crop. “We think that if there are resources and incentives available to farmers for new implementation of crop alternatives, they would be open to implementation,” she says. “Adding a new crop into the rotation or changing a rotation isn’t a simple process. There are many factors to be taken into account that vary from farm to farm due to different environmental and economic factors that can affect the addition of a new crop and the feasibility of changing a rotation.” FROM THE GROWER’S PERSPECTIVE The prospect for growing winter wheat—whether as a grain crop or a cover crop that can also be harvested and sold—is largely linked to revenue generation and profitability, at least it is for Jeff Barlow. Although he grows a three-crop rotation of corn, soybeans and winter wheat on his farm near Binbrook, south of Hamilton, he echoes Kolodziej’s comment about the economics that go into most decision-making processes on the farm. “If winter wheat prices were higher, everyone would be growing more,” adds Barlow, who’s also director for Grain Farmers of Ontario District 6 (Haldimand, Brant, Hamilton, Niagara). “Lately, we’ve had very open falls and plenty of opportunity to plant winter wheat in decent conditions. In my area on heavier clay, it’s tougher to make wheat work in a lot of years. It’s not hard to establish in the fall, it’s getting it through the winter and have it still be alive in the spring.” Barlow agrees that winter wheat makes for an excellent cover crop, given its seed price, its ability to grow in 7.5-inch rows, and its root structure. For those reasons—and the impact on subsequent corn or soybean crops—it’s an excellent cover crop. At the same time, he acknowledges that on tougher clay in his immediate area, establishing winter wheat crops in anything but the best of fall planting conditions can be a big ask. From a logistics perspective, winter wheat allows him the opportunity to fix-up the field after harvest; he can do more tiling, repair ditches, trim trees along fields, do soil tests, and apply fertilizer. That he can do that with a cover crop that’s also marketable is a huge bonus— along with the other agronomic, soil health, and environmental benefits. L-R Ibrahim Mohammed, sustainability and environment specialist, Dana Dickerson, director of market development and sustainability, students Chelsea Uusitalo, Julia Perucelli, Rachel Zimic, market development coordinator, and students Andrea Kolodziej, Ria Hamilton, and Madeline Killen.
Always read and follow label directions. Miravis® Neo refers to Miravis® 300 SE fungicide. Miravis®, the Alliance Frame, the Purpose Icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. © 2025 Syngenta. Harness the power… Give corn yield & quality the jolt it needs. LEARN MORE ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 9 “With sustainability, it’s certainly good for the soil, so if keeping the soil green is good for the environment, then it’s really good,” says Barlow. “I also like winter wheat because I underseed it with red clover every year, which adds another cover crop that will continue to keep the field green after the wheat comes off. It does a lot of good for the soil and makes nitrogen for next year’s crop.” As for whether this review can help boost the number of winter wheat acres in Ontario, Barlow again points to the economics: if wheat prices were $8 to $10 per bushel, it might be different. “I still think farmers know best,” he says. “We’re all trying to do our best for the environment and the best for our businesses, which, for the most part, are the same thing. Whatever we’re doing to get better yields is making the soil and the environment better.” IN CONCLUSION “Winter wheat has a tremendously balanced impact across the three dimensions of agricultural sustainability, Environmental, Economic, and Social,” says Mohammed. “Including it in the rotation is one of the most efficient ways to enhance the sustainability of grain production in Ontario.” Mohammed says that the environmental benefits of including winter wheat in the rotation is especially evident in Ontario, where spring storms are common. Having an established crop in the field during that period can help reduce the incidence of erosion. And from an economic sustainability standpoint, Mohammed points out that while the revenue tradeoff from growing winter wheat may not be immediately obvious, this highlights the need for incentives to encourage its inclusion in rotation systems. Doing so helps maintain the environmental benefits. Winter wheat also increases residue quality residue in rotation, which supports soil carbon sequestration—a key climate mitigation strategy. “This makes a strong case for promoting winter wheat as a climatesmart practice that benefits both farmers and the environment and should be considered in investment programs that support the adoption of sustainable farming practices,” concludes Mohammed. •
As conversations around climate change, sustainability programs, and carbon markets become more common in agriculture, so does a whole new set of terms and jargon. Understanding this language can help you better evaluate potential opportunities and challenges for your farm business. Here's a breakdown of some key terms a farmer might encounter based on a Carbon Accounting Lexicon. Ibrahim Mohammed Clearing the carbon confusion A farmer's glossary ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER SUSTAINABILITY 10 MEASURING CHANGE: WHERE DO WE START? • Baseline/business as usual: think of this as the starting point. It's a prediction or measurement of what would happen on your farm in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or carbon storage without any new program, incentive, or change in practice. Any reductions or storage achieved through a new program are measured against this baseline. The "business as usual" scenario assumes things continue as they have been. • Additionality: this is a critical concept, especially for carbon credit programs. For an activity (like planting cover crops or changing tillage) to be considered "additional," it must happen because of the incentive or program. In other words, the GHG reduction or carbon storage wouldn't have occurred under the "business as usual" scenario. You generally can't generate a credit for something you were already doing, though that can be possible through carbon insetting. • Life cycle analysis (LCA): this is a method used to assess the entire environmental footprint of a product, from raw material extraction through to its end use. It's the foundation for calculating things like a product's carbon intensity (CI) score. Read more about CI scores on page 14. ABOUT CARBON CREDITS AND STORAGE • Carbon credit/offset: this is a tradable unit representing one metric tonne (1,000 kg or 2,204.6 lbs) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) that has been reduced, avoided, or sequestered. • Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e): different greenhouse gases (like methane - CH4 or nitrous oxide - N2O) have different warming impacts. CO2e is a way to express them all on a common scale based on their Global Warming Potential (GWP) relative to carbon dioxide (CO2) over a specific time (usually 100 years). For example, methane might be considered to have around 23 times the warming impact of CO2 over 100 years, so one tonne of methane equals around 23 tonnes of CO2e.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER SUSTAINABILITY 11 “In a voluntary carbon market, companies, organizations, or individuals voluntarily buy carbon credits to meet their sustainability goals, offset travel, or make climate claims. • Sequestration: this refers to the long-term storage of carbon. In agriculture, this often means building up carbon in the soil as organic matter through practices like no-till or planting perennial crops. • Permanence: for sequestration projects to generate credible carbon credits, the stored carbon needs to stay stored for a long time, potentially decades or even 100 years, depending on the standard. The reduction can't just be temporary. • Offsetting: the practice of buying and "retiring" carbon credits to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. ENSURING CREDIBILITY: RULES AND TRACKING • Protocol/methodology: these are the detailed rulebooks for specific types of carbon projects (e.g., a protocol for N2O reductions from fertilizer management or soil carbon sequestration via conservation tillage). They define how to establish the baseline, monitor progress, calculate the emission reductions, and ensure additionality. • Validation: the process of checking and approving a carbon project's design (including its baseline and monitoring plan) before it starts generating credits. • Verification: the process of confirming that the actual GHG reductions or carbon sequestration claimed by a project have occurred, usually done periodically by an independent third party. • Registry: an electronic database that tracks carbon credits. Each credit gets a unique serial number to prevent double-counting. When a credit is used for offsetting, it is "retired" in the registry, so it can't be sold or used again. MARKETS AND POLICIES • Compliance market: a carbon market created by government regulations, like a cap-and-trade system or Canada's Clean Fuel Regulations. Companies covered by the regulation must reduce their emissions or acquire credits/allowances to comply. • Voluntary carbon market: this exists alongside compliance markets. Companies, organizations, or individuals voluntarily buy carbon credits to meet their sustainability goals, offset travel, or make climate claims rather than being forced to by regulation. • Cap and trade: a system where the government sets an overall limit (cap) on emissions from a group of emitters. Emitters receive or buy permits (allowances) within that cap and can trade them. Those who emit less can sell permits to those who exceed their limit. • Carbon tax: a direct fee imposed on the carbon content of fossil fuels or on GHG emissions. WIDER FOOTPRINT CONCEPTS Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions: These are categories used to track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While originally designed for companies, the same principles apply to farms. • Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the farm (e.g., emission from soil resulting from fertilizer applied, fuel burned in farm equipment used for farm operations, methane from livestock). • Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy, such as electricity or heating fuels used on the farm. • Scope 3: All other indirect emissions that occur up and down the value chain. For a farm, this could include emissions from the production of fertilizer and pesticides applied on the farm, emissions from the manufacturing and transport of inputs, and/or emissions from processing, transporting, or using the farm’s products after they leave the farm. Note: If a retailer or food company is accounting for emissions, emissions on the farm would fall under their? • Leakage is an important consideration where an emission reduction achieved by one project or policy inadvertently causes emissions to increase elsewhere. For example, restricting logging in one area simply pushes logging activity (and its associated emissions) to another area. The net benefit is reduced or lost. • Insetting: this involves a company investing in emission reductions within its value chain (e.g., helping its farmer suppliers adopt practices that lower the CI score of the grain they produce) rather than buying external offsets. Understanding these terms can provide a solid foundation as you navigate the evolving landscape of agricultural sustainability, climate policy, and potential carbon-related opportunities for your farm. Ibrahim Mohammed, PhD, is Grain Farmers of Ontario's sustainability and environment specialist. •
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER SUSTAINABILITY 12 Mary Feldskov Building better soil Enhancing Ontario’s capacity for soil health assessment and interpretation “Soil is essential to how we live. It’s critical to life,” said Senator Rob Black at a June 6, 2024, press conference highlighting the results of the Senate of Canada’s report, Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human, and Social Health. “Soil puts food on our table, it purifies our air and water, and it plays a key role in mitigating climate change.” Ontario’s grain and oilseed farmers play a big role in protecting and enhancing the province’s soils, growing barley, corn, soybeans, oats, and wheat on six million acres of farmland. Collaboration among stakeholders, including farmers, governments, the University of Guelph, and other non-governmental organizations, is key to protecting and preserving this essential resource in Ontario and Canada. The Soil Health and Assessment Plan (SHAP), a digital tool created by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), is one of the ways that stakeholders are working together—with the University of Guelph taking the lead in a project, the SHAP Ground-Truthing Project—to build a soil health database to enhance Ontario’s capacity for soil health assessment and interpretation. WHAT IS SHAP? SHAP is a digital tool, accessible by desktop or smartphone, that collects information about the soil and the way that it is managed, measures soil health indicators, and provides a framework for integrating and interpreting the information to improve soil management and soil health. Farmers will have different reasons why they would use the tool, says OMAFA’s Jake Munroe, soil management specialist. “The tool can be used to set a benchmark to compare to future assessments for identifying trends, understanding the most important limitations and risks to the soil’s productivity, and comparing good and poor areas of a field,” he says. “Defining a goal for the assessment will make it easier to decide which modules to include, and whether to take one sample representing a single location within a field or multiple samples in different zones of a field.” Soil health samples from the selected fields are analyzed (with costs currently covered by the Ground-Truthing SHAP project), giving farmers detailed reports allowing them to benchmark and find potential for improvement. SHAP includes five key soil health indicators: soil organic matter, active carbon, soil respiration, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, and aggregate stability. The results can then be compared against an extensive Ontario soil database, grouped by soil texture. The information, says Munroe, can then be used to find ways to improve soil health. “The in-field and web-based tools identify major soil degradation threats,” he says. A visual evaluation of soil structure, a water erosion risk map, a compaction risk calculator, and a living roots index are among the ways farmers can use the information to make a plan to improve their soil. “The other benefit of the tool is its flexibility,” adds Munroe. “SHAP enables you to take a snapshot of the health of your soil or do a deep dive.” GROUND-TRUTHING PROJECT Soils at Guelph, a University of Guelph initiative focused on advancing sustainable soil management in Ontario, is embarking on a largescale project, the SHAP Ground-Truthing Project, to add 1,000 more farms to the Ontario database of soils. The project, says Heather White, knowledge mobilization and communication coordinator at Soils at Guelph, is an excellent opportunity for farmers to not only contribute to the gathering of benchmarking data, but also to get the information from the SHAP tool to better understand and improve the soil on their own farm.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER SUSTAINABILITY 13 Soils at Guelph will then, in turn, use the information to create resources for farmers. “We can create resources that could address [farmers’ questions about their soil] so that the reports themselves become more meaningful as tools for making decisions about how to manage their soil going forward,” says White. The program is free for farmers to participate, with Soils at Guelph covering the cost of the analysis of one sample per field; farmers can submit multiple samples. “We’re hoping to get the 1,000 samples this season, and then next year we're going to be going through all the data and making sense of it,” says White. “We're going to continue to meet and engage with farmers and advisors to figure out how to best present the data, what makes it most meaningful for them to be able to make decisions from it.” White emphasizes that the database contains aggregated data, meaning that individual farms' data is anonymous and no personal information is shared. The data will then be available for collaborating organizations to use in soil-specific research. HOW TO PARTICIPATE Farmers interested in participating in the project can visit www. soilsatguelph.ca/soil-health-testing or email soils@uoguelph.ca. More information about SHAP can be found at www.fieldcropnews.com. • Field Crop News Soil Health Testing
Ibrahim Mohammed What is carbon intensity? Why does it matter for your grain farm? WHAT IS CARBON INTENSITY (CI)? Think of Carbon Intensity (CI) as the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint associated with producing one unit of a specific product. For grain farmers, this usually means the total GHG emissions linked to growing one bushel of corn, soybeans, or wheat or producing one megajoule (MJ) of energy if that grain becomes biofuel. The CI score is the specific number that quantifies this intensity. It's typically measured in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of energy (gCO2e/MJ) for fuels or sometimes adapted to a per-bushel basis for grain. A lower CI score is better, indicating lower GHG emissions associated with production. A score of zero implies carbon neutrality for that unit of production. HOW IS A CI SCORE CALCULATED? Calculating a CI score isn't just about one factor; it involves a lifecycle assessment. This means looking at the GHG emissions generated (and potentially carbon sequestered) across various stages: You might be hearing more talk about "carbon intensity" or "CI scores" lately, especially in relation to biofuels and sustainability initiatives. While it sounds technical, understanding carbon intensity is becoming increasingly relevant for Ontario grain farmers navigating new market demands and environmental considerations. So, what exactly is it? Inputs: includes emissions from manufacturing inputs like nitrogen fertilizer (which is very energy-intensive to produce), pesticides, and seeds. Field operations: fuel used for tillage, planting, spraying, and harvesting; emissions from the soil (like nitrous oxide from fertilizer application); changes in soil organic carbon due to tillage or cover cropping. Transportation: moving inputs to the farm and grain from the farm. (Potentially) processing: emissions associated with drying grain or processing it into other products (though this is often calculated further down the value chain). Sophisticated models are used for these calculations. In the U.S., the Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (GREET) model is frequently referenced. In Canada, ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER SUSTAINABILITY 14
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER SUSTAINABILITY 15 the federal government uses its Fuel Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model to support regulations like the Clean Fuel Regulations. Tools like the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness AgriSuite GHG Decision Support Tool can also help farmers estimate their farm's overall GHG footprint, covering many of the same data points relevant to CI. WHAT DRIVES YOUR FARM'S CI SCORE? Several key farm management factors influence your grain's potential CI score: Yield: generally, higher yields lower the CI score per bushel, as fixed emissions are spread over more products. However, this assumes input efficiency is maintained or improved. Nitrogen management: this is a major factor. Optimizing nitrogen use through the 4Rs (Right Source, Rate, Time, Place), using enhanced-efficiency fertilizers, or potentially crediting manure applications can significantly reduce energy use upstream and nitrous oxide emissions in the field, lowering the CI score. Tillage practices: reducing tillage intensity (moving towards notill) typically lowers the CI score by cutting fuel consumption and helping sequester more carbon in the soil. Cover crops: planting cover crops can increase soil carbon sequestration and potentially reduce the need for synthetic nitrogen, both contributing to a lower CI score. Fuel efficiency: using less diesel for field operations directly reduces CO2 emissions. WHY PAY ATTENTION TO CI? The focus on CI scores is primarily being driven by a few key areas: Biofuel markets: this is the biggest driver right now. Canada's Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) require gasoline and diesel suppliers to gradually reduce the average carbon intensity of the fuel they sell in Canada (aiming for about 15 per cent reduction below 2016 levels by 2030). Fuel producers are increasingly seeking low-CI feedstocks like corn, soybeans, and canola to produce ethanol, biodiesel, and renewable diesel to meet these targets. In the future, we are likely also to see low CI grain demand for applications in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Similar incentives exist in the U.S. (e.g., the 45Z tax credit). Potential premiums: grain with a demonstrably lower CI score may command a premium price from biofuel producers or other buyers looking to meet regulatory requirements or corporate sustainability goals. While this market is still developing and premiums aren't guaranteed, it represents a potential future revenue stream tied directly to sustainable practices. Supply chain sustainability ("Insetting"): beyond biofuels, food companies and other manufacturers are increasingly scrutinizing the environmental footprint of their entire supply chain (Scope 3 emissions). Knowing and reducing the CI of the raw agricultural commodities they purchase might become a factor in sourcing decisions. This focuses on reducing emissions within the value chain (insetting) rather than buying external offsets. Farm management insights: even without selling into a CI-sensitive market, calculating your farm's GHG footprint or CI can provide valuable insights into where your biggest emissions sources are, helping you target management changes effectively. CI IN THE CANADIAN CONTEXT Canada's Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) are the key piece of policymaking CI that is relevant here. The goal: reduce the carbon intensity of liquid transportation fuels sold in Canada. How it works: fuel suppliers must meet progressively lower average CI targets for their fuel pool each year. They can do this by improving their own processes, blending more low-CI biofuels, or purchasing compliance credits. Impact on farmers: creates demand for Canadian-grown feedstocks (corn, canola, soy, wheat) that can be verified as having a lower CI. Requirements: farmers supplying grain potentially destined for biofuel markets under the CFR may need to sign declarations confirming the crop was grown in Canada (meeting land use and biodiversity criteria) and provide representative GPS coordinates for the harvested area. Today, each crop (i.e. corn, canola, etc.) is assigned a generic CI based on regional practice and emissions averages, and farm-specific CIs are not being measured directly. CI VS. CARBON CREDITS: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? It's easy to confuse CI scores with carbon credits, but they are distinct. Carbon intensity (CI) score: measures the GHG footprint per unit of product (e.g., per bushel). It's embedded in the product itself. Value comes from potential market premiums for low-CI products, driven by regulations like the CFR or supply chain demand. continued on page 16
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER SUSTAINABILITY 16 Supports high performance and lower environmental impact by maximizing your fertilizer efficiency! Premium Liquid Foliar Fertilizer - Powered by ALPINE Bio-K® Manufactured in Canada for Canadian Farmers visit us online: alpinepfl.com or call: 1-844.655.BIOK (2465) Scan For More Information! Guaranteed Nutritional Analysis: lbs per litre applied Total Nitrogen (N) ........................................0.217 Available Phosphate (P205) ........................ 0.108 Soluble Potash (K20) ....................................0.163 Guaranteed Nutritional Analysis: grams per litre applied Boron (B) ........................................................1.23 Copper (Cu)................................................... 2.46 Manganese (Mn) ............................................12.3 Zinc (Zn) .........................................................12.3 ALPINE F18 Max Powered by: Carbon credits (offsets): represent a discrete quantity of verified GHG reduction or removal (e.g., one tonne of CO2e). These credits can often be sold separately on compliance or voluntary markets to entities looking to offset their own emissions. Generating credits usually requires adhering to specific protocols and often involves longer-term commitments for practices like soil carbon sequestration. While related (the same practices often lower CI and can generate credits), the mechanisms and markets are different. WHAT CAN YOU DO NOW? Focus on fundamentals: implementing practices that improve nitrogen use efficiency (4Rs), build soil health (reduced tillage, cover crops), and boost yields efficiently are beneficial for your bottom line and resilience and also happen to lower your potential CI score. Keep good records: detailed records on inputs (especially nitrogen fertilizer), yields, tillage, cover crops, and fuel use are crucial for any future CI calculation or verification. Stay informed: If your grain buyer asks you to participate in a CIrelated program, ensure you understand the terms, benefits and risks. Grain Farmers of Ontario regularly publishes information on environmental sustainability programs and regulations in the Ontario Grain Farmer magazine and on www.gfo.ca, which may be helpful. Explore tools: familiarize yourself with resources like OMAFRA's AgriSuite GHG tool to understand your farm's emission profile. While this will not provide a precise, validated CI score, it will give you a starting point should specific market opportunities arise in the future. Carbon intensity is an evolving metric in agriculture. While direct market premiums are still developing, the underlying drivers— particularly clean fuel policies and supply chain sustainability demands—suggest that understanding and managing your farm's carbon footprint per unit of production will likely become increasingly important. Ibrahim Mohammed, PhD, is Grain Farmers of Ontario's sustainability and environment specialist.• continued from page 15
(J.M.) HOW DOES FARM CREDIT CANADA SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE FARM PRACTICES? (C.G.) Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is focused on supporting sustainable farm practices across Canada. That's why we launched the Sustainability Incentive Program (www.fcc-fac.ca/en/financing/ agriculture/sustainability-incentive-program) in 2022, offering eligible farmers up to $4,000 in financial incentives. This program is focused on helping farmers adopt and improve their sustainable practices yearover-year. While this program is available exclusively to eligible FCC lending customers, it also supports the overall agricultural industry and the goals that individual sectors have established to enhance the sustainability and viability of Canadian farms. HOW WAS THE SUSTAINABILITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM DEVELOPED? We believe it is important to partner with initiatives that are already serving the industry and working to improve farm sustainability. So, rather than create a new program, FCC has partnered with existing programs that follow and encourage sector-recommended practices. Working alongside industry organizations, we can emphasize what others are doing with financial incentives to support the programs and reward Canadian farmers. Six incentive programs are currently available under the Sustainability Incentive Program to eligible FCC customers who meet the criteria set out by their industry. These include the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), Cargill RegenConnect™, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Lactanet and Starbucks Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and PepsiCo, Fertilizer Canada's Nutrient Stewardship Program – 4R, and the McCain Regenerative Agriculture Framework. Each of these programs is different and based on production practices that relate to the individual sector. Some programs also offer matching contributions from other sustainably minded companies, like Starbucks and McCain, that amplify the financial rewards available to farmers. WHAT DO ONTARIO GRAIN FARMERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FCC INCENTIVES FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES? Ontario grain farmers may be most interested in Fertilizer Canada's Nutrient Stewardship Program – 4R (www.fcc-fac.ca/en/financing/ agriculture/sustainability-incentive-program/4r). This program began in 2024 and integrates FCC's AgExpert Field with Fertilizer Canada's Nutrient Stewardship Program. Incentive payments are calculated as a portion of a farmer's lending with FCC, to a maximum payment of $4,000 in one year. This program is available annually, so farmers can participate annually to build on their sustainability efforts. To participate in the 4R Sustainability Incentive Program, eligible farmers must have a 4R crop plan in place for the 2025 growing season, record their production activities, including fertilizer applications, in AgExpert Field throughout the growing season, and have their 4R beneficial management practices verified by a 4R professional within AgExpert Field at the end of the growing season. Farmers should also note that the 4R beneficial management practices must be implemented on at least 50 per cent of their acres. Applications for this incentive program will open in fall 2025 to coincide with the end of the growing season. Ontario grain farmers who manage diversified operations can also participate in other FCC Sustainability Incentive Programs based on the various commodities on their farms. WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE TO THE PROGRAM BEEN LIKE? In 2024, 675 successful applicants participated in the program and received $1.1 million in incentives from FCC. When payouts from the matching partners were added, that total increased to $1.3 million last year. We're proud of the program's success, and looking ahead, we are aiming for a 15 per cent year-over-year increase in applications. In 2025, we are targeting 775 successful applicants and look forward to supporting eligible farmers in their efforts to enhance the sustainability of their farms. FCC is proud to collaborate with our industry and valued customers to shape a future where future farm generations can thrive. • Incentivizing sustainable farms Jeanine Moyer Business side with... Curtis Grainger, FCC Director of Lending Products and Pricing, www.fcc-fac.ca ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER BUSINESS SIDE 17
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER GRAIN TALK 18 Your Grain Farmers of Ontario Team Here is our next installment of profiles of your Grain Farmers of Ontario Board of Directors to help introduce you to the team. Ann Vermeersch Director, District 5 (Elgin, Norfolk) Ann Vermeersch is the director for District 5 (Norfolk/Elgin). She was elected as a director in 2025 after serving as a delegate for five years. She currently serves as chair of the Research and Innovation committee. Ann and her husband, Jeff, own and operate Tillvalley Farms Inc. in Courtland, close to the north shore of Lake Erie in Norfolk County. Together, they farm corn, soybeans, wheat, rye and edible beans. Additionally, they operate a Pioneer Hi-Bred seed agency and custom application business. Vermeersch is actively involved in managing all aspects of the business. Vermeesrch has a BSc. (Agr.) from the University of Guelph and an M.Sc. in Crop Science from Michigan State University. She is a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (Class 16), a past participant in the ASA-Corteva Young Leaders program, and is a Certified Crop Advisor with a 4R designation. Before farming full-time, Vermeersch worked in the crop protection industry for seven years. She has also been involved in multiple organizations serving in different leadership capacities over the years, including Norfolk Soil and Crop, Norfolk Federation of Agriculture, Ontario CCA board, Norfolk County Council agriculture advisory, and Norfolk County Fair. In her free time, Vermeersch enjoys spending time with her three children, Abbie, Aric, and Evelyn. The girls are very involved in competitive dance, and Aric plays rep hockey. Ann can be found on X @cheekyfarmgirl. Grain Jason Seed Director, District 15 (Northern Ontario) Jason Seed was elected director of District 15 (Northern Ontario in January 2025. After getting his start with Grain Farmers of Ontario on the Grains in Action tour in 2020, he first joined the District as a delegate in 2021. As a delegate, he has served as a member of the Market Development Committee. Seed was born and raised on a beef farm outside Haileybury, Ontario. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University. During his time at university, he spent summers working at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Swift Current Research and Development Centre in Saskatchewan, where his love of all things agriculture flourished. His time in Saskatchewan was spent focusing on native rangeland forages (including variety development and agronomic research). After graduating, he worked as an economist at the research centre supporting scientists in creating economic reports for their work, mainly focusing on risk analysis and disease pressures in pulse crops. Seed moved home in 2020, and lives with his wife, Emily and son, Elliott, on their farm near Englehart, Ontario, growing 300 acres of grain and canola crops, where he has a passion for exploring new practices in crop production. Some of these practices integrate raising beef and poultry for direct-to-consumer sales to maximize production on their small farm. This is accomplished by utilizing crop residues and combining agri systems to support biodiversity, healthier soils, and a better overall economic outlook. Seed enjoys spending time with his wife and son, as well as camping, fishing and keeping up to date with all things farming and economics on YouTube. He can be found on X @JasonSeed13.
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