Body, mind, Make wellness a priority this harvest season and soul AUGUST 2025 www.OntarioGrainFarmer.ca HARVEST PREPARATION SEPTEMBER 2025
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13 Business side Conversations with business experts 27 Crop side Agronomic information from crop specialists SEPTEMBER 2025 volume 16, number 9 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 Body, mind, and soul Mary Feldskov 6On the cover AGRONOMY 10 Grain testing at elevators Treena Hein 16 Your questions, answered Ontario Grain Farmer 28 Handling treated seed Ontario Grain Farmer MEMBER RELATIONS 30 View from the Hill Tyler Robertson LOOKING BACK 22 Fifteen years of leadership development Ontario Grain Farmer INDUSTRY NEWS 14 Under the midnight sun Craig Lester 24 Risks and rewards Ralph Pearce
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER FROM THE CEO’S DESK 4 From the CEO's desk 2025 has been a hallmark year for unpredictability, with variable weather across the province, on-and-off-again tariff threats from the U.S., and lower commodity prices among the challenges. A cool and wet spring in some areas of the province meant crops were late to get in the ground, while others experienced a particularly dry summer with little rain. As we head into the fall soybean and corn harvest, the weather can make or break the season. The vast variability in conditions across the province makes yield and quality predictions difficult, but we hope that overall, we will see strong returns for farmer-members when the season wraps up. Business risk management programs—a focus of the Grain Farmers of Ontario’s Board of Directors—are critical supports for farmers when circumstances outside their control, like bad weather or low commodity prices, drive down yield and profit. Production crop insurance and the Ontario Risk Management Program are critically important tools for farmers to help manage the risk that inevitably comes with farming. Other programs such as AgriStability and AgriInvest need major improvements to become effective risk management tools for grain farmers. This is the message that we’ve continued to hammer home with provincial and federal elected officials: when grain farmers grow, Canada grows, and we need the tools and resources to make that happen. Staff and board members are building on relationships with Trevor Jones, provincial minister of agriculture and Heath MacDonald, the federal minister of agriculture, emphasizing how government can best support farmer-members—this is an ongoing priority that has led to a few tallies in the ‘win’ column for the Board, including the $100 million dollar provincial investment in the Risk Management Program (bringing the total annual funding to $250 million). As I write this in early August, the wheat harvest is well on its way to completion, with early yield and quality reports predicting a successful season. On the ground, Grain Farmers of Ontario staff and Board have been working behind the scenes to promote the quality and sustainability of Ontario grains to longstanding and new customers. While the unpredictability of the world markets and trade relationships continues to pose a challenge, Ontario is well-positioned to take advantage of opportunities to grow and expand our market reach. While the fall season is inevitably busy for farmers on the farm, we hope to see you at September events, including the Grain Farmers of Ontario AGM on September 9, Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, and the International Plowing Match in Niagara. And looking ahead in the calendar, mark March 24, 2026, to attend Grain Farmers of Ontario’s March Classic. This is the highlight of the season for the agricultural community, and this year, you won’t want to miss it: we’re heading to the Niagara Falls Convention Centre. A larger venue and new location mean we can grow the event to provide an even greater value to you, the farmer-member. • Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario Predictably, the biggest challenge for the 2025 crop season has been unpredictability. There are a lot of circumstances outside of a farmer’s control, and even the best crop or marketing plan can be upended when something goes awry.
Celebrate agriculture and rural living at the 2025 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo. The Match offers countless vendors and exhibitors highlighting agriculture, food, lifestyles and more. Daily plowing competitions showcase plowing techniques ranging from the antique to the modern. Relax and take in the fabulous variety of talent and entertainment including the return of many popular fanfavourites--the Canadian Cowgirls, Mudmen, the RAM Rodeo Tour, the Enviro Farm, the Hydro One Education Centre, Ritchie Brothers Farming for the Future Tent, and of course the plowing. Including the VIP Plowing sponsored by the Grain Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Championship Class. September 16 to 20, 2025 | Grassie, Ontario www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2025 Something for the whole family at #IPM2025 Hosting Partners Presenting Partners Platinum Partners The SuperDogs™ just-released “Wild Wild Woof” Show, Canadian Country Music legend George Fox, the Knights of Valour, Fiddlestix and many more!
Mary Feldskov Body, mind and soul Make wellness a priority this harvest season Working well into the middle of the night during busy seasons used to be common for Josh Boersen, a Perth County-area farmer and Grain Farmers of Ontario director of District 9 (Perth). That is, until one fateful night when fatigue caught up with him. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 6
continued on page 8 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 7 “It was quite wet, and we were behind, just starting to get into late May for planting, and I always made a bit of a habit of working late when it was necessary, sometimes maybe more late than I should have,” he says. “Whatever time it was, I said to myself, I'm just kind of gassed at this point. I need to go home. So, I started to make my way home, but I never quite made it.” The fatigue overcame him, and Boersen hit a maple tree on the side of the road, at “a reasonably high speed,” which caused significant damage to the tractor and implements. “We weren’t able to use them for the rest of that spring,” he says. “It was an eyeopening experience.” Being short on sleep can have a drastic impact on your health and can lead to serious injury or even death, says Seafortharea family physician, Dr. Heather Percival. “After about 18-24 hours of being up, you find that your judgment is impaired, but even more importantly, the frustration factor goes way up, and then you become more impulsive.” Percival points to research that shows that being tired can impact a person as much as drinking alcohol or smoking a joint: being awake for 17 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 per cent; at 24 hours, that goes up to 0.1 per cent. That’s equivalent to blood alcohol concentration levels (0.05 to 0.08) that would result in charges for someone driving on Ontario roads. Percival, who grew up on a farm in Bruce County and currently treats many farmers in her Huron County practice, understands the nature of farm businesses and the stress that comes with the job, with so much outside of a farmer’s control, including the weather, but cautions that farmers shouldn’t push the limit on sleep. “The witching hour—three to six in the morning—that’s when accidents happen,” she says. “[Lack of sleep] is a recipe for making mistakes, cutting corners, which invariably end up not going well.” That ‘witching hour’ is when Boersen’s farm accident occurred, and he describes it as the time of day when “nothing good happens, especially when you’ve been up and working all day.” While he fortunately wasn’t injured in the farm accident, he says the outcome was not worth the extra 50 acres or so of planting that he got done. “From then on, I made a policy that we're going to stop at about 11 o'clock at night and call it a day, and I will get up at four or five in the morning and get started again.” PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS Chronic lack of sleep can have negative impacts on a person’s physical and mental well-being, including an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and significant effects on mental health. These factors will “significantly impact your ability to do the job over the course of a lifetime,” says Percival. Lack of sleep is just one of the factors that can impact a farmer’s health during busy periods like planting or harvest. Percival points to heat and sun exposure as two top-of-mind topics for farmers to consider. “A lot of [farmers] have air-conditioned cabs now, but not everyone does,” she says. “You can get dehydrated just sitting in the cab of a tractor, even with the air conditioning on, partly because you’re in and out of the tractor and the heat shock is almost as bad as being in the heat… dehydration impacts your judgement, which then makes you do stupid things.” The easiest way to know if you’re dehydrated, says Percival, is by the colour of your urine: if it’s anything other than light yellow, then you need to drink more fluids. She recommends at least a cup of water per hour. PUT ON A HAT Percival says she is seeing more and more farmers in her office with with skin cancers, including melanoma and squamous cell cancer, particularly on their ears, lower arms, and hands, due to years of sun exposure and sunburns.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 8 TIPS FOR GOOD SLEEP Prioritize sleep: Recognize sleep as a non-negotiable part of your health routine, just like eating well or staying hydrated. Create a sleep schedule: When you can, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends, to regulate your body's internal clock. Optimize your sleep environment: Ensure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool. Consider using blackout curtains, earplugs, or a white noise machine if needed. Limit caffeine and screen time: Avoid consuming caffeine late in the day and reduce exposure to screens (phones, tablets, computers) at least an hour before bed. Take short naps: If you're unable to get enough sleep at night, consider taking a short nap (20-30 minutes) during the day to help recharge. Seek help if needed: If you're struggling with persistent sleep problems, consult a healthcare professional for advice and possible treatment options. Source: DoMoreAg Foundation “As soon as you get one red, first-degree sunburn, that increases your risk for skin cancer 20 years down the road.” Farmers tend to wear ball caps, which protect the scalp and can offer shade on the face, but offer zero protection against the sun on the ears. She encourages people who spend a significant amount of time outside to wear a wide-brimmed hat. “Sun exposure isn’t something they think about in their invincible youth,” she says. “They never think about it until they are in their 50s and 60s in my office, and I’m telling them that the tip of their ear needs to come off [due to skin cancer].” DON’T IGNORE SYMPTOMS It’s quite common for farmers to put off going to the doctor, says Percival, but there are some symptoms that farmers shouldn’t ignore, even during busy times of the year. “A lot of farmers think of themselves as invincible. They say, ‘No, no, no, I’ll be fine…let me just finish this field, it’s going to rain in four hours.’” Pain that doesn’t go away with Advil or Tylenol, shortness of breath, dizziness, and light-headedness that persist after drinking some water are symptoms that should be addressed right away. “I just had one farmer that came in who said, ‘I just feel a little off,’” she says. “He was having a significant heart attack…his only symptom was that he was kind of dizzy and felt off.” Percival also recommends that farmers review their medications with their doctor or pharmacist before operating large equipment. It’s not just drugs that cause sedation that are an issue, but also diabetes, blood pressure, and heart medications that can cause problems. “There are a lot of medications, especially for those in the 50-plus age group, that are a diuretic…and that triples your risk of dehydration,” she says. “Or heart medicines that are designed to slow down your heart and take the stress off your heart—if you’re in a high stress situation and you’re on medication that’s not giving you that adrenaline rush, you’re going to faint.” 1 2 3 4 5 6 continued from page 7
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 9 WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR FARMERS? Strengthens crops and boosts yields Natural pest and disease resistance Better soil, less lime Contact us today to learn more: hello@un-do.com, (343)-333-5851 WWW.UN-DO.COM/CANADA DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS SUBSIDIZED SOIL & CROP HEALTH PROGRAM Farmers across Ontario are using Canadian wollastonite to enrich their soil, support crop health, and reduce input costs. We subsidize the supply and spread of this locally sourced soil amendment; farmers simply cover the cost of trucking. “Percival recommends that everyone take a break during the day—a chance to rest, eat, and connect with family and co-workers. Over-the-counter medications and drug interactions should also be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist before operating heavy equipment, as well. TAKE A BREAK Percival recommends that everyone take a break during the day—a chance to rest, eat, and connect with family and co-workers. “I remember growing up, my grandmother made a big mid-day meal, and everyone stopped for an hour for a good meal.” On Boersen’s farm, they try to do just that each evening during busy periods, gathering in the field, when possible, to have a break, eat supper, and check in on their day and discuss the game plan for what comes next. Prioritizing family time is also something that he says has become more important and contributes to his well-being during spring planting and harvest. “This summer during wheat harvest, my extended family had a family reunion, and it was going to be on a Saturday, and my brother-in-law had a wedding [to attend] on Friday night. So instead of trying to hammer everything in there and push everything hard, we just said, ‘Well, we're just going to take a break, we'll see what Monday brings,’ and actually take the weekend off. In the past, I probably wouldn't have done that, probably would have pushed on.” •
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER AGRONOMY 10 “Having more information means we better understand what we’re holding at the elevator, and we can better manage our orders,” Homick explains. “We can better match the different qualities for different uses, we can blend in some cases, and make sure we mitigate risk for our farmers, for us and for our customers.” Looking at other specific tests that have been added, the wet year of 2018 heralded serious worries about DON toxin in the corn crop. Discussion grew among Great Lakes Grain leadership about testing for it, and Homick says it quickly became very clear that it had to be done at all locations. “We had to understand our risk, and we unfortunately had to place discounts on farmers that year,” he recalls. “But DON can be basically non-existent some years. Last year, there was almost nothing. I think the situation has improved a lot over time because there are better varieties, but the farmers are also definitely doing a better job at management, with fungicide and other practices. Farmers are also becoming very skilled in managing sclerotinia in soybeans. It’s great to see.” Then, around 2021, falling number in wheat entered the spotlight. While it wasn’t (and still isn’t) a grade factor, Homick says customers didn’t want to handle wheat with lower numbers. “It’s been a hot topic since then about what to do,” he notes. “It’s a bigger issue for milling than for making feed, and low falling number is always a concern in a rainy growing season.” He adds that at the elevator level, any grading discount due to sprouting is typically determined Treena Hein Grain testing at elevators Critical tips to maximize your profits As with any quality control mechanism, grain testing at the elevators protects raw material providers (in this case, farmers), distributors (elevators), and end-users (millers, feed mills, and others). The testing process ensures that farmers receive payment accurately for the grain quality they have worked hard to achieve, and it also enables elevators to ensure their feed and food customers consistently receive the quality they need, benefiting everyone in the value chain. The Canadian Grain Commission has established grading process guidelines for every grain, including barley, corn, oats, soybeans, and wheat. These guidelines encompass acceptable testing equipment, the procedures for sampling and testing, and the methods for determining dockage. Grain Farmers of Ontario has hosted webinars in the past to help growers better understand the process. The more familiar farmers are with sampling, testing, and potential factors that can result in being docked, the less stress they will experience and the better they will be prepared to maximize profits. From the elevator perspective, Devin Homick, grain origination and business development team lead at Chatham-based Great Lakes Grain (GLG), provides some history. When he started in the industry about 18 years ago, there were only standard tests at their locations, which include three co-ops with 27 elevators in southwestern Ontario and one in eastern Ontario, Embrun Co-op. These standard tests included physical test weight, dockage, visual inspection, and moisture content; however, the tests have expanded over the years to include glyphosate testing in Identity Preserved soybeans and additional measures.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER AGRONOMY 11 immediately from visual inspection or test weight, but falling number tests can also be conducted. In Great Lakes Grain contracts, if the falling number is less than 250, it’s subject to rejection or discount. HEADING OFF POTENTIAL DISPUTES Before dropping off grains, Grain Farmers of Ontario encourages farmers to get a sample tested at their local elevator or with a third-party lab. A sample of at least two kilograms is recommended. This way, you have test results to compare to when testing (and grading) is done at the elevator. If farmers don’t test ahead of time and disagree with the grade provided, they can also ask the elevator to perform a second test, by their staff or a third party. This is outlined in a Code of Practice for dispute resolution released in 2022, which Grain Farmers of Ontario developed in collaboration with the Ontario Agri Business Association (OABA) and the Ontario Canola Growers Association (Homick was on the Code development subcommittee). However, drawing on his experience and broader industry knowledge, Homick says that any issues are mostly handled at the branch level. “If there’s a grade or test weight dispute, part of the sample is sent to SGS or Canadian Grain Commission to get that second opinion,” he says, “but we try to manage any issues initially and come to an agreement.” SAMPLING FOR DON Homick reports that there has also been recent discussion in grain grading circles about how to achieve a more representative sample for DON conclusions in wheat and corn, to be as fair as possible to the grower. Mike Ondrejicka, owner of Ondrejicka Elevator in Exeter, with additional locations in Lucan and Centralia, and a member of the OABA subcommittee on grain grading, believes the primary factor preventing a more effective system for this is the intermittent nature of the toxin in corn. “We only see it one in four or five years, so we become complacent,” he says. “As producers, we lose focus on planting less susceptible varieties, and as elevators, we tend not to stay focused on improving our testing regime.” To achieve a more accurate DON determination, lab analysis of a two-kilogram ground sample is recommended. "The toxin is not evenly distributed on every kernel,” Ondrejicka explains, “but tends to be highly concentrated on just a small percentage. So, the problem with using a small sample is that you could get a disproportionate amount of these high vomitoxin kernels.” However, he adds that “research has clearly shown that using a much larger sample can give much more consistent and accurate results...but this is a challenge for current lab equipment [in terms of grinding], especially with high-moisture corn.” According to Ondrejicka, a Canadian company called Sasso Milling has designed and manufactured a machine that can easily handle the task. Due to the cost, most elevators do not yet have one, but adoption will likely ramp up in the years ahead. MAXIMIZING PROFITS AT THE ELEVATOR First, a look at canola. Jim Irvine, zone grain originator in the Barrie area at Minesing Elevator (owned by Great Lakes Grain, formerly Giffen Farms and Elevator), strongly encourages some farmers to adjust their screen settings. “I’d like to remind canola growers that we clean the chaff, and when I see canola coming in that’s completely clean, and it happens quite a bit, we advise them to set their screens for less fine,” he says. “Completely clean canola arriving at the elevator means the farmer is losing quite a bit out the back of the combine, and we hate to see that. It’s such a valuable crop. We’ve handled canola for many years, and yes, the newer varieties are cleaner, but I don’t want farmers losing out, and that’s definitely happening in some cases. Not as many farmers are growing canola, but the ones who do are doing very well at it, with much better yields. It now has a longer season with harvest into September, and that’s not as ideal for getting winter wheat in after, but canola is definitely lucrative, and so please don’t reduce your profits by being afraid to take a little dockage with a bigger yield.” Great Lakes Grain employee Moria Hicks sampling and grading wheat at their Stoney Point AGRIS Cooperative location. Photo courtesy of Heather MacLeod, Great Lakes Grain continued on page 12
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER AGRONOMY 12 LEAD THE WAY Increase your performance field by field with Maizex Seeds. 100% Canadian-farmer owned and focused. Contact your local Maizex representative today. FIELD by FIELD maizex.com Maizex_OGF_7.125 x 4.875 7_25.indd 1 7/17/25 12:10 PM In corn, Homick encourages growers to ensure their management of tar spot is top-notch. While it’s not generally tested for, Homick cautions that this disease can have a big impact on yield and test weight, which is caught at the elevator. Moving on to wheat, Homick’s top tip is to harvest as soon as possible. “Farmers generally want the crop to dry down to 14 per cent, and I understand the urge, but we’ve seen time and time again, the first dry down is when the yield, test weight, falling numbers are at their best,” he explains. “We’d rather see the stems and straws are a touch green; you have the grain fill at that point, and you can trust me that if you go beyond that, you lose quality. I understand there’s a reluctance to pay the drying, as there are many years it’s dry when it comes off the field and during years when it’s not, paying for drying is not a welcome thought. But at the end of the day, the cost of drying will definitely be paid for in avoiding discounts down the road. I do think many more farmers are heeding this sound advice, and for the ones who aren’t, please think about it.” • continued from page 11
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER BUSINESS SIDE 13 (J.M.) WHAT DO GRAIN FARMERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW, FIFTH EDITION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN? (MM) The latest version of the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is available to Ontario farmers as of July 14, 2025. This updated edition incorporates current regulations, the latest research that informs best management practices, updated resources, and emerging priorities such as biodiversity and farming in a changing climate. The EFP hasn’t been updated since the fourth version was released in 2013, so it was time for a refresh. This new version still has the same look and feel as the EFP that Ontario farmers are familiar with, but with a few changes that focus on emerging areas and opportunities for farmers. Farmers should be aware that if they have begun the completion or renewal of the fourth edition EFP before the July 14 release of the fifth edition, they have until December 31, 2025, to complete it. The EFP is a confidential, voluntary tool for assessing environmental risks and is designed to help all farm owners take a whole-farm perspective to identify improvements that promote long-term sustainability, profitability, and productivity. There is no cost to farmers for participating in the EFP, and once completed, it never expires; however, we recommend renewal every five years. Currently, 43 per cent of Ontario farmers have an EFP. It is a valuable tool that can help farmers identify and implement best management practices to enhance the sustainability of their farms. I recommend that all farmers complete an EFP. For more information about the EFP, visit www.ontariosoilcrop.org/canada-ontarioenvironmental-farm-plan. WHAT HAS BEEN UPDATED IN THIS LATEST EDITION? We’re proud of the fact that the EFP has been created by farmers for farmers. Some of the changes to this new version came from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness subject matter experts and are incorporated into the format that farmers are familiar with—an opportunity to self-assess their farm operation and develop a farmspecific action plan. Updates that might interest grain farmers include an enhanced focus on ground cover, like using cover crops to build healthy soils. There is an increased number of selfassessment questions and overall content related to species habitats and biodiversity. This focus area doesn’t just cover woodlands and wetlands, but areas of connectivity for species too, like fencerows. The biggest difference between this new version of the EFP and the last one is a new chapter about farming in a changing climate. This explores how farmers can adapt to farming in new weather patterns and what they will need. For example, it addresses flood plain zones and field drainage, along with the importance of selecting crops and seed varieties that are adaptable to changing growing conditions or extreme weather. What’s new with the Environmental Farm Plan? Jeanine Moyer Business side with... Margaret May, Field Representative, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. HOW CAN FARMER COMPLETE AN EFP? The EFP consists of two parts: the selfassessment and building an action plan that is driven by the assessment results. Through this process, farmers assess their farm’s environmental strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement, and create practical action plans with timelines to enhance environmental performance and the overall sustainability of their farms. Farmers can complete an EFP, using the new fifth edition workbook, in one of three ways: • In-person: Attend a two-day workshop led by knowledgeable OSCIA staff, with opportunities to network with fellow farmers. • Virtual sessions: Participate in two, two-hour online interactive webinars delivered by OSCIA staff. • Electronic EFP (eEFP): Renew a previously-verified fourth edition EFP independently online. IS AN UPDATED EFP REQUIRED FOR FUNDING AND COST-SHARE PROGRAMS? Funding programs may be available to assist farmers in the implementation of improvements identified in their EFP action plan. These include many of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership programs, so farmers should be sure to review the application requirements of each program. We often get questions about EFP requirements for AgriInvest or other programs, and I always recommend farmers contact the program administration for opportunities that are offered by other organizations. •
Craig Lester Under the midnight sun Nuffield Canada celebrates where farming pushes boundaries Leona Watson considers herself a bit of a time-travelling farmer. Breaking land from scratch, putting in years of labour to get it into production, and farming with older equipment, there are days she feels like the clock has been turned back 100 years. Some might be surprised to learn that Watson's home is right here in Canada, just outside of Whitehorse in the Yukon. The 2011 Nuffield Canada Scholar has been able to take many of the lessons learned through her global studies and help carve out a way of life for her family. It is that pioneering mindset deeply embedded in the Yukon’s agricultural DNA that made it both a unique and fitting location for Nuffield Canada’s 75th anniversary. Nuffield Canada is a national agricultural leadership program that supports farmers and agri-professionals in expanding their knowledge through international study. Each year, a small group of Canadian scholars are selected to travel the world, exploring a topic that connects their personal passion with broader industry impact. Since 1950, more than 150 Canadians have completed the program. The goal is to bring ideas home that challenge thinking, build networks, and help move Canadian agriculture forward. Scholars return to share what they’ve learned through presentations, written reports, and leadership in their communities and sectors. Nuffield Chair Steve Larocque says scholars come away from the Nuffield experience, changing what they do and ultimately improving agriculture, as exemplified by Watson. The Yukon region, a land of both tremendous opportunity and challenge in the agricultural space, provided an incredible backdrop for an organization like Nuffield, which prides itself on learning, travel, knowledge transfer, and growth. Scholars toured farms, food processors and ag businesses throughout the region. Larocque says there was no better fitting place to bring together Nuffield scholars than Canada’s north during the solstice. “It's such a pioneering area. It's just so maverick up here, so independent. So, it was fascinating to see those farms and grow to appreciate our own farms at home for what we have and the resources we have versus up here.” The Yukon’s agriculture sector is small but ripe with opportunity. It’s what drew Leona Watson and her husband north a decade ago in search of a new chapter. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 14
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 15 NORTHERN CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES “My husband and I purchased our first hunting area and off to the Yukon we went,” says Watson. “I thought it was just full of opportunity to come up here. Like I said, just start a farm from scratch and see where you go. Lots of hard work.” Opportunity, however, often walks hand-in-hand with challenge, something producers in the North know well. While the region has space, demand, and community interest, it also has infrastructure gaps and environmental pressures that make the work demanding. “Farming up here definitely comes with many challenges,” says Watson. “It’s definitely not for the faint of heart. I think just the fulfillment of seeing the fruits of your hard labour is something that not everybody gets to experience.” Due to its remote location, everything comes at a cost. “My trucking bill is expensive,” she says. “Fertilizer comes from Dawson Creek. Seed will come from Fairview, Alberta. A lot of us farmers try to work together to split the cost, to minimize the cost on transport because it’s just an extra added cost.” That cooperative spirit is echoed across the region. Hanna Fish, executive director of the Yukon Agricultural Association, says despite the challenges, the Yukon is full of potential, especially for those looking to build something new.“I think the Yukon has an endless amount of things to offer,” says Fish. “ I think the opportunities here are actually more widespread than what you would find down south. But she’s quick to point out that gaps remain, especially when it comes to basic services that farmers in other parts of the country often take for granted. “It’s pretty hard to get insurance up here for farmland, for farm services, agribusiness, things like that,” says Fish. That lack of infrastructure has created a generation of highly self-sufficient producers. “I like to call them our A-to-Z producers,” Fish says. “They’re doing everything from growing the product, going to the genetics of their livestock, bringing it into harvest time, bringing them up to slaughter weight, finding the butcher shop, bringing it to the retail store, marketing themselves, going to the farmer’s market. They really do the entire cycle themselves.” Contact your local KWS retailer to secure your seed today! Get ready for MORE, Hybrid Rye Season. Fish says food sovereignty and the ability to produce culturally and locally appropriate food are top of mind in the territory. Local producers play a key role in this work. “Most of our food gets trucked in or, on occasion, flown in,” says Fish. “And every amount of agricultural product that our producers can make does help address that, but it can be difficult to really circulate those products so they can scale up further.” That blend of persistence, innovation, and vision is what defines agriculture in the North and what made the Yukon the right place, at the right time, to mark 75 years of Nuffield Canada. •
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER AGRONOMY 16 Ontario Grain Farmer Your questions, answered Online resources from Grain Farmers of Ontario When you have questions, where do you turn for answers? Grain Farmers of Ontario has developed a suite of resources, all available online, to help farmers address the pressing issues that impact their farm and farm business. Grain Farmers of Ontario also collaborates with other like-minded organizations throughout the value chain to provide farmers with the information they need to succeed. FIELD OBSERVATIONS The weekly Field observations, published during the growing season in the weekly GrainTALK e-newsletter and at www. ontariograinfarmer.ca, includes up-to-date agronomic information and field conditions. This is your one-stop shop to find out what’s happening in the field. FACTSHEETS, WEBINARS, AND AGRONOMY ALERTS Grain Farmers of Ontario’s agronomists stay on top of the pressing issues in agriculture. Visit www.gfo.ca/agronomy/crop-management for information on top-of-mind issues like weeds, diseases, pests, and more. Agronomy alerts are sent by email to address pressing and time-sensitive agronomy issues. VISUAL GUIDE TO WINTER WHEAT STAGING Understanding the growth stages of winter wheat is critical to making informed and profitable management decisions. This guide provides you with all the information you need to grow great wheat. Find it at www.gfo.ca/agronomy/crop-management. GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO RESOURCES MARKETING Grain Farmers of Ontario has developed a Grain Contracts Guide, found at www.gfo.ca/marketing, to help farmer-members make the best marketing decisions for their farm and maintain a good relationship with their customers. Other resources on this page include the Code of Practice for trade in barley, corn, oats, and wheat, the Agreement for the marketing of the Ontario soybean crop, guidance for Clean Fuels Regulations, and more. GREAT LAKES YEN The Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) helps farmers better understand their yield potential. The goal of the YEN is to connect agricultural organizations, extension specialists, academics, agronomists, and farmers who are striving to improve crop returns by unlocking the potential of the field by closing the gap between potential yield and actual yield. Find out or at www.greatlakesyen.ca. GOOD IN EVERY GRAIN This resource provides answers to common consumer questions about grain farming. Visit www.GoodinEveryGrain.ca. FARMER WELLNESS RESOURCES Visit www.gfo.ca/farmerwellness for access to information, services, and support for you, your family members, and your employees. DO WE HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS? Sign up for the GrainTALK e-newsletter or update your Ontario Grain Farmer subscription to receive email alerts at www.ontariograinfarmer.ca.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER AGRONOMY 17 INDUSTRY COLLABORATION GOCROPS.CA This website showcases third-party variety and hybrid performance trial data for major Ontario field crops including cereals, corn, pulses, soybeans and canola. GoCrops.ca is a collaboration between Ontario Cereal Crops Committee (OCCC), Ontario Corn Committee (OCC), Ontario Pulse Crop Committee (OPCC), and Ontario Soybean and Canola Committee (OSACC). BE DRIFT AWARE Be Drift Aware, www.bedriftaware.ca, is a collaborative effort that was created to raise awareness and promote best practices that will help reduce spray drift in Ontario. This initiative brings together a wealth of existing knowledge, resources and tools to encourage the use of best application practices by farmers and sprayer operators to reduce the possibility of spray drift. The resource was developed in partnership with Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, CropLife Canada, Sprayers 101, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. COVER CROP DECISION TOOL The Midwest Cover Crops Council’s online resource helps you decide what cover crop best meets your farm’s needs. https:// covercroptool.midwestcovercrops.org. MANAGE RESISTANCE NOW Visit https://manageresistancenow.ca to discover effective strategies for managing resistance. This is your one-stop shop for expert insights, practical tools, and advice to help you navigate resistance challenges and cultivate resilience in your fields. CROP RISK TOOL The Crop Protection Network’s Crop Risk Tool, https://connect.doit.wisc.edu/cpn-risktool/, provides weather-based forecasting and risk assessments for various crop diseases, helping farmers, crop advisors, and agricultural researchers to make datadriven decisions. This free resource forecasts the risk of key foliar diseases by feeding local weather data into the validated models. Currently, this tool has risk models for tar spot and gray leaf spot in corn, while models for white mould and frogeye leaf spot have been deployed for soybeans. PESTMANAGER APP The Pest Manager allows you to identify, map and find integrated management options for common weeds, insects and disease in corn, soybean and cereal crops. Find it in your app store. •
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER GRAIN TALK 18 Grain International Oilseed Producers’ Dialogue Jeff Harrison, Grain Farmers of Ontario chair and Paul Hoekstra, vice president, strategic development, attended the 2025 International Oilseed Producers’ Dialogue (IOPD) in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. The conference brings together oilseed producers and groups from across the globe. Discussions focus on updates from each region to showcase production numbers, issues, and opportunities and the ongoing challenges with government regulation on sustainability and the impact of trade on food security. Read the IOPD 2025 XXVII Final Resolution at www.gfo.ca/marketing. Canada is represented each year by Grain Farmers of Ontario and colleagues from the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA). L-R Paul Hoekstra, Jeff Harrison, Wellington Andrade (CEO of Aprosoja), Andre Harpe (chair, CCGA) and Rick White (CEO, CCGA). 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. 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. The meeting will also be live-streamed. For more information or to register, visit gfo.ca/agm. Save the date! March Classic 2026 Mark your calendars for March 24, 2026, for Grain Farmers of Ontario’s annual March Classic. Grain Farmers of Ontario is excited to announce that the 2026 March Classic will be held at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre. The new venue provides an opportunity to grow Ontario’s premier agricultural event. Find out more at gfo.ca/marchclassic. Grains in Action 2026 – Register now! Grain Farmers of Ontario is hosting its popular young farmer program, Grains in Action, February 9–12, 2026! An exciting new agenda is being developed with stops at end-user facilities in Hamilton, Niagara, and southwestern Ontario. Young grain farmers aged 19 – 35 are invited to attend. Full details and registration are now available at www.gfo.ca/about/grains-in-action/. Space is limited to 30 participants. A waitlist will be in effect once capacity is reached.
Join the conversation Visit www.gfo. ca/GrainTALK for news, updates, and information for Grain Farmers of Ontario farmer-members. GRAIN TALK 19 Grain Discovery Zone Have you seen the Grain Discovery Zone at a fair or festival near you? This summer, Grain Farmers of Ontario’s intern, Sarah, has been travelling across the province, taking Grain Farmers of Ontario’s mobile education trailer to events that have significant urban outreach and attendance. The trailer features a sensory bin filled with corn and farm toys, along with educational and informative displays that help consumers learn more about grains and grain farming. Upcoming fall events include the Petrolia and Enniskillen Fair, Port Hope Fair, Lindsay Exhibition, Carp Fair, Markham Fair, and the Norfolk County Fair. Drop by to say hello! Find out more at www.goodineverygrain.ca/events. Field Progress Explore the newly launched Field Progress from Grain Farmers of Ontario. This page provides weekly updates on planting and harvest progress across the province, broken down by Grain Farmers of Ontario’s Districts 1-15. In July and August, it features the latest insights into winter wheat harvest progress across Ontario. As the year progresses, Field Progress will also highlight spring cereal, soybean, and corn harvest progress. Visit www.gfo.ca/agronomy/fieldprogress for more information. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER GRAIN TALK 20 Market Commentary By Philip Shaw We're looking at very big crops in 2025 across the greater North American corn belt. In the July United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, estimates of the U.S. corn crop continue to be 15.705 billion bushels based on an average yield of 181 bushels per acre. Private forecasters are putting this higher into August. On the soybean side, USDA is estimating 4.335 million bushels based on an average soybean yield of 52.5 bushels per acre. There is still time in late August and early September to cut these estimates. However, it looks like big supply is winning the day again this year. These big projections have led to lower Ontario cash prices for grain across the province. It is likely to continue into the fall, depending on the weather from now on. Cash prices for wheat have been particularly disappointing as harvest ended this summer. The Canadian dollar, currently fluttering in the 72-73 cents U.S. range, remains a stimulus to Ontario grain cash prices. • Grain Farmers of Ontario directors host farm tours In June, Jeff Barlow, director of District 6 (Haldimand, Brant, Hamilton, Niagara), hosted a delegation of Ontario wheat milling and bakery customers on his farm as part of a regenerative agriculture event organized by ADM. Grain Farmers of Ontario staff Dana Dickerson, director of market development and sustainability, and Ibrahim Mohammed, sustainability and environment specialist, also participated and presented on Ontario leadership in sustainable wheat production across the province. Josh Boersen, director of District 9 (Perth), hosted a Grain Farmers of Ontario-sponsored Farm and Food Care Ontario tour for food industry professionals. Boersen highlighted the crops he grows on his farm, the farm equipment he uses to till, plant, spray, and harvest, and the farming practices that benefit sustainability and soil health on his farm. Mary Feldskov, managing editor of the Ontario Grain Farmer magazine and Emma Weizenbluth, grains educator, joined the tour to share more about the Ontario grain industry and Grain Farmers of Ontario. Above: Jeff Barlow takes guests on a tour of his wheat field. Right: Josh Boersen welcomed food industry professionals to his farm.
Bringing together www.gocereals.ca, www.gocorn.net, www.gosoy.ca and www.gobeans.ca under a new, centralized website. Powered by Ontario’s crop committees, www.GoCrops.ca will serve as a one-stop source to access Ontario field crop variety and hybrid performance information. Introducing GoCrops.ca What can be found online: • Third-party variety and hybrid performance and agronomic data for major Ontario field crops • Head-to-head comparisons by year and growing area • Variety information • Disease testing results • Historical variety and hybrid performance and agronomic data • General crop committee information Unique website features: • An enhanced overall user experience for farmers and other website users • A simplified and streamlined resource to support seed selection decisions • A modern, updated and fresh appearance • Mobile friendly features • A consistent look and feel across all crop types GoCrops.ca was developed by the Ontario Cereal Crops Committee, Ontario Corn Committee, Ontario Pulse Crop Committee, and Ontario Soybean and Canola Committee, with funding support in part from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Grain Farmers of Ontario.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER LOOKING BACK 22 For more than 15 years, Grain Farmers of Ontario has been leading the way, supporting leadership development opportunities for farmer-members. The programs that Grain Farmers of Ontario hosts and supports build capacity for leadership development that equips farmer-members with the skills to advance Grain Farmers of Ontario’s strategic plan, advocate for agriculture, and strengthen Ontario’s rural communities. Looking back… Fifteen years of leadership development Grain Farmers of Ontario Announces New Leadership Program in Partnership with Corteva and OMAFA Stronger leadership 2024 ASA CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE YOUNG LEADER PROGRAM
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER LOOKING BACK 23 Scan the QR codes to read these stories and visit www.ontariograinfarmer.ca to read 15 years of stories about leadership development for farmer members. Grain research around the world NUFFIELD SCHOLAR BEGINS TWO YEAR INTERNATIONAL STUDY Grains in Action SHOWCASING THE GRAIN VALUE CHAIN
Ralph Pearce Risks and rewards Communicating about modern agriculture key to acceptance of innovation Over the past 10 to 15 years, robotic systems have revolutionized dairy farms, and similar mobilized systems are becoming increasingly common in field operations, from planting to small-scale weed management. However, the arrival of any innovation requires time for acclimatization, as well as consideration of the effects on commodity pricing, trade concerns, and the federal carbon tax, all of which can impact margins and profitability. A constant among these changes is the acceptance of risk, including determining whether alterations in practices work efficiently to benefit producers, the overall impact on their operations or whether there’s a risk of consumer backlash. One thing is certain: risk has been part of agriculture, and not just since the mid-1990s, but long before. Its acceptance is perhaps a testament to producers and the industry as a whole. In many circles, risk has been magnified by an environment of fear, stoked largely by mainstream media, the rise of social media and in many respects, government policies. Scientific facts are challenged and eroded by those with little or no scientific background, and agriculture is falling under that influence. BEING THE EXAMPLE As much as the industry may be under threat, Kevin MacLean believes those involved in food production need to take the reins and drive more of the efforts that help inform consumers. A big part of that effort is to accept risk as part of the job as a producer; it’s just part of their DNA. “My neighbour and I joke that as farmers, we make more decisions by noon in a day than a lot of people make in a week,” says MacLean, a dairy producer and Grain Farmers of Ontario farmermember, who operates Ripplebrook Farm near Napanee. “We take a certain sense of pride in that, and I think we enjoy the challenge of making those decisions, and with just about every decision we make, there’s some level of inherent risk.” More than an advocate for “stepping up”, MacLean is an embodiment of that pledge, hosting multiple on-farm events that have attracted hundreds of consumers through the years. He’s hosted Farm and Food Care Ontario’s (FFCO) Breakfast on the Few industries have seen change to the same extent as agriculture since the mid-1990s. Advances such as Bt corn and glyphosatetolerant crops altered the standards for crop farmers, along with yield monitors, auto-steer, and variable-rate technology. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 24
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