continued on page 8 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 7 Significant investments by private industry, as well as the federal and provincial governments, have put the grain sector well ahead of others in contemplating how to navigate this era of global uncertainty and troubled geopolitics. Such instability has shone a light on the infrastructure underpinning food security, increasing the appreciation and understanding of the Seaway and port expansion plans. Dana Dickerson, Grain Farmers of Ontario’s director of market development and sustainability, notes other inland grainproducing regions, particularly Western Canada and the U.S. Midwest, count mostly on rail to move grain. “The seaway and its ports are a rare and unparalleled transportation asset in the grain sector and in close promixity to our growing region give Ontario farmers a leg up,” she says. “They minimize risk…they’re an incredible advantage.” Adds Grain Farmers of Ontario chief executive officer, Crosby Devitt: “Ontario has a rich history of port and terminal development. Some of the infrastructure was built more than a century ago, and it’s critical that it be modernized to ensure it’s available for the next 100 years. The growth in grain production in Ontario has created many opportunities for grain handlers, exporters, and processors, and we all have a stake in keeping the momentum.” Grain Farmers of Ontario is vigorously supporting port expansion by participating in inbound and outbound trade missions, supporting business case development, and helping port and grain terminal project proponents advocate to the government to unlock development barriers and attract investment. Dickerson says domestic and foreign grain customers have taken note of the port and terminal activity. “They’re really impressed with what they’re seeing,” she says. “The investment, the technology, the attention to detail by the industry is getting buyers’ attention. It’s really striking when you look at the big picture of what’s happening in Ontario, and we want to help unlock development opportunities by emphasizing our farmers’ reliability, consistency, and sustainability.” The expansion effort features many significant developments. TRADE-ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE IN HAMILTON AND OSHAWA Agri-food commodities shipped through the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) reached a combined total of 3.42 million tonnes last year, maintaining agri-food’s position as a cornerstone of HOPA’s cargo mix. Agri-food now represents 31 per cent of total cargo volume, driven by a decade of what the organization calls “investment in trade-enabling infrastructure.” Parrish and Heimbecker (P&H) is a major player here. In Hamilton, P&H realized a milestone in 2017 with the opening of Ontario’s first new flour mill in 75 years. By 2020, the addition of a second mill doubled its processing capacity. Now, with a third mill under construction, P&H continues to meet the rising demand for quality ingredients in the baking and food manufacturing industries. Construction is expected to be completed late this year. This expansion also includes two new storage silos for handling essential feed ingredients such as soymeal, distillers dried grains, and wheat to service the flour mills. Meanwhile, at the Port of Oshawa, the newly expanded grain terminal there now offers 20,000 tonnes of storage capacity and features a sell loading rate of up to 12,000 tonnes per day. A new dual truck unloading structure, capable of receiving 700 tonnes of grain per hour, will streamline deliveries and minimize delays. The facility also has weather protection and a modern dust control system. In 2024, the Port of Oshawa received more than 54,000 tonnes of grain from regional farmers for export to international markets. GODERICH POISED FOR HUGE EXPANSION ANNOUNCEMENT The increasingly busy Port of Goderich, which currently welcomes about 220 ships annually, is poised for a huge expansion announcement that could come as soon as October 2025. Goderich Port Management Corporation president, Frank Hurkmans, says the pieces are firmly in place for an 11-acre, $65-million expansion that will make the port a container-receipt terminal on top of its other functions, handling as many as 10,000 containers annually. Hurkmans describes it as a “shovel-ready project,” and pending funding approvals, this expansion would wrap up in the fall of 2028. Hurkmans expects grain to continue to comprise about 20 per cent of the material handled by the port. However, container capacity means significantly more agricultural products, such as fertilizer “Agri-food commodities shipped through the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) reached a combined total of 3.42 million tonnes last year, maintaining agri-food’s position as a cornerstone of HOPA’s cargo mix.
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