Enhance your marketing savvy AUGUST 2025 www.OntarioGrainFarmer.ca OUTLOOK DECEMBER 2025/JANUARY 2026 Keep every door open
27 Business side Conversations with business experts 13 Crop side Agronomic information from crop specialists DECEMBER 2025/JANUARY 2026 volume 17, number 3 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 16 GrainTALK newsletter An update on Grain Farmers of Ontario news and events 30 Good in Every Grain Updates on our campaign Enhance your marketing savvy Jeff Robinson 6On the cover AGRONOMY 10 A year in review Laura Austin Ferrier RURAL LIVING 28 Hearing from farmers outside the traditional mainstream Owen Roberts TECHNOLOGY 14 National Geodetic Survey updating GPS reference systems Matt McIntosh GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 24 Ontario’s grain and oilseed competitiveness Sankalp Sharma INDUSTRY NEWS 20 Learning opportunities this winter Treena Hein
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER FROM THE CEO’S DESK 4 From the CEO's desk Through its strategic objectives of advocacy and public trust, research and knowledge transfer, market protection and growth, and strong governance and operations, the organization continues to serve as a trusted voice for Ontario grain farmers. I hope you’ve enjoyed reflecting on some of the issues, achievements, and stories we’ve shared from the past 15 years in Ontario Grain Farmer magazine throughout the year. Since Grain Farmers of Ontario's inception, our industry has weathered its share of challenges and successes — and this year was no exception. Across the province, weather variability brought significant impacts, with some regions experiencing notable losses. Global markets, shaped by tariffs, trade disputes, and armed conflicts, have reached new levels of instability, creating uncertainty for farmers selling Ontariogrown barley, corn, soybeans, oats, and wheat. Despite these challenges, 2025 also brought important successes. The provincial government’s $100 million increase to the Risk Management Program provides stronger support for farmers facing tough growing conditions. We’ve also expanded our market development efforts, collaborating with partners across the value chain and with both provincial and federal governments to strengthen access to global markets and advocate for fair, open trade. Recently, I travelled to Mexico with Jeff Harrison, chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario, and the provincial and federal ministers of agriculture. We met with Mexican grain importers and end-users and participated in the Tri-National Agricultural Accord, which brought together senior agricultural officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States to discuss trade and shared priorities — including preparations for the 2026 review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. That trip was a powerful reminder of the work that happens behind the scenes to support Canadian farmers and agribusinesses. Across the globe, Canadian embassy staff advocate for our industry every day. They help us make connections to our markets around the world and keep our Canadian reputation strong. As we close 2025 and look ahead to 2026, Grain Farmers of Ontario continues to invest in market development and relationship-building with value-chain partners, with additional trade missions planned to countries such as Japan, China, and Taiwan, in partnership with Soy Canada and Mexico with Cereals Canada. We are seeing growing interest in Ontario grain from countries around the world and we all gain by pursuing new buyers. January also marks the Annual District Meetings for each of Grain Farmers of Ontario’s 15 districts. I hope to see many of you at your local meeting — to learn more about our work on your behalf, engage in discussion, and vote on resolutions, and local delegates and directors. The schedule can be found on page 18. On behalf of everyone at Grain Farmers of Ontario, I wish you Happy Holidays and all the best for a safe, healthy, and joyous New Year. • Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario As the calendar turns to December, Grain Farmers of Ontario concludes its milestone 15th year. Building on the foundation of its three founding organizations — the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board, Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, and Ontario Soybean Growers — Grain Farmers of Ontario has grown into an industry-leading organization that delivers real value to its 28,000 farmer-members.
2026 Learn more about Grains in Action at www.gfo.ca/grains-in-action Are you a young farmer looking to learn more about the grain value chain? February 9 - 12, 2026
Jeff Robinson Enhance your marketing savvy Keep every door open Charting a course ahead is always simpler when knowing where you’ve been, and the commodity markets tend to follow a similar pattern. It’s one thing to say, “I can’t wait to see this year in my rearview mirror!”, yet it’s not advisable to ignore the lessons of the previous 12 months, despite the perceived benefits of a short memory. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 6
continued on page 8 History is a wonderful teacher, and with the approach of a new year, it’s time to pause and reflect on 2025 before envisioning how 2026 might unfold. At this point last year, most farmers in Ontario were still feeling the effects of domestic trade issues, including labour disputes affecting rail transportation and port shipments, as well as a wetter-than-normal growing season for most of southern Ontario. In the past 12 months, the overall focus has shifted to one more dominated by U.S. and global market concerns. It’s hard to ignore the effects of trade and tariffs, especially living next door to the U.S. and hearing or reading about its “challenges”, and trying to determine how Ontario growers may be affected. We’ve seen significant changes in U.S. trade policies, with some profound effects on U.S. marketing and responses from Washington. On a local level, 2025 saw some of the worst growing conditions in more than 20 years, with excessive and prolonged dry weather across different parts of the province. But for the growers I deal with, it’s important to note that we’re not well-positioned to simply assume trade relations that the U.S. holds or has held with other countries. We have a unique scenario in that our exports are shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway, and we’re not able to load vessels in Ontario for ocean-going transport without being topped off in Montreal. It’s not a criticism of that particular system; it works very well to meet our trade needs, with the commodities we grow here. But the most prominent conversation I’ve had in the past five months drives this notion that if China isn’t buying commodities from the U.S., they’ll want to buy from Canada. If we were in B.C. and had access to the Port of Vancouver, that’d be a huge advantage for soybean growers exporting their harvests to Asia. The truth is, Ontario is the farthest away from China from a shipping standpoint. We may still have a strategic advantage for some products but from a logistical perspective, we’re not set up for that in Ontario, at least not for something like soybeans. MORE HISTORICAL REMINDERS Politics is playing a greater role in the movement of commodities, affecting the closely guarded supply-and-demand economics standards involved in the movement of grains and oilseeds. In March 2022, the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) issued a report titled “Agri-Food Productivity and Trade: Policy Gaps and Possibilities”, coinciding with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. One recommendation made by the study’s authors was “The distortions in agri-food trade are increasingly being used as a geo-economic weapon in which open-economy exporters like Canada are vulnerable.” In retrospect, when that conflict began, Russia was politically cut off from most countries, and we’ve seen a similar reaction to the U.S. in 2025, even if it’s for different reasons. In spite of political pressures, countries may discount the price of commodities and when that happens, buyers will make their decisions based on those prices. In the case of Russia, several ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 7 buyers voted to pay cheaper grain prices, especially if supplies from their usual chain partners were reduced by a poor growing season. Politically, they might have wanted to avoid dealing with an “undesirable” source, but most times when something is cheaper, a buyer will act accordingly. LOOKING AHEAD If we come around full circle for 2026, the question will be whether the U.S. will have to significantly discount its grain to attract buyers on the world market. We’re seeing this late in 2025, as American suppliers are offering soybeans to China at a discount, yet China is sending a clear signal by paying a premium to purchase soybeans from South America. Interestingly, after its conflict with Ukraine began in 2022, Russia ended up selling its wheat for about $100 (U.S.) per tonne on the world market just to get rid of it. Instead of the supply in the market becoming tighter and more expensive, prices dropped as both countries involved in the conflict continued producing vast quantities of grain. Despite the challenges of growing and shipping grain out of the region with a war raging around them, the two regions continued with relatively robust production levels and the expected price hikes never developed. In late 2025, some are hoping a similar tightening in the marketplace will push soybean prices higher because the U.S. isn’t selling to certain countries, despite the lessons of the RussiaUkraine conflict. And that’s what I’m worried about—that it looks as though the U.S., our neighbour, is going to have a massive surplus of grain, which can go both ways for Canada and Ontario, in particular. We could have other countries buying from us, paying a premium like South America. Or we could see the U.S. The 2024 growing season featured a wetter-than-normal spring, while 2025 saw excessive and prolonged dry weather.
continue to discount its price low enough to finally get rid of that grain, which means the world price gets effectively lower. THE PROVINCIAL PROVISO The big benefit is that Ontario growers were not at large risk with our trade; we won’t have the same trade disruptions. In the end, I’m not worried about getting rid of the physical product. We’re talking to individual farmers and learning what they care about, and what they really care about most is getting rid of the physical grain. And from where I stand, the demand for our physical product through these trade disruptions still looks strong, and I’m comfortable that we’ll at least have demand for all of our grain. It’s not to say that political conditions haven’t had any impact; they have caused some uncertainty in the market, and that makes people market a little of their crops that much sooner. No one likes market uncertainty because it’s a higher risk, and for some, it has them leaning towards taking that risk off the table, and they’re not wrong if they do that. But risk halfway around the world is a little harder to understand and react to, which can lead to growers making fewer decisions. That creates risk that we may not be familiar with, which means we might find marketing for those reasons to be a difficult choice. REPEAT THE SAME MESSAGE Focusing back on demand for the physical grain, it’s best to watch what’s happening in the cash market to more accurately forecast what might happen in the futures market. If we’ve seen demand for the physical product all the way through harvest towards the end of 2025, it’s going to provide more optimism for 2026 because it means the world is buying and moving the grain. That means we’re disrupting trade, which means other customers are buying cheaper grain from the U.S. instead of us because they’re being offered it. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 8 continued from page 7 As for finding newer ways to drive demand and cushion any negative effects of U.S. political pressures, there are suggestions that Canadian commodity markets might benefit by detaching from the Chicago Board of Trade (CBoT) and distancing ourselves from any turmoil caused by our proximity to the U.S. Or that a trade agreement on soybeans between Canada and Indonesia in late September might generate higher demand and production, particularly for Ontario growers. But neither scenario is likely to unfold. For starters, CBoT, despite its occasional frustrating qualities, provides liquidity in the market, which translates to stability. As a trader in Ontario, there will be times during the year when we’ll struggle to get bids for physical grain, and we need CBoT to provide a way for us to do that. Late in 2025, Americans had a surplus, particularly with soybeans, so it’s easy for us (in Ontario) to look at that situation and say we don’t need them or a marketing authority like CBoT. But there are benefits of having the ability to trade with them or at least use their liquidity in the market to help us during times when our local demand is potentially not as strong. We know that the fewer options we give ourselves to market something, the greater the risk because we’re likely to be stuck with fewer options at different times. The more options we have to sell everything, the more likely it’ll be positive in the long run.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 9 • Non-Corrosive • Highly Compatible • Ready-to-Use Formula • Avoid Clogging & Plugging visit us online: alpinepfl.com | call: 1.844.655.BIOK (2465) YOUR EQUIPMENT’S FAVORITE FERTILIZER SCAN NOW TO LEARN MORE THE INESCAPABLE FACT OF THE U.S. We want to look at all opportunities that are out there, but the U.S. is always going to be our neighbour, and the more balanced we are, the better we’re going to be from a marketing standpoint. It’s nice to believe you could have one big customer that wants all of your products because it means you’re dealing with only one interest. But when that one buyer doesn’t want it anymore, it’s the worst position to be in, and the U.S.-China impasse is a good example of that. From a marketing standpoint, diversifying or having a few more buyers is definitely the preferred option. And the customer who’s closest to you is usually your best marketing partner. If I have someone around the corner who wants to buy grain, they usually have a competitive advantage over someone who’s farther away. And that individual usually has to pay the difference between getting it from “here” to “there”. That’s Marketing 101, where the people who are successful in marketing are the ones who actually have the most product closer to where they need it. As for the Indonesian trade deal, the cost of moving commodities around the world remains a limiting factor. Remember the comments about loading ships in Ontario and topping them up in Montreal. Life would be so much simpler if we could transport soybeans from Ontario to the West Coast cost-effectively. But that isn’t possible with the transportation system currently in place, regardless of how our producers in Ontario might be able to boost soybean production. The other consideration is that I trade in physical grain from farmers and sell it to those who use it, unlike traders or brokers who forecast how prices are expected to react to different market influences. Given what I do, I have faith that there’ll be some positives in the long term from this shifting global trade situation. One of the strengths of Canada is that we’re really good at working and maintaining relationships, and that gives me hope for the future. With the Indonesian trade deal, I question whether it can happen as fast as a year or two; sometimes it can take longer to get those new trade routes established and functioning. But we’re going to benefit in the long run because that sums up what or who we are in this country. Jeff Robinson is the grain merchandiser at Guelph-area Woodrill Farms. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. •
Laura Austin Ferrier A year in review Insights from the growing season Another year is coming to a close, and with it, the end of another crop season. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER AGRONOMY 10 After what seemed like a never-ending winter, with plenty of snow accumulation in many areas and water flooding and ponding in others, spring arrived. Once the snow melted and the fields saw water receding, a common sight was snow mould and winter wheat encased in ice, leaving dead or weakened plants behind. Cold weather lasted into May, with some anxiousness to get into the fields to plant corn, soybeans and spring cereals. But, as is often the case with planting, a huge number of acres go in over a very short window of time, and this year was no different for most. Although planting did seem to stop and stutter a few times throughout the spring, most of the crop went into excellent ground conditions. Due to wet, cool conditions in the spring, the winter wheat crop was scouted for several diseases—powdery mildew, septoria, and leaf and stripe rust, to name a few were identified in fields, with leaf and stripe rust identified in the province by mid-May. Both rust strains are concerning because they rob yield; however, stripe rust was particularly concerning. Stripe rust can cause more than 70 per cent yield loss in susceptible varieties if left untreated, and was of concern this year as it appeared that the disease may have overwintered in some regions. The disease's ability to overwinter enabled earlier infection of the host from adjacent winter wheat crops. In some cases, due to earlier disease infections and the rapid spread of the disease, multiple generations of disease spore production occurred, leading to faster spread across the province. In the future, selecting a more tolerant variety (ratings can be found at GoCrops.ca), scouting and proper identification, and taking decisive action, especially if the variety is susceptible, are just a few things to keep in mind when dealing with stripe rust. WATER WORRIES As spring edged towards summer, water worries became the topic of conversation in several areas of the province. Many are still experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions at the time of writing. The drought began during the late vegetative and into the reproductive stages of plant growth and impacted the yields of corn and soybeans. Winter wheat and spring cereals, while not completely immune to drought impacts, flowered when moisture was not overly limited and achieved average yields in most areas.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER AGRONOMY 11 continued on page 12 As with a lack of rain, disease development in the middle of the growing season was not as worrisome as in some years. Tar spot, DON, and others, while on the radar, were not huge topics of concern for many regions. The Crop Protection Network launched a new Crop Risk Tool, partially funded by Grain Farmers of Ontario, to enhance disease management decisions. Weatherbased forecasting and risk assessments are available for tar spot and gray leaf spot in corn, and white mould and frogeye leaf spot in soybeans. The Crop Risk Tool is an excellent addition to Ontario grain farmers' toolbox. As corn and soybean fields approached reproductive stages, development was affected in several regions by a lack of moisture. Corn cobs were shortened, with kernels either not pollinated or aborted. Soybeans showed flowers and pods aborting, with plants shutting down due to drought, well before what would be considered normal. A challenging year for some, as decisions were made on how to salvage the crop. WEEDS AND DISEASE With crop canopies not as lush as in some years and weed seeds able to germinate in some cases with very little moisture, throughout the growing season, waterhemp, fleabane, and Palmer amaranth were among the weeds seen in fields as they emerged mid-season. Palmer amaranth, a new weed identified in Ontario only a few years ago in a very limited location, saw this year an expansion in identification. As next season approaches, be sure to review the weed spectrum in the fields and plan to manage multiple herbicide-resistant weeds. Good scouting and identification, paired with a two-pass herbicide program that has multiple effective modes of action, with good residual activity, will be key for problematic weeds. And as always, a reminder to be drift aware when applying any crop protection product. Droplet size, height of the boom, and wind speed are just a few of the things to keep in mind when heading to the field to make an application. HARVEST Across much of Ontario, the start of the fall season saw incredible harvest weather, with warm temperatures, sunny skies, and low rainfall. However, that caused soybeans to dry down almost too quickly, and many were harvested dry or below dry for harvest moisture. Winter wheat planting saw many acres planted in ideal conditions, with warm soil temperatures and good soil moisture with timely rains. Much of the winter wheat also went in close to the optimum planting date, which helped it get off to a great start. Be sure to review the weed spectrum in fields and plan to manage multiple herbicide resistant weeds.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER AGRONOMY 12 continued from page 11 Corn harvest began in good time; initial yields at the time of writing were below to above average, depending on the region and weather patterns experienced. There were some concerns about stalk integrity as the drought, in many cases, caused stalk strength to diminish. Leaf disease, stalk rots, or nutrient deficiencies can also cause stalk strength challenges. FIELD PROGRESS This harvest season, Field Progress—the go-to source for weekly estimation on planting and harvest progress across the province, by district, was launched in time for the winter wheat harvest. It shared the percent harvested on a weekly basis, and as the season progressed the program has also reported on soybean and corn harvest, along with winter wheat planting progress. This upcoming spring: spring cereal, corn, and soybean planting will be highlighted. As with every year, even the small victories and successes must be celebrated. Farmers are often optimists, and it is that which gets many through challenging times. Take time to celebrate the good outcomes and try to plan to overcome what challenges can be influenced in future seasons. Have a safe remainder of the year as harvest finishes up. Laura Ferrier, CCA-Ontario, is Grain Farmers of Ontario’s agronomist. • Field Progress - Grain Farmers of Ontario’s weekly estimation of planting and harvest across the province, by district.
Fertilizer prices have been trending up recently, particularly phosphorous (P). Last time fertilizer prices rose significantly (~2022) crop prices saw a similar rise. This time however, crop prices have remained more muted. A squeeze on farm margins might put fertilizer rates under more scrutiny for the 2026 corn crop. Recommendations for P application in Ontario (Table 1) are built on data that is over 50 years old. Crop production and yields today are much different now. This begs the questions - are current P recommendations still relevant? Ontario’s corn P recommendations still deliver Ben Rosser Crop side with... Ben Rosser, Corn Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER CROP SIDE 13 In 2015, Greg Stewart and Ken Janovicek, then of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs and the University of Guelph, respectively, collected as much newer Ontario P response data that they could find that were not used in the original recommendation calibrations. This included 77 multi-rate response trials from 1969-2010, which allows for the calculation of economically optimum P rates. These trials also include soil test data, so one could look at economically optimum P rate by soil test (Figure 1). When comparing optimum P rates from the newer P response data (points on graph in Figure 1) to Ontario corn P recommendations (green line on graph in Figure 1), it appeared that recommended rates would have met or exceeded optimum P rates at most of the newer trials. Thus, current recommendations appeared to do a good job delivering rates that met optimum P requirements in this newer data set up to 2010. Even when fertilizer prices are high, if you have a very low soil test P, there is a good probability of a large yield response and return on fertilizer investment. Conversely, when soil test P is high, probability of a yield response in that year is likely low. If 2026 looks to be a cost squeeze year for farmers, and your main concern is applying the most economic rate of P for that year, the current recommendations will do a good job of pointing you to the right rate. These recommendations are generally known as the “sufficiency” approach – apply the rate that provides the most optimum response for the current year. Where sufficiency recommendations are often challenged is that as yields increase, the soil test value you must get to before recommendations are at least applying crop removal is driven down. Thus, soil test values will slip as yields increase. Some prefer to not let soil test values drop this low and use a “build and maintain” approach. Long term P and K trials in Ontario suggest that there can be yield penalties if soil test values are allowed to slip to very low levels, even when applying an optimum rate of P or K for that low soil test. However, in a year where fertilizer:grain price ratios may be higher than normal, and economics may be under a squeeze, sufficiency recommendations are likely a good way to balance agronomic risks and cash flows. It should be noted that the data used in the above re-evaluation now ranges from 15-55+ years old. A research project funded by Grain Farmers of Ontario and led by Dr. Adrian Correndo, cropping systems professor at the University of Guelph, is underway to revisit the question of whether Ontario P and K recommendations still deliver optimum rates today. He is currently running rate trials on stations and farms across Ontario. • Figure 1. Most economic rates of P for 77 multi-rate Ontario corn P trials, 1969-2010 and Ontario corn P recommendations determined by soil test P Table 1. Ontario corn phosphate recommendations Phosphorous Soil Test (sodium bicarbonate, ppm) Phosphate (P2O5) Required) (kg/ha) (lb/ac) 0-3 110 99 4-5 100 90 6-7 90 81 8-9 70 63 10-12 50 45 13-15 20 18 16-20 20 18 21-30 20 18 31-60 0 0 61+ 0 0
Matt McIntosh National Geodetic Survey updating GPS reference systems Check with equipment providers to ensure software is updated The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) of the United States aims to update its geodetic reference systems in 2026. Designed to correct misalignments in currently used reference systems, the move will impact the accuracy of some precision tools used in agricultural production. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER TECHNOLOGY 14
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER TECHNOLOGY 15 Ensuring precision-agriculture software is up to date, however, should prevent problems. WHAT’S HAPPENING? The NGS is adopting NATRF2022 for latitude and longitude positioning, and NAPGD2022 for elevational positioning. Referred to as “datums,” these will replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88, correcting errors in accuracy relative to the true centre of the Earth. John Sulik, professor of precision agriculture with the University of Guelph, explains. “If I share my geographic coordinates with you, they are associated with a reference frame, often referred to as a datum. A datum defines the shape and size of the earth and serves as a reference for measuring coordinates… The GPS coordinates for any location depend on the datum used, and my location (the exact spot) would have different values if using the old or new datum you mentioned,” says Sulik, in mid-October 2025. “Farmers already have to deal with different datums and associated offsets, especially if using high accuracy corrections such as RTK, depending on the mode of correction delivery…The result of changing to the new datum is a ‘datum shift’ of one to four metres. The most common geographic data farmers use are field boundaries and guidance lines (i.e., AB lines). This data will likely need to be updated/redrawn unless their dealer tells them otherwise.” For Jordan Wallace, farmer and co-founder of GPS Ontario, the exact impact of updates to NGS reference systems are not entirely clear. Speaking October 23, 2025, Wallace has asked for clarity from the services GPS Ontario works with. However, he suspects businesses like theirs employing services which rely on a range of international guidance networks—what Wallace refers to as “multiconstellational”—will not be affected by changes made solely within the United States reference systems. UPDATING MAPS Writing for No-Till Farmer, Iowa State University extension staff Luke Fuhrer and Doug Houser confirm Wallace’s perspective. The pair report that those using systems with limited accuracy—only precise up to one or two metres—or those operating major commercial satellite RTK platforms, such as Trimble, John Deere, and others that already align to a global datum, will not notice the changes. Anyone relying on local RTK base stations set up with NAD 83 or NAD 88, or on maps and A-B lines made with older legacy systems, will need to update their maps. NGS resources recommend three courses of action for those affected: • Resurvey: Return to the field and collect new observations, relying on geodetic control that has coordinates in the new datum, • Readjust: Using existing observations, recompute new coordinates based on geodetic control that has been defined in the new datum, • Transform: Take finished products that have coordinates in the old datum and use transformation software to estimate coordinates in the new datum. The agency adds the following: “To inform your decision on which of these methods is appropriate, evaluate your accuracy requirements, any remaining original observations, and the metadata for your existing geospatial data and products. In many cases, if collecting new observations or reprocessing original observations is not feasible, transforming the data will be the only option.” “To prepare your data for transformation to the new system and to check whether you have the appropriate metadata to do so, run your data through the NGS Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool (NCAT) to transform to the current datums (NAVD 88, NAD 83 [2011]). When the modernized system is released, NCAT will be updated to transform your coordinates from current datums to coordinates in the modernized NSRS at its first reference epoch of 2020.00.” • TRUSTED GENETICS. PROVEN RESULTS.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER GRAIN TALK 16 Grain Your Grain Farmers of Ontario Team Here is the next installment of profiles of Grain Farmers of Ontario staff to help introduce you to the team. Sarah Lindsay is the 202425 Grain Farmers of Ontario communications intern. In her role, she toured across Ontario with the Good in Every Grain Grain Discovery Zone to visit numerous fairs and events in every part of the province. (Read more about the Grain Discovery Zone on page 30). With a background in knowledge transfer and events coordination in agriculture, Lindsay enjoyed the opportunity to apply her experience at a grassroots level. Engaging in one-onone conversations opened her eyes to how people absorb and respond to messaging in today’s world of information overload. It has given her the opportunity to explore a wide range of perspectives while explaining the fundamentals of grain farming, which she says has been both challenging and rewarding. As she continues in this role, Sarah's excited to apply what she's learned to help bridge the gap between consumers and producers, highlighting the essential work of Ontario grain farmers. Provincial reception On October 22, Grain Farmers of Ontario directors and staff hosted the annual provincial reception at Queen's Park, bringing together elected officials and stakeholders to highlight the vital role of Ontario's grain sector. Directors met with Premier Doug Ford before the event, then welcomed ministers, MPPs, and staff for an evening focused on building relationships and sharing insights into the province's grain industry.
GRAIN TALK 17 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER Grains in Action The annual Grains in Action program will be held February 9-12, 2026. Grains in Action is a four-day program for young farmers to gain knowledge about the end uses of the grains they grow. Participants also learn about the role of Grain Farmers of Ontario within the grain industry and how they can become active members within the organization. It is an opportunity for new experiences, building relationships, and professional growth. Grains in Action is a tour-based program, with stops that highlight the different aspects of the grain value chain. Tour stops in 2026 include the Port of Hamilton, Solio, G3, LAC, the St. Lawrence Seaway, Ingredion, JP Wisers, ADM, and Pride Seeds. Additional stops are still being confirmed. Grain Farmers of Ontario covers the complete cost of the program, including meals, bus transportation to tours, and hotels; however, participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the program. The program will begin and end at Sheraton Hamilton in Hamilton, Ontario. Mexico trade mission In early October, Grain Farmers of Ontario chair, Jeff Harrison, and CEO Crosby Devitt took part in a trade mission in Mexico, meeting with key Ontario grain export customers alongside Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Minister Trevor Jones and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Heath MacDonald. Following customer meetings in Mexico City, they attended the Tri-National Agricultural Accord, a summit which brings together state and provincial agricultural officials from Canada, Mexico, and the United States to work together on agricultural trade and development issues. Market commentary By Philip Shaw The government shutdown in the United States has led to a vacuum of information with regard to crop numbers feeding the price discovery algorithms in Chicago. Needless to say, basis values as well as spreads do tell a story and we had a solid bull market in soybeans and to some extent in corn in late October into early November. Soybeans actually gained over a dollar a bushel during this time. Corn prices were not as dramatic gaining rationally 13 to 15 cents a bushel on futures during this time. This futures price movement has been enhanced by Canadian dollar trading at 0.7048 cents on November 6 which serves as a stimulus to Ontario grain cash prices. • L-R: Jeff Harrison, Minister Trevor Jones, Minister Heath MacDonald, Ambassador Cameron MacKay (Canadian envoy to Mexico), and Crosby Devitt. Grains in Action participants toured the Port of Johnstown as part of their 2025 tour. Port expansion in Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway is one of the agri-food sector's top business stories.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER GRAIN TALK 18 2026 Annual District Meetings The date and time of your district meeting has been confirmed and is listed below. Please go to www.gfo.ca for additional meeting details as they become available. Information is subject to change. These meetings serve as annual elections for district representation. Please consider putting your name forward to serve as delegate or alternate. NOTICE OF 2026 ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETINGS DISTRICT DATE TIME LOCATION/DISTRICT DIRECTOR District 1 Essex Jan. 22 4 p.m. **new time** Essex Legion, 103 Talbot St N, Essex, ON ****New Location**** District 2 Kent Jan. 21 3 p.m. Hidden Hills Golf and Country Club, 25393 St. Clair Road, Dover Centre, ON District 3 Lambton Jan. 19 4 p.m. Wyoming Fair Grounds, 595 Main Street, Wyoming, ON District 4 Middlesex Jan. 22 9 a.m. Lucan Community Memorial Centre, 263 Main St, Lucan, ON District 5 Elgin, Norfolk Jan. 13 9 a.m. Malahide Community Place, 12105 Whittaker Road, Springfield, ON District 6 Haldimand, Brant, Hamilton, Niagara Jan. 23 **new date** 9 a.m. Mutual Room, Riverside Exhibition Centre (Caledonia Fairgrounds), 151 Caithness Street E, Caledonia, ON District 7 Oxford, Waterloo Jan. 23 9 a.m. Innerkip Community Centre, 695566 17th Line, Innerkip, ON District 8 Huron Jan. 20 9 a.m. Holmesville Community Centre, 180 Community Centre Road, Clinton, ON District 9 Perth Jan. 21 5:30 p.m. Mitchell Golf and Country Club, 81 Frances Street, Mitchell, ON District 10 Grey, Bruce, Wellington Jan. 20 9:30 a.m. Clifford Community Hall, 2 William Street, Clifford, ON District 11 Dufferin, Simcoe, Halton, Peel, York Jan. 14 10 a.m. Faith Community Presbyterian Church, 206 Murphy Rd., Baxter, ON District 12 Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings Jan. 15 9:30 a.m. The Best Western Plus, 930 Burnham Street, Cobourg, ON District 13 Prince Edward, Lennox, Addington, Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Renfrew, Ottawa Jan. 14 10 a.m. Elgin Lions Club, 19 Pineview Drive, Elgin, ON District 14 Prescott, Russell, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry Jan. 13 9 a.m. North Stormont Place, 16299 Fairview Drive, Avonmore, ON District 15 Northern Ontario Jan. 15 9 a.m. Kerns Community Hall, 279279 Milberta Road, New Liskeard, ON ****New Location****
RECEPTION/HOSPITALITY SUITE PANEL DISCUSSION, TUESDAY LUNCH SUCCESSION PLANNING SUCCESS POINTS NUTRITION BREAK SPONSORS SUPPORTER SWAG BAG SPEAKER SPONSORS CHILDCARE Thank you to the 2025 Women’s Grain Symposium sponsors! The support of our sponsors helped make our event a tremendous success and fulfilled our goal of making connections. Grain Farmers of Ontario’s Women’s Grain Symposium is an opportunity for networking, professional development, and leadership development. It is open to women who are grain farmers, active members of their family grain operation, or working within the grain sector of agriculture business with a direct connection to farmers. Thank you to our speakers who inspired leadership and provided practical tips for growing a successful business. We look forward to hosting the symposium again in 2026. edgemutual INSURANCE COMPANY
Treena Hein Learning opportunities this winter An exciting winter season of conferences, workshops, and more As usual, those who organize the winter learning opportunities for Ontario’s grain farmers have been hard at work since last year’s events, making sure the upcoming versions are the best ever. Whether it’s the big yearly conferences or the smaller events and workshops, here’s a look at what’s fresh, what’s different, and what’s not to miss. First, the ‘big three’ – the SouthWest Agricultural Conference (SWAC), the Midwest Agricultural Conference (MWAC) and the Eastern Ontario Crop Conference (EOCC). They are all in-person events, but all sessions will be recorded and posted to the Ontario Agricultural Conferences (OAgC) web platform until March 31, 2026. The popular and interactive TEC Talk Tuesday sessions will also be posted until that date, explains registration lead MaryMargaret Mcdonald. In addition, as SWAC and MWAC are happening, OAgC will live-stream selected sessions. Dr. Alberta Tenuta, SWAC co-chair and the extension plant pathologist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agri-Business (OMAFA), says the goal each year for each conference is to make them better than the past. That’s from a participant's standpoint, as well as from the organizational and speaker's standpoints. “We have a reputation in Ontario for providing the best conference experience for our speakers, and they say they get the best questions,” Tenuta explains. “The general theme for all the conferences this season is ‘Planking Knowledge, Growing Prosperity,’ focusing on the importance of collaboration in achieving success. There is something for everyone at each conference, and each one has the local flavour and topics that are key to long-term prosperity and sustainability of growers in each region.” SWAC is held at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. Farmers have the choice of attending one or both days, with 30 sessions available in all. Tenuta expects the sprayer technology workshops to be very popular, and they require preregistration. The keynote speaker on January 6 will be Terry O’Reilly, creator of the very popular ‘Under the Influence’ program, which has aired for many years on CBC ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 20
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 21 Radio. O’Reilly will highlight the power of crafting engaging stories that build connection and trust between farmers and the public. At the keynote on January 7, Alberta psychologist Dr. Jody Carrington will motivate listeners to recharge their batteries and reignite their passion for agriculture and everything else. If you want to attend MWAC, it’s on January 16, 2026, at the RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex in Waterloo. As always, its six sessions will feature the best experts presenting the latest insights on crop management tools that help farmers meet current and future challenges. Shortly after, on January 27, is the EOCC, held in Kemptville, with 14 sessions available throughout the day. “We’re at a new venue this year, Southgate Church,” says Laura Scott, OMAFA cropping systems specialist. “In terms of planning sessions, we always send out surveys after each event, looking for topics, suggestions, and feedback to improve upon the event. Highlight sessions at EOCC this year include ‘Record-Breaking Wheat: Learnings from the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN)’ with Joanna Follings, OMAFA cereals specialist, where growers will discover how this initiative is helping growers unlock wheat yield potential through data-driven insights, benchmarking, and collaborative learning across the region. Dr. Josh Nasielski and Lance Javier will present ‘From Stover to Stand: On Farm Lessons for No-Till Soybeans after Corn,’ with details from eastern Ontario farm trials. Another session to note will be hosted by Cornell University’s Mike Hunter, who will share findings on a new pest and disease near the U.S./Canada border. As OMAFA Field Crop Entomologist Tracey Baute explained in the August issue of Ontario Grain Farmer, corn leafhopper is native to Mexico and over the last few decades, it has travelled south to Argentina and north to the U.S.. This pest was first detected in both New York and Minnesota in late summer 2024. Baute explains that milder winters may allow them to overwinter close to Ontario. These insects might feed on corn, millet, sorghum and even wheat, though they cannot complete a lifecycle on these other grass types. What’s worse, injuries to a corn plant caused by the corn leafhopper can result in transmission of one or more of the pathogens this insect “ The Eastern Ontario Crop Conference will be held on January 27, with 14 sessions available throughout the day. continued on page 22
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 22 can carry, including corn stunt spiroplasma, maize bushy stunt phytoplasma and maize rayado fino virus. Baute warns that corn stunt symptoms do not show up until at least 30 days after transmission, and there are no effective treatments currently available. Also, at EOCC, a grower panel called ‘Successful Winter Cereals for Forage’ will be moderated by Christine O’Reilly. This discussion will explore why more livestock farmers are growing high-quality winter cereals for forage, how it works and tips for success. OMAFA Weed Specialist Mike Cowbrough will host another highlight session: ‘Fight Back: Proven Tactics to Control Persistent Weeds.’ MORE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES This season’s Farm Credit Canada ‘Young Farmer Summits’ will be held in person in Port Perry on November 29 and in Kitchener on December 3. On March 17 and 31, there will be two more Summits in virtual format. The summits are free, full-day events for farmers under 40 to have fun and explore the business side of farming. “Learn from industry experts, connect with peers and gain insights to take your operation to the next level,” states FCC. “Topics include transition planning, business management, mental health, and more.” The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario has a Small Grains Network for sharing resources, events and more, but will also hold its Annual Conference in London from December 2 to 4 this year. “We will have many sessions dedicated to topics like cover cropping, integrating grains and livestock on the farm,” says Small Grains Program manager Jackie Clark. “A talented grain farmer from Manitoba will also be discussing her unique marketing model. After the conference, our Small Grains Program intake will open—you can read more on our website, but essentially, farmers can apply for funding for diversifying their crop rotations with small grains and a legume cover crop.” THE THIRD ‘DEEP DIVE’ On February 3-4, 2026, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) will hold its Annual Meeting and ‘Deep Dive’ at the GrandWay Events Centre in Elora. OSCIA events and communications coordinator Stacey McCarthy says the theme of the Deep Dive event is Residue Smart. The event will feature a dynamic line-up of expert speakers from both academia and the farm community. Registration opens in December, and in-person capacity will be limited. This year marks the organization’s third Deep Dive event, with each year’s format evolving based on participant feedback to keep content timely and relevant, says Nicole Mackellar, director of member services and business development at OSCIA. Like other events offered throughout the province, it’s about bringing together the latest research and real-world experience to support sustainable, productive farming across Ontario. “We consistently hear from members that OSCIA events like the AGM and Deep Dive are valuable opportunities,” says Mackellar. “They offer a chance to learn directly from peers and experts, explore practical solutions for on-farm challenges, and connect with others who share a commitment to continuous improvement.” • continued from page 21
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER BUSINESS DIRECTORY 23 Did you miss the 2025 Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) Virtual Conference in October? The conference recordings are now available on YouTube. Do you want your business included in a future Ontario Grain Farmer Business Directory? The Ontario Grain Farmer is delivered to 28,000 mailboxes across Ontario! Contact Joanne Tichborne, advertising sales and sponsorship consultant, at jtichborne@gfo.ca or 226-332-3637. Business Directory Farm safety, integral to your farm business You deserve an advisor who really gets what’s on the line It’s more than your livelihood, it’s your life. You don’t have to face your business challenges alone. We’re here to support you every step of the way. MNP.ca GRAIN ELEVATOR & CROP DRYER ELECTRICAL SERVICE Grain Handling, Fertilizer Facilities Crop Dryer Technicians PLC Programming & Automation Custom Control Panels Power Factor Correction Lighting Retrofits Locates Preventative maintenance & 24/7 support 519-393-8100 www.phoenixxelectric.ca
Ontario’s grain and oilseed competitiveness Sankalp Sharma Industry faces mounting challenges Ontario’s grain and oilseed farmers continue to face challenging economic conditions. Globally, grain and oilseed prices are under severe downward pressure, driven primarily by supply and demand dynamics in major producing regions. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 24 GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Canadian grain and oilseed farmers—who are essentially price takers and rely on Chicago futures—remain tied to the U.S. production and trade cycle. For example, the U.S. is anticipating a record corn crop this year, which is putting downward pressure on prices, while China has barely purchased any U.S. soybeans since September. As a result, a potential glut of both corn and soybeans is emerging in the North American market, and grain and oilseed prices are reflecting this future oversupply. Meanwhile, in South America, Brazil’s crop productivity continues to rise each year, and Argentina’s recent cancellation of export taxes has further added to the global supply pressures. China intends to source its purchases exclusively from South America for the foreseeable future. However, as reported in Bloomberg News, uncertainties remain about whether Brazil and Argentina alone can meet this demand. From a Canadian farmer’s perspective, these market conditions are compounded by policy disparities. The U.S. federal government— and, to a lesser extent, several state governments—have been far more proactive in providing support to their producers, whether through direct farm payments or enhancements to business risk management (BRM) programming. In addition, they have implemented several demand-enhancing measures to stabilize incomes for key field crops. For instance, the U.S. government has issued ad hoc payments, officially called the Emergency Commodity Assistance Payments (ECAP) under the American Relief Act (ARA, December 2024) and made significant improvements to its Title I commodity programs and crop insurance, both of which were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). The ECAP payments were distributed in spring 2025, followed by the OBBB in July 2025, and another round of ad hoc payments—estimated at approximately $15 billion—is expected this fall. These new payments, targeted primarily at soybean producers (and to a lesser extent, corn and wheat growers), could reach up to $105 per acre. In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed increasing the biomass-based diesel (BBD) renewable
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQzODE4