Trump’s Farmers everywhere are impacted agriculture agenda AUGUST 2025 www.OntarioGrainFarmer.ca AROUND THE WORLD
At Ritchie Bros., we work with farmers across Canada to provide global channels to buy and sell equipment. We understand the value of your equipment and the hard work behind your operation. How We Help Our Customers When it’s time to sell your ag equipment, farmland, or both, you need an auction company you can count on – one with the experience, market knowledge and a solid reputation for helping Canadian farmers get the best returns possible. That’s Ritchie Bros. Looking to adjust your business to better fit the current market? Ritchie Bros. offers various avenues of sale to align with future operational needs. We guarantee a specified base cash value, then share a percentage of any additional sales proceeds. Whether your company is big or small, Ritchie Bros. can help you sell your equipment. With our multiple flexible solutions, industry-leading market insights and unmatched ability to drive global buyer demand, you can sell when, where and how you want and get the returns you need. Retirement Realignment Live Unreserved Auctions 24/7 Online Marketplace Gross Guarantee All Sizes Our Channels Farm Auctions Save time and hassle with this all-inclusive service where we sell on the global market for you from one of our sites in unreserved auctions. We take care of everything: equipment storage, global marketing, buyer inquiries, and collecting post-sale proceeds on your behalf. This end-to-end dispersal service takes the pressure off you and provides you with certainty of sale. When it’s time to sell your ag equipment, farmland, or both, you need an auction company you can count on – one with the experience, market knowledge and a solid reputation for helping Canadian farmers get the best returns possible. We take care of the entire selling process. From start to finish, your success and satisfaction are our goals. With this assisted-service solution you can sell from your location and you’re in complete control of the price and timing with a choice of Buy Now or Make Offer selling formats. We manage the selling & transaction for you for a hassle-free experience, and we advise on pricing based on latest market data so you can maximize your returns. rbauction.com/sell Talk to one of us today about your selling options: Brooke Schrijver 1-226-973-2219 Chris Sarles 1-613-840-7275 Christopher Walker 1-382-889-0111 Jamie Aylesworth 1-613-583-9665
25 Business side Conversations with business experts 29 Crop side Agronomic information from crop specialists JUNE/JULY 2025 volume 16, number 8 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 Trump’s agricultural agenda Owen Roberts 6On the cover INDUSTRY NEWS 10 Saving seeds for the future Mary Feldskov 12 In Danish waters Matt McIntosh 14 The future of glyphosate: cloudy or clear Ralph Pearce 17 Honouring a legacy Ontario Grain Farmer 26 Adapting to the market Melanie Epp 30 Weathering the storm Matt McIntosh RURAL LIVING 32 Globetrotting farmers Mary Feldskov LOOKING BACK 20 Fifteen years of global experiences Ontario Grain Farmer RESEARCH 22 Global models for research and extension Lauren Benoit
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER FROM THE CEO’S DESK 4 From the CEO's desk Trade disruptions due to tariffs and uncertainty about the future of CUSMA are just a few of the issues that Ontario farmers are facing as the U.S. administration, headed by President Trump, makes sweeping changes to agricultural, domestic, and international diplomatic policy. The old saying—when America sneezes, the world catches a cold—has never been truer. Under Canada’s new Liberal minority government, Prime Minister Carney has emphasized building stronger relationships and trade pacts with global partners beyond North America, including the European Union. Grain Farmers of Ontario is well-positioned to take advantage of this new strategic direction. We’ve been connecting with global buyers of grains and oilseeds through a well-coordinated market development strategy that leverages the expertise of the Ontario and Canadian governments, as well as partners such as Soy Canada and Cereals Canada. The world’s population is projected to be nearly 10 billion by 2050, and Ontario’s reputation for growing high-quality, sustainable, and nutritious grains and oilseeds will provide an opportunity to meet the demands of a growing—and hungry—population. When grain farmers grow, Canada grows. That’s the message that Grain Farmers of Ontario, together with our partners from eastern Canada, the Atlantic Grains Council, and Producteurs de grains du Québec, have taken to Ottawa, with a new campaign that emphasizes the opportunities to grow the Canadian economy through government investment in the agriculture sector. At our annual federal reception on June 7, we were joined by the new federal agriculture minister, Health MacDonald, Senator Rob Black, and MPs from parties across the political spectrum. Our advocacy on Parliament Hill is an ongoing priority, and we continue to make sure we have a seat at the table when it comes to government policy that impacts farmers. On the farm, the variable weather and weed, disease, and pest pressures have continued to pose challenges for farmer-members this year as the growing season advances. Grain Farmers of Ontario’s continued investment in research and agronomic extension is aimed at helping farmers mitigate the impacts of these external threats. And we continue to see success: the growth of the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) is just one example. Now, with more than a million data points gathered over the program’s five years, the YEN is helping Ontario and U.S. farmers find ways to maximize their yield potential. In June, the learning continued, with a delegation of Ontario and U.S. farmers heading to the U.K. to glean knowledge from growers there, including world-record holding yield producers. When you read this in August, the cereals harvest will be underway, and farmers will be gearing up for the busy fall harvest season. The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), where Grain Farmers of Ontario and Good in Every Grain will be exhibiting in the CNE Farm, will start in just a few weeks, signalling that the ‘end of summer’ is approaching. Looking ahead to the fall, Grain Farmers of Ontario is busy planning for events like the AGM on September 9, Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, the International Plowing Match, and the Royal Winter Fair. I look forward to connecting with farmermembers at these events—be sure to stop by the Grain Farmers of Ontario booth to say hello to staff, delegates, and directors.• Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario All eyes have been on what’s happening south of our border, and the ripple effects of U.S. policy are being felt worldwide. The grain and oilseed industry, as well as the broader agriculture sector in Canada, is no exception.
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ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 6 Owen Roberts Trump’s agricultural agenda Farmers everywhere are impacted Agricultural exports and the future of crop protection are among the threats to American farmers since President Donald Trump began his second term, instituting highly controversial measures to fulfill his "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) mandate. Exactly how agriculture will endure is anyone’s guess, but there’s no question the ripple effect is being felt everywhere, including Canada. Export-dependent U.S. grain farmers may be most vulnerable to the Trump administration’s policies and priorities. The combination of waning markets due to the president’s tariff policies, along with the negative connection being purported between Americans’ health and widely used crop protection products, is making an impact on Trump’s polling numbers: a May poll showed that 46 per cent of rural voters approve of Trump's job performance, while 45 per cent disapprove. That was a big change since February, when 59 per cent approved and 37 per cent disapproved. But it is not totally unexpected. As far back as January, at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual convention in San Antonio, Texas, AFBF President Zippy Duvall warned convention delegates of the inherent threat of uninformed elected officials who wave the MAGA flag. “Many of them, they’re not familiar with agriculture, and some of them have ideas that would set us back years in modern-day farming and interrupt our food security,” he said. “Now, how we engage with these skeptics of modern agriculture is tremendously important.” Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News via Getty Images
continued on page 8 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 7 “The American Soybean Association called the [MAHA] report “brazenly unscientific and damaging to consumer confidence in America’s safe, reliable food system.” DOGE CUTS IMPACT AGRICULTURE Shortly after Trump took office, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was created to reduce federal government department budgets, including the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). If workers’ jobs didn’t align with the Trump government’s priorities, which dismissed the likes of foreign aid, food aid, international development, food inspection, conservation, research, or diversity, equity and inclusion—they were fired or offered immediate buyouts. By May, more than 15,000 of the USDA’s 100,000-strong staff were on their way out the door. One institutional victim of the cuts was the University of Illinois Soybean Innovation Lab, established in 2013 to help establish a soybean market in sub-Saharan Africa. Lab director Peter Goldsmith said the lab’s efforts were a win for U.S. growers, creating a new market in the world’s fastest-growing region. He called the lab closing “a huge opportunity loss for U.S. growers,” before taking it upon himself to find funding to keep the lab open. Other federal workers took a proactive approach—one that ended their government careers. Before DOGE’s cuts impacted their jobs, 98 of 167 food safety scientists at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service resigned to protest DOGE cuts. Their work included detecting pathogens, preventing foodborne illness, and identifying chemical and other contaminants in food. MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services created another pause for concern in the agriculture sector as he promoted his ‘Make America Healthy Again (MAHA)’ agenda. For grain farmers, the concern lies with Kennedy’s views of modern crop protection products, especially pesticides and particularly glyphosate. Prior to his government appointment, Kennedy worked as a lawyer and was involved in litigation against the glyphosate product Roundup. In October, when Trump promised to let Kennedy “go wild on science” if elected, the agri-food sector started bracing for the worst. Trump budgeted $500 million for MAHA and supported a hastily assembled MAHA report on childhood health. But even before the report was released, U.S. farm leaders lined up to warn against
continued from page 7 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 8 Kennedy’s stance. Four of the biggest farm groups, the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, and International Fresh Produce Association criticized the lack of consultation between farmers and the government. “Despite the effort of many of our organizations to work with [MAHA] to provide factual information about American food production, we have heard disturbing accounts that the commission report may suggest U.S. farmers are harming Americans through their production practices and creating foods that [are] destroying our microbiome and bodies—leading directly to our chronic disease crisis,” the group said. “Nothing could be further from the truth.” The farm groups’ suspicions proved to be accurate. Although Kennedy would later say he had no intention of disrupting glyphosate use on American farms, the MAHA Commission contended that one of the four major drivers behind the rise in childhood chronic illness was “environmental chemicals.” Others, it said, were poor diets, chronic stress, lack of physical activity, and over-medicalization. It blamed these ills on conflicts of interest and corporate influence in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. For its part, the American Soybean Association called the report “brazenly unscientific and damaging to consumer confidence in America’s safe, reliable food system,” not to mention how such reports affect consumers in Canada and in other countries, Brazil and Argentina, among them, where glyphosate is also popular. So, where is U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in all this? According to the USDA, she and Kennedy are working together in crafting what they call “sensical Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” which, in May, were said to be set to be released soon. The USDA said Rollins and Kennedy are working to ensure federal nutrition advice is sound, simple, and clear and will prioritize “whole, healthy, and nutritious” foods such as dairy, fruits, vegetables, and meats and suggest limitations of foods high in sugar and salt (no mention of grain). Given that Kennedy has claimed canola and soybean seed oil is toxic, the agri-food sector may once again be impacted. ETHANOL POLICY GARNERS INDUSTRY ACCLAIM Also worrisome to Midwest U.S. grain farmers is Rollins’ position on ethanol. From 2003 to 2018, she was the president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank that opposed ethanol requirements for fuel. Farmers were concerned her history would harm ethanol development. However, in June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released proposed biofuel blending volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that garnered industry acclaim. President Trump and Secretary Kennedy. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News via Getty Images
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 9 -- 1 -- Helvetica Neue LT Std PR25282-078_BAYER_Ontario Grain Farmer.indd Bayer-078-2025 T:7.125" T:4.875" This shirt has stories to tell. About amazing yields, once-in-a-hundred year storms and getting the last acre of seed in before the weather turns. It’s been there for you. And so has the name on the front. DEKALB® will never stop delivering high-performing corn and soybean seed with the advanced genetics and traits you depend on, all backed by Bayer. No wonder it’s the brand farmers are most willing to recommend*. #MakingHistory * Source: Stratus Ag Research (2024) Bayer, Bayer Cross, DEKALB and Design® and DEKALB® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. Used under license. ©2025 Bayer Group. All rights reserved. DEKALB.ca | 1 888-283-6847 | @DEKALB_Canada | @Bayer4CropsCA The agency proposed that refiners must blend 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuels in 2026 and 2027. It also proposed regulatory changes to the RFS program, including reducing the number of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) generated for imported renewable fuel and renewable fuel produced from foreign feedstocks and removing renewable electricity as a qualifying renewable fuel under the RFS program (eRINs). Devin Mogler, president and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association, was effusive in his praise. “We applaud the administration for recognizing the need to reduce the RIN value for biofuels made from imports of tallow and so-called ‘used cooking oil,’ which have been displacing U.S. soybean oil, harming farmers and biofuel producers alike for years,” he said. “These strong volumes and prioritization of U.S. farmers align policy with actual domestic production capacity and ensure that American-grown feedstocks remain at the heart of a secure and affordable energy future.” Looking ahead, among the agriculture issues on the table are the long-stalled U.S. Farm Bill, which is expected to significantly cut nutritional support to many Americans, and state versus federal requirements for matters such as animal welfare and pesticide labelling. A projected 20-plus per cent drop in farm incomes, along with export market losses due to Trump tariffs, are among the challenges facing U.S. farmers in the coming months.•
Mary Feldskov Saving seeds for the future Plant genetics are critical for global food security Home to polar bears, Arctic foxes, reindeer, and walruses, Svalbard, Norway, is a remote archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. It is situated halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, and is one of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, known for its dramatic, stark beauty and extreme conditions. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 10 It is also home to the world's most diverse collection of seeds and genetic material: a “doomsday” collection of over 1.3 million seed varieties from around the globe, known as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. GLOBAL COOPERATION The Seed Vault was the brainchild of Cary Fowler, who, named as head of the Global Crop Diversity Trust in 2005, envisioned safeguarding the genetic diversity stored in gene banks around the world. “Gene banks, for a lay person, are a fancy word for freezers, in regular buildings,” says Fowler, who was the keynote speaker at the International Seed Federation Congress in Istanbul, Türkiye, in May 2025. Those ‘regular buildings’ are prone to all kinds of disasters—fire, floods, war. Fowler says he kept a file on his computer named ‘Gene Bank Horror Stories,’ documenting the irreplaceable loss of genetic diversity. “Every time something like this happened and it was an extinction event, we lost diversity, including unique diversity, including perhaps unique traits that a particular crop species might need in the future, and we lost it forever. It was gone like the dinosaurs.” HOW THE VAULT WORKS Svalbard, although remote, is an ideal location for such a facility. Built into the side of a mountain, the Vault, opened in 2008, measures 27 metres long, six metres wide, and six metres tall, and is accessible by a 100-metre-long tunnel. The seeds are stored in freezers at -18 °C, but even in the case of power loss, the permafrost prevents temperatures from rising above -5 °C. “[The seeds] would still remain frozen. And that would give us, according to our calculation, many months to get the repairman out to fix the equipment,” says Fowler. Funded by a global partnership between the Norwegian government, the Global Crop Diversity Trust, the Nordic Genetic Resource Center, and international contributions from governments, gene banks, nongovernmental organizations, and private donors, storing seeds in the vault is provided free of charge to depositors. “It operates like a safety deposit box at the bank,” says Fowler. “Depositors send Cary Fowler at the International Seed Federation Congress in Istanbul, Türkiye, in May 2025, shows the footprint of the Global Seed Vault. Photo credit ISF.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 11 “Svalbard is home to the world's most diverse collection of seeds and genetic material: a “doomsday” collection of over 1.3 million seed varieties from around the globe, known as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. a duplicate copy of their seeds. The Seed Vault protects those seeds free of charge. And if anything happens to the original copy…they can be returned to the depositor. Nobody else has access to them.” REAL-WORLD DISASTER AVERTED The ‘worst-looking’ boxes in the seed vault, says Fowler, are his favourite; and they highlight just how important the seed vault is in preserving genetic diversity. The boxes came from the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas, Icarta, located outside of Aleppo, Syria. “The reason why they're my favourite is that we got those boxes out in an emergency situation just before basically all hell broke loose in Aleppo, Syria, during the civil war there,” says Fowler. Two weeks before civil war fighting began in the area, the boxes were hastily collected and evacuated by truck. The center was a major holder of genetic material, particularly wheat and barley, bred for drought and heat tolerance. “In other words, of global importance,” says Fowler. “It would have been a true global humanitarian disaster had that collection been lost.” CANADIAN CONTRIBUTIONS In Canada, the Plant Gene Resources of Canada (PGRC), located at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, is one of three gene banks in the country. PGRC stores seeds that contain genetic material critical for research, education, or plant breeding, serving as a reservoir of the biodiversity of cultivated plants and their wild relatives, including native species with potential for agriculture or horticulture. These genetic resources are available to share with research clients across Canada and more than 65 countries worldwide, with approximately 6,000 seed samples shipped annually to help plant breeders address issues such as pests, diseases, and climate change. “I believe in breeders sharing germplasm,” says Istvan Rajcan, University of Guelph soybean breeder. “Everybody keeps their genetics close to their heart, which is not good for the industry at the end of the day.” The PGRC holds a collection of Ontario Agricultural College-developed varieties, including soybean and wheat accessions. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is an important ‘back-up’ for the collection in Saskatoon, which has shipped samples to Svalbard since it opened in 2008. In 2023, the 15th anniversary of the Global Seed Vault, the Centre sent its ninth shipment of seeds, bringing the total number of the Centre’s seed samples stored at the facility to 35,000. ONGOING WORK In June 2025, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault received its most recent deposit, with a further 11,206 samples added to its collection. Among the depositors was Can Tho University in Vietnam, which, for the first time, contributed 1,000 rice samples, both improved and traditional varieties, selected to reflect the crop’s cultivation in the Mekong Delta; the U.S. Seed Savers Exchange, depositing varieties of arugula, barley, common beans, collard, cowpea, cucumber, eggplant, flax, lettuce, millet, okra, poppy, rutabaga, sesame, sunflower and tomato; and Korea’s Rural Development Administration, with 4,000 accessions of key local crop including rice, soybean, adzuki bean, barley, sesame, sorghum, foxtail millet, perilla, and radish. “This [deposit] provides another snapshot of the rich crop diversity now held in the Seed Vault,” says Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust. “These deposits acknowledge cultural heritage as key to the survival of plant varieties that are all too often forgotten but are surely vital to the future of food. The Crop Trust works to ensure these culturally significant crops are conserved forever. The time to act is now.”• Svalbard Global Seed Vault
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 12 Matt McIntosh In Danish waters Denmark’s ambitious approach to water quality and biodiversity improvement Denmark has restored 40,000 hectares of wetlands over the last few decades. Now, with ambitions to naturalize drastically more farmland over a much-reduced timescale, some Danes question whether their national government realizes the scale of investment required to achieve its nature restoration targets. One person in particular—Brian Kronvang, professor of ecological science at Aarhus University—cites a lack of extension services, rather than a dearth of money or political will, as a critical limiting factor. He believes that the involvement of local farm representatives in the process of assessing property for restoration, as well as grassroots efforts to improve water quality on the farm, are important characteristics of Denmark’s approach and partly responsible for the successes to date. DENMARK’S TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT Denmark’s environmental restoration efforts stem from a broader push within the European Union to rehabilitate and restore the bloc’s land and seascapes. Under its Nature Restoration Law, officially in force since August 2024, European Union member states must take steps to conserve at least 20 per cent of land and sea areas by 2030, and “all ecosystems in need of restoration” by 2050. Each member state is responsible for designing and implementing its own programming to reach these targets. Denmark has opted to reach Europe’s environmental goals through the Green Tripartite Agreement. This legislation was created by a committee comprised of farmers, government and civil service representatives, and environmental nongovernmental organizations. The country’s NATURE RESTORATION LAW EXPLAINED The European Union assesses that 80 per cent of the continent’s habitats are in poor condition, with alarming rates of ongoing decline. Concerted efforts to restore wetlands, rivers, forests, grasslands, marine ecosystems, and the species they host are ongoing. The objectives are to increase biodiversity, improve the continent’s carbon footprint, build resiliency against natural disasters, and mitigate environmental risks to food security. The Restoration Law also includes specific targets pertaining to agricultural ecosystems, including increasing grassland butterflies and farmland birds, improving organic carbon stocks in cropland soils, increasing the share of agricultural land with high-diversity landscape features, and the restoration of peatlands currently drained for agricultural use. goal of restoring an additional 140,000 hectares of woodland and wetland is one element of the agreement. Frederick Thalbitzer, a Danish agriculture journalist and chair of the European Network of Agriculture Journalists, says Denmark’s Green Tripartite Agreement has widespread support among the majority of Danish legislators. Endorsements from both agricultural sector representatives and environmental groups also make it more difficult for future governments and political parties to reject it, providing long-term stability. Such consensus, says Thalbitzer, is not to be taken lightly given how wide-reaching and ambitious Denmark’s strategy is. Regarding landscape restoration specifically, more than 10 per cent of the country’s agricultural land will eventually be converted to naturalized areas such as forests, some of which will remain in private hands, while other parcels will be acquired by the state. “It is really enormous. Farmers would have to give up their land, but they would be compensated,” says Thalbitzer. “A majority [of farmers] would say, ‘okay, this is what we have to do. It’s the best deal we could get, and we will get the compensation for our land’.” PLANNING (AND TIME) NEEDED On the ground, regional governments have a hand in identifying what lands should be
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 13 restored. Land is then purchased from the farmer, or other land is acquired in exchange for parcels designated for restoration. A combination of the two compensation methods is also possible. Farmer representatives, appointed by their regional peers, participate in the process by, in part, establishing the value of land to be acquired and traded. Kronvang, who has been involved in wetland restoration projects across Denmark’s agricultural landscape, says the inclusion of farmers in land valuation and acquisition will be vital to the success of what is a very ambitious and complicated Tripartite initiative. His experience and observations over the last several decades indicate that widespread water quality and biodiversity improvements can be achieved if landscape restoration efforts are also beneficial for farmers. Denmark has already recorded significant improvements in both inland and coastal waters, including a reduction in nitrogen loading between 1991 and 2018. While Kronvang considers such water quality improvement a dramatic success, he believes the country’s 140,000-hectares by 2030 goal impossible due, in part, to a lack of experts— specifically, those available to help farmers and local governments identify what lands ought to be acquired, traded, and re-wetted in a manner equitable, and ecologically effective, for both the farming and non-farming community. This extension gap exists despite the massive hunger among regional administrations and members of the farming community to support the country’s overarching strategy. Kronvang doesn’t believe more extension professionals would solve every challenge in meeting Tripartite Agreement goals, but such individuals are nonetheless a critical element in the ability of local officials to plan, apply for, and navigate what he refers to as Denmark’s “very complicated” bureaucracy. MITIGATING NUTRIENT RUNOFF In addition to nature restoration, Danish farmers also contend with a variety of operational requirements focused on reducing nutrient loss. This includes limits on the volume of nitrogen fertilizer they can use and mandates that a certain percentage of acres be planted with cover crops each year, both being examples of how water quality is top of mind for the Danish government. For his part, Kronvang continues working with farmers to establish practical natural infrastructure projects, within farms and at field edges, that mitigate nutrient loss to waterways. This includes strategically placed buffer strips, constructed wetlands of varying designs, more controlled drainage systems, restored wetlands, and other ideas trialled and evaluated over the last 15 years. The idea, Kronvang says, is to improve water quality through “bottom-up” approaches that make sense for each farm’s unique topography, soil structure, and other factors within the production system. • Built on trust. Strengthened through generations. Your mutual partner—here for what matters most. The Commonwell. Find a Local Broker at thecommonwell.ca/find-a-broker individuals. together. River Skjern Photo courtesy of Matt McIntosh
Ralph Pearce The future of glyphosate: Farmers in Canada are waiting for the fallout of legal battles in the U.S. Most days, farming is challenged by weather conditions, cost of production issues, and market volatility. But in 2025, North American growers are watching and waiting as the future of a reliable, reasonably-priced and long-trusted tool is being decided, without their input—and some might say without their consideration. cloudy or clear It’s been nearly 30 years since Roundup Ready soybeans entered North America’s agricultural landscape, becoming the leading herbicide-tolerant technology, which was also adapted to corn, canola, alfalfa, sugar beets, and cotton. The cost-effectiveness and simplicity of Roundup’s active ingredient (glyphosate) and its control of broadleaf species drove its popularity. Bayer is one of several companies that manufacture glyphosate, but perhaps the most well-known, having acquired Monsanto, including Roundup and Roundup Ready technologies, in 2018. A 2018 legal battle against Roundup has escalated to hundreds of thousands, with cost estimates in the billions of dollars. But behind the legal action and the assertions by those opposed to pesticides and transgenics is a disturbing level of distrust towards science and empirical evidence. And somehow, farmers—in the U.S. and Canada—find themselves pushed to the side while being affected directly by the pending outcome. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 14
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 15 However, that installment is one of several: March 7: a story in Reuters cited a threat by Bayer that it could stop selling Roundup in the U.S, repeating a commonly-cited line that there were “67,000 further cases pending for which (Bayer) has set aside $5.9 billion in legal provisions” and that the company “would internally separate the glyphosate business from the rest of the Crop Protection division”. March 25: a report from Dow Jones Morningstar noted Bayer’s share price dropped by seven per cent after a $2.1 billion ruling by a jury in Georgia. March 26: AgWeb’s Tyne Morgan wrote of five American farmers taking part in the confirmation hearings to appoint Robert Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary. The feedback from the growers was positive, but any loss in American-based production of glyphosate would require farmers to purchase their product from China or India. April 7: Bayer issued its own news release about a writ with the U.S. Supreme Court to review lawsuits against the use of Roundup. The release cited security and affordability of the food supply, depending on innovative agricultural tools like Roundup. April 21: In a contribution to Post Media, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University echoed Bayer’s threat that it might halt production of glyphosate. However, he oversimplified the notion of creating a “replacement for glyphosate that is both effective and aligned with societal expectations,” ignoring the necessary years of research and development, testing and regulatory requirements and the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars. May 13: From another company news release, Bayer pledged to stop manufacturing generic products in Germany. It recognized the production of generic crop protection products in Asia, and its overcapacity in recent years has resulted in lower prices, some of which are below the cost of production for products in Europe. May 19: A story from news service Axios provided a back-and-forth breakdown of Robert Kennedy Jr.’s anticipated 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) report, detailing the products he could be banning, including glyphosate. The report mentioned that glyphosate is still used in Europe but that atrazine is banned there and could be on Kennedy’s targeted list. May 20: The Wall Street Journal reported that Bayer was considering placing its Monsanto division into bankruptcy as a means of resolving lawsuits against Roundup. continued on page 16 In addition to the U.S.-based legal challenges, a class action lawsuit was certified against Bayer in Canada in April 2025. The lawsuit seeks financial compensation for individuals who developed NHL following significant exposure to the herbicide. The merits of the case are yet to be proven in court, with Bayer denying the claim. While this lawsuit adds to Bayer’s legal challenges, it is important to note that there is currently no regulatory or political activity that would impact Canadian farmers’ access to glyphosate at this time. A POSITIVE TAKE Two papers from the U.S. National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), posted May 21 and 28, refuted the MAHA Report claims, detailing what growers and society in general stand to lose if glyphosate is banned. Yields could drop up to 70 per cent alongside increases in soil erosion, greater water use for irrigation, and the additional release of carbon from the four to five tillage passes per acre needed to manage weeds. For Dale Cowan, it’s a combination of glyphosate’s long-term simplicity and its environmental benefits that are under threat with any proposed ban. It’s one of the few chemistries that worked no matter the weather, and to a large degree, it’s been the most influential practice in the development of a no-till environment. “It certainly cleaned up a lot of perennial weed problems,” says Cowan, senior agronomist with Agris Co-op. He recalls the days when milkweed was an issue in fields. “We got rid of all those, and it’s changed farming completely, driving out a lot of tillage cost and a lot of fuel cost.” He acknowledges the decline in the trust of science, noting that “lab coats and lawyers” dealings seldom work in favour of those wearing lab coats, but that the nature of science is one of discovery and understanding the natural world. It’s possible that in the development of a product, not every facet is explored or tested, because it may not have been the scope of the project. “It’s a little disappointing for me that science is under attack,” adds Cowan. “It just seems that anyone with an opinion can air it, and then opinions get interpreted as facts. Then people gather to a point of view, and you can have two sides to every issue, but then we stop talking, and I don’t know where we win on that one.” HOW TO DEFINE ‘BETTER’ The clarity on “winning” is lost on a lot of industry partners, especially when considering the metrics involved in defining the win. Dr. François Tardif believes, as Cowan does, that it is one thing to ban glyphosate and default to alternative measures; however, without understanding the science of weed management, it’s shortsighted to promote any of those alternatives. The farming community understands, or at least is aware of, the benefits to farmers, including weed management, increased yields, and the simplicity of one or two applications of a herbicide. Yet the average consumer only sees the advantages to the farmer, not the societal benefits that result. A BRIEF MOMENT IN TIME The history of action against Bayer is short, compared to the years of usage that glyphosate has had. But it is the ferocity of opposition to something that has been so heavily relied upon, and has had societal benefits, that can be so shocking. According to a June 6, 2025, update from the U.S. Lawsuit Information Center, a website dedicated to linking complainants with legal representatives, Bayer faced 100,000 legal challenges, most of them from those suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 16 “You could make scenarios where yes, losing glyphosate would cause food security issues or affect supply, and people would say, ‘Well, there are alternatives’,” says Tardif, professor of weed science at the University of Guelph. “The consequences of those alternatives are that you may get more active ingredients instead of glyphosate in the system, and you may get less effective weed control or less yield, which may have an impact on price. And that’s been modelled elsewhere in the world.” Studies in Europe and Australia have examined the impact of banning glyphosate. Work in horticulture crops, orchards, and field crops has found that weeds could be controlled without glyphosate, but the cost of food would increase, and it might mean more applications required with more herbicide actives being mixed. NOT ONE AND DONE The current state of the situation is a huge concern for everyone in agriculture, including producers, retailers, agronomists, researchers, and manufacturers. As Pierre Petelle notes, glyphosate is one of the most studied products in the world, and there isn’t a single regulator, including anywhere in Europe, that has deemed glyphosate as carcinogenic when used according to label instructions. But it is not as though activists and their legal representatives will be content with banning glyphosate; it’s the first on their list, not the last. “Glyphosate has been their holy grail for many years, just because of how widespread and how significant it is, globally,” says Petelle, president and CEO with CropLife Canada. “But make no mistake: the activist groups’ short form is ‘pesticides’, not ‘glyphosate’ or ‘2,4-D’. They use ‘pesticides’, which encompasses all of the products as their target. This is not one product, and we can move on with other alternatives.” Petelle points to what has happened in Europe, where pesticide approvals are much more political, where member states appease activists, and the activists only demand more and more. “Canada is a small market—between three and four per cent of the global pesticide market,” he adds. “But I think our reputation is significant and it’s important that we make sure our decisionmaking stays science-based, that it doesn’t get politically motivated or change with whoever’s in power, so Canada’s influence can be exerted a bit, globally.” • continued from page 15 visit us online: alpinepfl.com or call: 1-844.655.BIOK (2465) Scan For More Information! The advantages of using ALPINE foliar applied liquid fertilizer with a base fertility program are: • Correct nutrient deficiencies as determined from soil or tissue tests • Strengthen damaged crops • Speed growth • Stimulate root uptake • Provide nutrient efficiency For a full list of products, visit alpinepfl.com Half-fed crops means half-filled bins. Foliar makes the difference!
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 17 Ontario Grain Farmer Honouring a legacy Hall of Fame inductee’s profound Sikkema, who retired in 2024 after more than 30 years as a researcher and professor at the University of Guelph, was nominated by Grain Farmers of Ontario. His contributions to field crop and agronomy research, particularly in weed science, have had an immeasurable impact in Canada and globally. His legacy of dedicated service to the agricultural community is profound and enduring, says Crosby Devitt, Grain Farmers of Ontario’s CEO. “A world leader in weed science, he has dedicated his career to developing weed management solutions that are profitable and environmentally responsible," says Devitt. “His impact extends beyond Ontario and Canada, influencing farming practices globally, and his legacy will continue to shape agricultural practices for decades.” Devitt's comments were echoed throughout the numerous letters of support that accompanied his nomination from industry, the University of Guelph, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and international colleagues from the Universities of Illinois, Mississippi, and Texas A&M. “In my opinion, there is no one more qualified nor more deserving of this nomination than Dr. Sikkema; he has been at the forefront of weed resistance research in Canada for more than 40 years and is a global leader in this critical area of research,” writes Dr. Dean Riechers, professor of weed physiology at University of Illinois-Urbana. “I believe Peter’s publication record and research awards exemplify his unique combination of productivity, applied management insights, and scientific creativity while serving as a Renowned educator, researcher, and extension agronomist, Dr. Peter Sikkema, can add another accolade to his long list of career achievements: induction into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. key asset to growers and researchers in North America.” STUDENT IMPACT Sikkema’s impact has been amplified through his dedicated career as an educator, says Brett Shepherd, director of the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus. “He has mentored countless graduate students, many of whom have gone on to become leaders within the agricultural industry,” says Shepherd. “His dedication to teaching excellence has been widely acknowledged, earning him multiple awards, including the 2019 Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching.” “[He’s] an enthusiastic teacher at both the diploma and graduate level,” says Rene Van Acker, president of the University of Guelph. “He has taught thousands of students over the past 30 years, many of whom have gone on to be leaders in the agriculture sector locally and beyond.” “Peter has had an incredible impact on myself and so many others in agriculture," says Brendan Metzger, field biologist with BASF and former graduate student. "I owe so much credit to Peter and his passion for teaching and depth of knowledge in weed science for leading me to where I am today.” RESEARCH IMPACTS Sikkema ran one of the largest weed management programs in field crops in North America, and focused on weed management in corn, soybeans, dry beans, and small grains to improve the level of weed control, reduce crop injury, increase crop yield, maximize net returns for producers. “His most significant research contributions are related to glyphosate-resistant weeds in corn, soybeans, and wheat in Ontario,” says Josh Cowan, director of research and innovation at Grain Farmers of Ontario. “Peter and his graduate students have developed management solutions in each of these crops for the financial benefit of Canadian farmers.” “Peter is a scientist deeply committed to addressing real-world challenges that have a direct, positive impact on growers,” says Nader Soltani, adjunct professor in the Department of Plant Science. “Through oneon-one consultations, presentations, and written resources, he has helped growers improve weed control and maximize their net returns. The practical nature of his advice ensures that his impact will continue to benefit farmers for years to come.” “He has made me a better farmer and, by extension, a better resource to my neighbours, says Dan Petker, a farmer from Norfolk County. “His positive impact on Ontario agriculture will be measured in decades, and I am grateful to have been here for some of it.” • Read more about Sikkema’s career in this 2024 Ontario Grain Farmer article. influence on agriculture
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER GRAIN TALK 18 Grain Annual federal reception Board of Directors members and staff were in Ottawa on June 8 to meet with MPs to discuss Grain Farmers of Ontario's federal priorities. In the evening, Grain Farmers of Ontario, together with industry colleagues from the Atlantic Grains Council, Producteurs de grains du Québec, and Spirits Canada, hosted their annual federal reception, which was attended by MPs, senators, parliamentary staff, and industry representatives. The annual federal reception is an opportunity to advance Grain Farmers of Ontario’s and the eastern Canadian grain industry’s priorities. Grain Farmers of Ontario AGM The Grain Farmers of Ontario Annual General Meeting will be held on September 9, 2025, at the Craigowan Golf Club, 595838 Highway 59 N, Woodstock, from 8 a.m. to noon. A buffet breakfast and lunch will be served. The meeting will also be live-streamed. All farmer-members are invited to attend. The meeting is being held in conjunction with Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show at the Discovery Farm in Woodstock, Ontario. Attendees of the AGM will receive a complimentary ticket to the show. For more information or to register, visit gfo.ca/agm. ASA Corteva Young Leader Program– applicants wanted Grain Farmers of Ontario seeks a soybean farming couple or individual to represent Ontario in the 2026 Class of the American Soybean Association Corteva Young Leader Program. The Young Leader program enhances participants’ skills through leadership, communications, and issuesbased training and builds a strong peer network, generating increased success in their businesses and communities. Phase one of the program will be held at the Corteva Global Business Center in Johnson, Iowa, December 2-5, 2025. Phase two takes place in conjunction with the Commodity Classic in Denver, Colorado, February 25-27, 2026. Young Leaders are not necessarily young in age but are new in their leadership development. The ideal candidate is looking to become more involved in Grain Farmers of Ontario. Applicants must ensure that they have the necessary documentation to travel to the U.S. For more information on the program, read about 2025 Class participant, Tyler Robertson, at www.ontariograinfarmer.ca. Applications opened in July 2025 and can be submitted to the American Soybean Association directly at soygrowers.com or by contacting Rachel Telford, manager, member relations for Grain Farmers of Ontario, at rtelford@gfo.ca. Applications are due September 2nd. Women’s Grain Symposium Grain Farmers of Ontario is excited to announce the return of the annual Women's Grain Symposium, taking place December 9-10, 2025, at the Delta Hotel and Conference Centre in Guelph. This inspiring two-day event brings together women from across Ontario's grain sector for networking, education, and leadership development. Registration opens in September. Stay tuned for more details on gfo.ca as they become available. Top: Grain Farmers of Ontario chair, Jeff Harrison (right) with Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald. Bottom: Senator Rob Black (front, left) with members of the Board of Directors and Minister MacDonald.
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