AUGUST 2025 www.OntarioGrainFarmer.ca RESEARCH AND INNOVATION FEBRUARY 2026 Future-ready crops Researchers aim for profitability, sustainability, and resilience
SERIOUS SPRING WHEAT RAVEN RAVEN WILKIN FURANO Talk to The Wheat Team to get serious about Wheat. We have the varieties for you! www.redwheat.ca or 1-888-733-9432 WHEAT Spring
23 Business side Conversations with business experts 12 Crop side Agronomic information from crop specialists FEBRUARY 2026 volume 17, number 4 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 (Interim): Owen Roberts; 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 30 What’s new with the Good in Every Grain campaign Expanding the wheat-breeding pipeline Jeanine Moyer 6On the cover RESEARCH 10 Look after your soil microbes Matt McIntosh 14 Combining forces for wheat breeding Treena Hein 20 What drives soybean yield variation? Melanie Epp AGRONOMY 28 A new twist in the spider mite fight Ralph Pearce March Classic is around the corner. Check out the agenda on page 19 ENVIRONMENT 24 Making late nitrogen applications work Matt McIntosh
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER FROM THE CEO’S DESK 4 From the CEO's desk Farmers have always been huge supporters of research and innovation. Since Day One, they’ve answered the challenge to efficiently produce abundant, affordable food in a safe, sustainable manner. Research and innovation have been central to their success. Farmers’ participation and advice in setting research priorities and policy decision-making is vital. In agriculture, no group is closer than farmers to the impact of research and policy decisions on sustainability, profitability, and strong communities. Collaboration with research partners is key to maximizing investment in innovation to drive a successful agri-food sector. We need decision-making that supports evidence-based policies, along with a robust, right-sized regulatory environment and an effective, efficient research ecosystem…from research funds to people and infrastructure. Grain Farmers of Ontario has developed partnerships through the value chain and recognize the strengths everyone brings to the table. We appreciate the capacity and funding Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (AAFC) and other federal research organizations give to important activities such as plant breeding and policy development. I was pleased to meet recently with federal agriculture and agri-food minister Hon. Heath MacDonald to discuss the importance of federal investment in agricultural research. We place great importance on the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance (OFAIA) between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) and the University of Guelph – a key driver for agri-food research and innovation in the province. Ontario grain farmers are doing their part, too. Over the past 10 years, Grain Farmers of Ontario has invested more than $16.4 million in 150 research projects. Leveraging other funding sources, the value of these projects is over $65 million. Additionally, we have invested $2.5 million in professorships for field crop pathology and wheat breeding. Such investments have helped underpin the progress we’ve made as Ontario grain farmers on many fronts. Through research, we’ve become North America’s leader in sustainable, regenerative agriculture, through techniques such as cover cropping and soil conservation. We’ve secured a niche as the suppliers of choice for food grade soybeans to Japan. And we’ve developed one of the strongest biofuel markets in North America. Today, the crops grown by Ontario grain farmers cover more than 6 million acres of land in the province. They generate over $4.1 billion in production value and result in more than $27 billion in economic input. They are responsible for more than 90,000 jobs. This kind of progress wouldn’t happen without partnerships… and it all starts with innovation in the field. To that end, I was happy to be part of the Grain Farmers of Ontario group welcoming Alberta MP John Barlow to board member Jeff Barlow’s farm near Binbrook, in November. We were anxious for MP Barlow to see a state-of-the-art corn operation during harvest, and get a first-hand look at how research results are mobilized on a successful Ontario family farm that has been in operation since 1843. Research results will be on full display at the upcoming March Classic, taking place this year March 24 in Niagara Falls. Research is always central to discussions at the March Classic, along with thought-provoking speakers focused on breaking new ground and embracing change. In grain production, research breaks new ground. I’m convinced research partnerships are the way we’ll realize the full potential of Ontario’s grain sector. That’s why we’ll keep advocating for research partnerships and being active participants in the field. • Crosby Devitt, CEO Grain Farmers of Ontario The increasingly complex world of food production requires broad participation from all parts of the value chain in research and innovation. Ontario farmers’ partnerships with government, universities, and industry are the foundation for innovative, competitive, and sustainable food production.
BREAKING NEW GROUND EMBRACING CHANGE March 24, 2026 | Niagara Falls Convention Centre HOW TO REGISTER To register for the March Classic, please go to www.gfo.ca/march-classic or scan the QR code. FREE CHILDCARE Professional childcare services are being offered free of charge during the event. Please indicate whether you will use this service during online registration. Children must be pre-registered by March 10. Thank you to Agriculture Wellness Ontario (AWO) for its support of this initiative. HOTEL INFORMATION Niagara Falls Marriott on the Falls 6755 Fallsview Boulevard, Niagara Falls Reserve by calling the hotel directly at 1-800-519-9911 (option 5) and request the special convention rate "GFO". To book online, access hotel reservation details at www.gfo.ca/march-classic Room block closes on March 1, 2026 Take a look at this year's March Classic agenda on page 19
Jeanine Moyer Expanding the wheat-breeding pipeline Here’s a boost to help producers be prepared for the sector’s future needs ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 6
continued on page 8 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 7 A hard red wheat (HRW) research project is helping Ontario’s wheat industry by boosting germplasm development efforts to pinpoint the traits growers need in the years ahead. By incorporating a focus on the early identification of forward-looking traits, researchers are expanding the wheat breeding pipeline to develop a more diverse suite of characteristics. This approach is poised to deliver enhanced resilience, improved sustainability and new, improved varieties for growers. The 3-year project – dubbed “Climate-smart trait development to increase resilience of Eastern Canadian hard red wheats” – aims to develop new hard red winter- and spring wheat traits and varieties that will strengthen the resiliency of future wheat production in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. That’s encouraging news for wheat growers. But what makes this initiative unique is its stronger emphasis on germplasm development. This pre-breeding investment takes a deeper dive into identifying the traits growers will need in the years ahead, including new germplasm with multiple disease resistance, higher and more stable yield, improved nitrogenuse efficiency, and biological nitrification inhibition. In the variety development phase, researchers will focus on developing market-ready HRW varieties by combining key traits and testing them in field trials across different regions and growing conditions in the province and across Eastern Canada. By combining the germplasm and variety development approaches, new desirable genetics will be identified and incorporated into hard red spring- and winter wheat varieties. BREEDING FOR RESILIENCE Dr. Andrew Burt, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research scientist at the Ottawa Research and Development Centre, where the germplasm development component of the project is being conducted, says the instability of our environment is making it increasingly difficult for Ontario farmers to grow cereals, especially in recent years. “The only real way to tackle increasing disease, weather stress and yield challenges is by improving genetics,” he says. That’s why Burt and fellow AAFC research scientist Gavin Humphreys have teamed up with Dr. Michel McElroy, a research scientist from Centre de recherche sur les grains (CÉROM) in Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Que., who is leading the variety development portion of the project. “The only real way to tackle increasing disease, weather stress and yield challenges is by improving genetics. – Dr. Andrew Burt De Dell Seeds • 7095 Century Drive • Melbourne, ON • N0L 1T0 P: 519-264-CORN (2676) • F: 519-264-2672 info@dedellseeds.com • www.dedellseeds.com Our breeding is done the traditional way, in the field, in an effort to bring you the best possible results on your farm. That is why we are The Leaders in Non-GMO Seed Corn. MOST OUT OF YOURS SO YOU GET THE WE PUT THE WORK IN OUR FIELDS De Dell Seeds The Leaders in Non-GMO Corn Visit our website to find your local dealer www.dedellseeds.com/find-a-dealer
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 8 continued from page 7 Burt says that the AAFC team is identifying traits that will enhance the resilience of HRW and can be integrated into variety development programs. He says these climate-adapted traits will enhance the resilience of wheat under stressful and variable environmental conditions along with new disease pressures that come with changing weather patterns. “The greater the genetic diversity, the greater the opportunities our downstream breeding partners will have in developing varieties that will reduce the long-term risks growers face,” he says. Adding a strong germplasm development phase to the variety development process will increase the number and diversity of traits available for further breeding. The next step of the project focuses on incorporating these traits into variety development programs, ultimately providing seed companies with advanced genetic lines. These new lines will lead to a wider range of HRW varieties that perform well for Ontario growers, meet the quality needs of end users, and hopefully expand Ontario’s HRW acres. GENETIC SOLUTIONS To identify the necessary traits that will help farmers cope with the new realities of climate change and expand opportunities for HRW acres, researchers need only to look at the current challenges growers are facing… and expect the need for solutions-based genetics to amplify. For example, researcher Humphreys says that fusarium head blight has been getting worse in recent years because of changing weather conditions. The AAFC team also expects rust diseases, including leaf and stripe rust, to become more common and damaging in Ontario wheat fields. Team members also predict powdery mildew to become more prevalent. In an effort to achieve the strongest possible diseaseresistance package, the research team is planning ahead, working toward stacking several resistance sources into one line and one set of germplasm. “Disease pressures change when new inoculum arrives due to southern wind patterns, and we need to be able to protect our crops, especially against these key yield-robbing diseases,” Humphreys says. “Our best defence will always be genetic resistance.” The team is also taking this in-depth germplasm development opportunity to explore novel genetic traits that can serve the industry, including biological nitrification inhibition. As a proactive climate-resilience trait, the nitrification inhibition trait would improve wheat roots’ ability to suppress the bacteria that This research approach is poised to deliver enhanced resilience, improved sustainability and better varieties for growers
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER COVER STORY 9 Always read and follow label instructions. Member of CropLife Canada. FMC, the FMC logo and Authority are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate. ©2026 FMC Corporation. All rights reserved. 23347 - 12/25 WEED PREVENTION FROM THE GROUND UP In the battle against tough weeds, soybean growers can let their soil do the fighting. Authority® Supreme herbicide, applied pre-plant or pre-emergence, creates a powerful soil-based defence that weeds can’t get past. The effective Group 14 and Group 15 combination delivers broadleaf and grassy weed control that keeps soybeans clean through the critical weed-free period. 23347 Authority brands print ad_ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER_HalfPage.indd 1 2025-12-23 4:09 PM turns ammonium into nitrous oxide. In other words, in the future, growers could leverage wheat genetics to retain more plantavailable nitrogen in the root zone, while at the same time, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the field itself. “We’re still in the early stages of exploring this nitrogen use efficiency germplasm, but this valuable research will provide growers with new tools to manage environmental changes,” says Burt. GROWING OPPORTUNITIES Improving the yield and quality of new HRW varieties is another key factor of this research project. There’s plenty of potential for HRW in Eastern Canada, including growing demand for spring- and winter hard red wheat from millers, not to mention the benefits that wheat can offer growers when incorporated into a crop rotation. Today, millers and flour processors in Eastern Canada rely on local wheat, yet demand for HRW is already more than double what’s currently being produced. “There’s an incredible amount of potential in Ontario for hard red wheat, especially for millers and bakers who are looking for locally sourced ingredients,” McElroy says. “This project is also looking to expand the growing regions for these wheat classes that will open new market development and agronomic opportunities for growers.” With its naturally high protein content, HRW often earns higher premiums, making it an attractive choice for Ontario growers. This research aims to enhance that appeal by boosting yield potential and strengthening disease-resistance and environmental resiliency traits. The HRW project, which launched in 2025 and is slated to finish in March 2028, has completed its first growing season, marking an important step toward delivering future-ready results. With new varieties often taking 10 or more years to reach commercialization, the team must be future focused. “We take a long view on the changing dynamics and needs of wheat growers,” Burt says. “The success of this project will reflect our pre-breeding focus, along with the cross-provincial tests that will provide dependable data for growers making variety decisions 10 to 20 years down the road.” This HRW project is funded through the AgriScience Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), with industry support provided by Grain Farmers of Ontario, SeCan, Producteurs de grains du Québec and the Atlantic Grains Council. •
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER RESEARCH 10 Guelph researchers mapped soil microbial communities and the practices that were most beneficial. Tillage practices, fertility treatments and different crop rotations were all part of their analysis. Advances in genome analysis tools are providing a more comprehensive understanding of how microbial communities interact with crops and different production practices, and how farmers could help improve crop profitability. University of Guelph microbiologists looked into soil composition and how farmers could foster the growth of useful microbes for better crops, and environmental resiliency. Headed by soil and environmental microbiology Dr. Kari Dunfield, the research team leveraged long-running crop trials at Elora and Ridgetown to map what microbial communities look like in different agricultural soils in southern Ontario. The now-complete 5-year project compared changes in microbial communities across several cropping systems and has provided yet more evidence that less tillage and greater diversity in the field support healthier communities below ground. “The soil microbiome sometimes gets bundled in with soil health,” Dunfield says. “But soil health is just the tip of an iceberg. It’s an indicator that represents the biological component in your soils. It’s only now we are starting to consistently know what’s in the soil in agricultural systems.” Dunfield says that working in some of the long-term crop trials in Ontario was a huge opportunity from a microbial point of view, because microbial communities constantly change. “In a system where we could really get at what organisms are there consistently with a given crop was really important – especially in Ontario soils and Ontario conditions, because we know it really depends on where you are,” she says. Matt McIntosh Look after your soil microbes Less tillage and greater diversity in the field supports healthier communities below ground Dr. Kari Dunfield (courtesy of Soil at Guelph)
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER RESEARCH 11 OVERARCHING CONCLUSIONS Tillage practices, fertility treatments, and different crop rotations were all part of the researchers’ analysis. Overarching conclusions include: • In fields treated with high rates of nitrogen year over year, the bacterial biomass of microbial communities increased, while fungal biomass decreased. The change, however, was small. • There was a detectable increase in soil organic carbon and bacterial nitrifiers in surface soils (between 0 and 5 centimetres in depth) 5 years after shifting to conservation tillage. • Conventional tillage changed the types of microbes observed in soil. Decreases in organisms associated with nutrient cycling and crop water uptake were identified as being particularly hard hit. • In conventional tillage systems, the inclusion of winter wheat in rotation spurred higher populations of microorganisms associated with plant growth promotion. This suggests diversifying corn-soybean rotations with wheat could help maintain beneficial soil biological function, when tillage is necessary. • Long-term (35-year) corn monocropping is associated with what Dunfield calls “a unique microbial community,” that had a lower diversity of fungal pathogens. WINNING FORMULA Taken together, such findings suggest reduced tillage, higher crop diversity (such as winter wheat and cover crops), and more active cropping rotations are a win for bacteria and fungi beneficial to crop production. This conclusion tracks with other research, including the higher decomposition rates observed in fields with less tillage and higher crop diversity. The broader point, according to Dunfield, is that the project has helped answer persistent questions about the complexity of soil systems, and why it can be so challenging to promote production-supporting microorganisms. The research also highlights the importance of understanding trends in microbial communities before taking specific corrective efforts, such as applying specific microbes to the field as an input. “In [University of Guelph – Ridgetown Campus Prof.] Laura Van Eerd’s cover crops trials with radish, for example, there’s an observable yield effect in crops from including the radish, but not a clear reason why that’s happening,” Dunfield says. “We can go in there and see increases in the number of organisms known to cycle nutrients, providing stress tolerance to the plants. Now we’re starting to ask what are we doing for these organisms?” This research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. • “Now we’re starting to ask what are we doing for these organisms? - Dr. Kari Dunfield
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER CROP SIDE 12 Livestock farmers have always recognized the value of manure in building soil fertility and supporting crop production. Historically, crop producers without access to this resource have looked on with envy. Today, though, a wide range of organic amendments—many sourced from outside agriculture—are available. These materials can improve soil fertility, boost organic matter, and support sustainable cropping systems. However, not all amendments are created equal. Each product has unique characteristics, and the best choice depends on the specific needs of the field, logistics of application, and, of course, cost. Exploring organic options for soil fertility and health Christine Brown Crop side with... Christine Brown, Field Crop Sustainability Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness GUARANTEED ANALYSIS Many products available in Ontario are registered under the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and carry a label guaranteeing minimum nutrient content. In practice, materials often contain more nutrients than listed, so sampling during application is essential for accurate nutrient credits and planning. Although CFIA-registered materials are classified as fertilizers, they are organic amendments and should be managed using the same 4R nutrient stewardship principles as manure. Application of any material containing crop nutrients should never occur on frozen or snow-covered soils. Poultry compost being applied in Middlesex County (photo courtesy Christine Brown).
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER CROP SIDE 13 EVALUATING AVAILABLE OPTIONS In a scenario where fertilizer prices are high, a producer might explore organic amendments to supplement fertilizer. Current options include dairy or poultry compost and pelleted, ashed or pH-enhancing biosolids (i.e., N-Viro/N-Rich). The target is to fulfill phosphorus needs for corn production while enhancing overall nutrient balance and soil organic matter. Each of these products can supply the phosphorus needs of the crop, but their differences matter. Think about other goals depending on soil test levels—extra organic matter to build soil, or a product that also adds micro-nutrients or helps raise pH. Watch nutrient balance, too. Biosolids often have very little potassium, potentially requiring supplementing with commercial fertilizer. Some biosolids also contain high levels of calcium, aluminum or iron, which can tie up phosphorus and make it less available, especially in low or high soil pH conditions. As a rule of thumb, assume only about 20 per cent of the phosphorus in biosolids is available in the first year, and use a starter fertilizer to make sure the crop gets what it needs. Over time, the rest will become available, but this can take months or even years depending on soil characteristics, including pH, microbial activity, moisture, and temperature. Cost and logistics can also influence product choice. The dairy compost in the example in this article can’t economically meet phosphorus needs. But reducing application to 5 ton/ac would provide similar soil health benefits, and can be complemented with commercial fertilizer to match crop nutrient needs. Ashed biosolids Table 1: Comparing Products Dairy compost Poultry compost Biosolids pellets1 Ashed biosolids2 N-Viro (N-Rich) Dry matter % 35 70 96 70 77 ~Available N-P2O5-K2O (lbs/ton) 4 – 4 – 13 - 1 (S) 12 – 37 – 28- 7 (S) 35 – 64 – 7 - 10 (S) 0.2 – 218 – 13 – 3 (S) 4 – 15 -79 – 59 (S) C:N ratio 22:1 8:1 7:1 15:1 21:1 Organic matter (lbs/ton as-applied) 125 311 1,400 17 432 Ca- Al - Fe (lbs/ton) 21 – 0.5 - 2 81 – 6 - 11 39 – 8 - 37 113 – 37 - 180 322 – 28 – 15 (ag index 23) Rate to meet corn P2O5 target 21 tons 2.25 tons 1.3 tons 0.4 tons 5.6 tons N-P-K applied at target rate 84 – 84 - 273 27 – 83 - 63 46 – 83 - 9 0 – 87 - 5 22 – 84 – 442 ~ Cost/ton 3 $40 $110 $95 $120 $105 ~ Cost/ac3 at target rate $800 $250 $123 $48 $600 1 This example uses Detroit pellets (Toronto pellets ‘NutriPel’ ~50 – 120 – 2 – 22S -77Ca – 6Al - 118Fe lbs/ton) 2 Phosphorus content will vary by location of origin. 3 Cost will vary with distance for transporting materials would economically build phosphorus but with limited benefit to improving overall soil health. With so many choices, it's important to focus on farm needs, what each product adds (or lacks), and the cost and logistics. Picking the option that fits best will give the greatest return.• Greenbin and yardwaste compost application demonstration near North Gower (photo courtesy Christine Brown).
Treena Hein Combining forces Two Eastern Canadian wheat breeding programs team up to produce superior fungal disease resistance Quebec and Guelph-Ridgetown researchers aim to register new winter wheat cultivars with better fusarium head blight resistance ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER RESEARCH 14
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER RESEARCH 15 continued on page 16 Ontario wheat growers are constantly on guard against fusarium head blight (FHB). In Eastern Canada, FHB is the wheat disease that affects profitability the most. And that’s unfortunate for soft red winter wheat (SRW) growers in particular. FHB resistance is relatively poor, even though dedicated SRW breeding efforts have led to great yield and end-use quality profiles. Dr. Michel McElroy at the Centre de recherche sur les grains (CÉROM) in Quebec says most varieties listed in the Ontario winter wheat performance trial are rated as moderately susceptible or susceptible to FHB. That means fungicide applications are necessary when conditions favourable to this pathogen are present. But that’s a problem in itself. Fungicide applications are expensive and ineffective if not applied within the critical period, McElroy says. Ideally, genetic resistance would serve as the first line of defense against FHB. However, variety choices for this crucial part of a grower’s disease management strategy are limited. WORKING TOGETHER Against this backdrop, McElroy and Dr. Lily Tamburic-Ilincic at the University of Guelph– Ridgetown Campus joined forces last spring on a major FHB management project. With funding from Grain Farmers of Ontario (via the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition), the Seed Producers of Quebec and SeCan, they’re combining their breeders’ skills to select the most promising lines in their two provinces and deliver new germplasm for other public breeders in Eastern Canada. “In the end,” Tamburic-Ilincic says, “the goal is to register new cultivars with much-improved FHB resistance and make that seed available to winter wheat growers in this part of Canada.” TRAIT COMPLEXITIES Integrating FHB resistance genes into superior SRW germplasm without bringing along undesirable or unwanted traits mainly related to plant height, maturity date, and susceptibility to rust diseases is difficult. And even when traits are not directly linked to resistance, certain genes simply do not combine well, McElroy says. So, it’s critical to consider regional adaptation traits and how to integrate genes related to FHB resistance that are present in one distinct wheat line into others that are in another quality class. Many FHB genes – over 500, in fact – have already been identified by wheat geneticists. Several gene groupings with large resistance effects have been wellcharacterized and are now used in wheat breeding programs across the world. Among these, two stand out: Fhb5 (type I resistance, relating to initial infection) and Fhb1 (type II resistance, relating to infection spread). These gene groupings have been found in some of the public winter wheat programs in Eastern Canada, but they’re mainly concentrated in hard red wheat. One variety worth noting is AAC Harfang. It has superb FHB resistance and demonstrates exceptional winter survival and yield. It was recently released by CÉROM in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). McElroy and Tamburic-Ilincic will create lines with this variety using UGRC Ring as a parent (UGRC is an acronym for University of Guelph-Ridgetown Campus). This SRW variety carries neither Fhb1 nor Fhb5 resistance. It offers good pastry flour quality, plus it displays high yield and strong adaptability to conditions across eastern Canada. A SNEAK PEEK AT PROGRESS In 2025, McElroy and Tamburic-Ilincic completed seed multiplication for the current panel of cultivars. They also planted plots in Tupperville, Ont. for agronomy evaluation in 2026, and in Ridgetown for infection with FHB in 2026. Dr. Michel McElroy: Fungicide applications are necessary at critical times, but expensive (photo courtesy Dr. Michel McElroy).
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER RESEARCH 16 “So far, things are going well,” McElroy says. “The plots that we harvested were mainly for multiplication, but they also allowed us to get a sneak peek at how the population looks. We are pleased to see there’s a good amount of variation, which is good for our purposes.” Eventually, superior lines will be submitted into variety registration trials in the region where they are most adapted, Ontario or Quebec. They’ll have been evaluated over a 3-year period for agronomic performance, disease resistance and enduse quality. If registration is successful, CÉROM will pursue a licensing agreement with a seed distributor through its commercialization program. PART OF A BIGGER VISION This research project fits into a bigger strategic vision to integrate the activities of public winter wheat breeding programs across Eastern Canada for the benefit of Canada’s entire wheat industry. “Collaboration is really the lifeblood of breeding, and that need is stronger more now than ever with the challenges pressed on us by climate change. - Dr. Michel McElroy continued from page 15
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER RESEARCH 17 “Collaboration is really the lifeblood of breeding, and that need is stronger more now than ever with the challenges pressed on us by climate change,” McElroy says. The public winter wheat programs in Eastern Canada have always traded trials and germplasm. But lately, he says, there’s been a desire to do more. “One big barrier to trading germplasm has been the fact that some breeding programs, such as UGRC, focus on soft red wheat, and others like those at CÉROM, focus on hard wheat,” McElroy says. “And there has always been a reticence to cross the soft and hard types over fears that we will lose the important end-use qualities that millers need. But at the same time, if we keep them siloed off from each other, then both types will end up missing important genes that the other can offer.” McElroy and Tamburic-Ilincic hope that besides identifying some lines that will lead to SRW varieties with much better FHB resistance, this research will also create a map for how to cross the breeding bridge between hard and soft wheat types. With that map in hand, researchers across the public wheat breeding spectrum will be able to more fully use all breeding material available. SELECTING PROGENIES IS TOUGH McElroy notes that in southern Quebec, winter survival can be a problem. Some years, entire trials must be canceled. On the other hand, sometimes conditions are too cool or dry to get good fusarium infection, even in their disease nursery. For her part, Tamburic-Ilincic says selecting progenies is the most challenging part ahead, finding those with good yield outcomes and FHB resistance, as well as good quality traits needed for soft and hard red wheat. But challenges aside, both researchers are excited by the potential of combining their two chosen varieties. “UGRC Ring has been an excellent variety for Quebec producers looking for big yields without lodging,” McElroy says. “And AAC Harfang has really pushed the limits for disease resistance. The idea of a whole new variety that combines the best of both of them would be a great result for producers all across Eastern Canada.” • Saturday, February 21, 2026 Port Perry High School, 160 Rosa St., Port Perry, ON Featuring: Cornhole I Outdoor Team Challenge I Indoor Curling Handball I Pickle Ball I Floor HockeyI Basketball I Dodgeball Cost: Team Early Bird: $160 per team of 4 (by Feb 7) Team Regular: $180 per team of 4 (by Feb 18) Individual Early Bird: $45 per person (by Feb 18) Lunch included. Visit: bit.ly/WinterGames2026 or Scan the QR code to register today. WINTER GAMES 2026 A full day of fun, competition, and community. For ages 15 to 29. Junior Farmers_Winter Games_Ad_7.125x4.875.indd 1 2025-12-09 1:04 PM
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER GRAIN TALK 18 Grain Women's Grain Symposium Grain Farmers of Ontario hosted the annual Women’s Grain Symposium in Guelph in December, bringing together 120 women from farms and agricultural business to focus on leadership development. A panel discussion with Grain Farmers of Ontario directors highlighted the opportunities for learning and new experiences that come with leadership. From a series of mini-discussions emerged key points to prepare the next generation for succession on the farm. Participants learned about the changing role of women in agriculture and analyzed the many factors that are creating uncertainty for farmers. Pictured (below) from left, Rachel Telford, manager, member relations; Grace Pearson, director (District 1 – Essex), Ann Vermeersch, director (District 5 – Elgin, Norfolk), and Angela Zilke, director (District 7 – Waterloo, Oxford). Policy Day The need for clear, flexible and effective policy tools rooted in grassroots priorities guided the discussion at Grain Farmers of Ontario’s 12th annual Delegate Policy Day in December, which brought together 100 elected farmer delegates from across the province. Against a backdrop of shifting political realities, rapidly evolving technology, and global markets shaped by geopolitics, delegates explored the policies needed to support a competitive and resilient grain sector. Insights were shared by political journalist Vassy Kapelos, global economist Guy H. Allen and technology leaders Sam Dugan, UpSide Robotics, and Loralee Orr of Corteva. Market Commentary By Philip Shaw In the United States, the government shutdown made for a slow release of information over the last several weeks. However, on December 9 the USDA released its latest WASDE report. USDA increased corn exports to 3.2 billion bushels, which is a record. This led to the lowering of corn ending stocks down to 2.029 billion bushels which was below pre-report estimates. There were no changes to the supply and demand numbers for the soybean crop on December 9. The final numbers from the 2025 crop year were expected in mid-January 2026. The Canadian dollar hovering in the 71 and 72 cent US level has added stimulus to Ontario cash grain prices. Symposium guests participated in an interactive team-building session (right) led by Eventology Catalyst Canada to foster participant engagement and create a collaborative environment. Grain Farmers of Ontario CEO Crosby Devitt at Policy Day with Vassy Kapelos, Chief Political Correspondent for CTV News.
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER BREAKING NEW GROUND EMBRACING CHANGE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN 7 a.m. Attendee breakfast Sponsored by John Deere Canada 8 a.m. Registration and exhibit hall opens 9 a.m. Opening remarks from Grain Farmers of Ontario 9:30 a.m. Arlene Dickinson Bestselling author and General Partner, District Ventures Capital 10:30 a.m. Break Sponsored by Syngenta 11 a.m. Catherine Murray Global and Canadian business analyst Sponsored by Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Noon Lunch Sponsored by Syngenta 1:30 p.m. Eric Termuende Co-founder of NoW of Work, author of Rethink Work Sponsored by Desjardins 2:30 p.m. Break Sponsored by Syngenta 3 p.m. George Stroumboulopoulos Canadian broadcaster, producer, filmmaker and writer 4 p.m. Pre-banquet reception Sponsored by Bayer 6 p.m. Banquet ($75, tickets required) Entertainment from dynamic duo of comedy, Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath. Sponsored by SeCan 9 p.m. Conference ends 4 p.m. Name badge pickup begins Oakes Ballroom Foyer 7 p.m. Welcome reception Oakes Ballroom March 23, 2026 | Marriott on the Falls March 24, 2026 | Niagara Falls Convention Centre More details and registration at www.gfo.ca/march-classic NEW LOCATION FOR 2026 IN NIAGARA FALLS
Melanie Epp Here’s what really drives soybean yield variation Ontario research points to environment and R5 growth as key factors Even when environment and management both increase yield, they may do so for fundamentally different reasons. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER RESEARCH 20
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER RESEARCH 21 Ontario soybean fields often differ sharply in yield from one year to the next, but the reasons driving those differences are rarely straightforward. New research shows that inputs aren’t the biggest driver of yield variation; rather, environment plays the lead role. The study, conducted by University of Guelph and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) researchers, and partially funded by Grain Farmers of Ontario, also found that highyielding fields share a consistent physiological marker: strong crop growth at the R5 stage. The study set out to quantify how much of soybean yield variation can be attributed to environment and how much is determined by management practices. The project was led by University of Guelph researcher Dr. Hugh Earl and formed the M.Sc. thesis research of Matt Rundle. OMAFA soybean specialist Horst Bohner was involved in implementing the field trials. The researchers wanted to test whether environmental yield variation and management-induced yield variation work through the same internal plant processes or through different ones. This required hundreds of biomass measurements across multiple locations and several growing seasons. The calculations were complicated but the aim was simple: to finally resolve why some soybean fields outperform others, even when growers follow recommended practices. The study ran for 3 years and spanned 9 “location-years.” Each location-year is a unique combination of soil type, weather, temperature accumulation and seasonal conditions. Three soybean varieties, selected in consultation with growers, were included to ensure the results applied generally across typical varieties adapted to the region. The project compared a standard, good-management approach with an intensive-management treatment that Bohner once called the “everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-method.” Earl said the aim was to push the crop’s biological limits, to determine yield possibilities. The intensive treatment included high starter fertilizer rates, multiple foliar fungicide applications, nitrogen top dress applications, seed treatments, and inoculants. If the approach sounds impractical and financially untenable, that’s because it is. The goal was not to build an economically sound treatment protocol, but to create enough variation in order to understand why yield changes. Throughout the growing season, researchers measured plant biomass accumulation to track crop growth rates at different developmental stages. Later, they linked those growth patterns to final yields and specific yield components, such as pod number, seeds per pod and seed size. Once they crunched the data, clear and somewhat surprising patterns emerged. ENVIRONMENT CREATES LARGER YIELD DIFFERENCES THAN MANAGEMENT Across all locations, environmental variation proved to be the most powerful driver of yield differences. High-yielding environments outperformed lower-yielding environments by 25 per cent, even though the management approach was the same in both cases. According to Earl, these differences are tied to how much biomass the crop accumulates and, more specifically, to how many seeds the crop ultimately produced. The most important finding from this part of the study is that seed number (the number of seeds per square metre of ground area) was the main component separating high-yielding environments from lower-yielding ones. Seed size also varied, but to a much smaller degree. In other words, when yields differ widely from one location to another, the reason is usually that one field sets more seeds than the other. FOCUS ON R5 According to Earl’s findings, the environments that delivered the strongest yields were the ones in which the crop achieved rapid growth at R5. This is the stage that governs seed number, he says. When growth during this window is strong, the crop produces more pods, more seeds per pod, and ultimately more total seeds. When growth is slow, the crop produces fewer seeds and a lower final yield. “There's no way to fix that,” he says. “If seed number is reduced, you can partially make up for it by producing larger seeds, but you'll still have a lower yield than if you had the maximum seed number.” These patterns were consistent across all environments. Whether the year was wet or dry, or soils were heavy or light, the strongest predictor of high yield was rapid crop growth at R5. Management also affected yield, but at a smaller scale. Across all treatments, the intensive “everything” program increased yield by about 17 per cent compared to standard good practice. However, the researchers’ analysis showed that nearly all of this increase came from the nitrogen component of the treatment. Neither the high-starter fertilizer rates nor the foliar fungicides produced consistent yield gains. Furthermore, the nitrogen rates needed to hit that 17 per cent yield bump were far above economically viable thresholds for soybean production in Ontario. continued on page 22
RESEARCH 22 The results reflected what Earl regularly sees in the field: the belief that a single input or practice can unlock yield gains. “Growers are sometimes looking for some sort of silver bullet,” he says. “Part of the value of a project like this is to combat that silver-bullet thinking.” With that said, Earl noted that growers can realize yield gains by addressing nutrient deficiencies. “In the absence of such an identified problem, just throwing inputs at a soybean crop is not likely to produce impressive results,” he says. A DIFFERENT PATHWAY Earl also discovered that management-driven yield increases worked through a completely different pathway than those driven by environment. Environment mostly increased yield by boosting seed number; intensive nitrogen treatments advanced yield mainly by increasing seed size. Earl believes those extra nitrogen applications kept the plants green longer at the end of the season. Under normal circumstances, soybeans draw nutrients from their leaves to fill seed, which shortens the seed-fill period, he says. With extra nitrogen available, that process was delayed, allowing the plants to stay active longer and produce larger seeds. This distinction - environment influencing seed number, and added nitrogen influencing seed size - is one of the clearest findings in the study. It shows that even when both environment and management increase yield, they may do so for fundamentally different reasons. Earl and his colleagues noticed a second pattern in the data that raised questions. Growth measurements taken earlier in the season suggested that the crop’s performance around R2.5 to R3 - before any seeds had formed - might be linked to final seed size. This is earlier than expected; seed size is usually thought to be determined much later. Earl stressed that this signal needs more investigation, but said it may point to an additional window of development that contributes to how soybeans build yield. EXPLORING BIOLOGICAL CEILINGS To explore how far soybean yields might go under ideal conditions, the team also grew soybeans in pots using a sand-peat mix and daily fertigation. These plants shared the same above-ground environment as field plots, but the environment below ground was completely optimized. The pot system produced very large plants and suggested potential yields exceeding 100 bushels per acre; however, disease issues prevented clear results. Earl says that while the results were inconclusive, they are still informative. They suggest that agricultural soils may have fundamental physical limitations that cannot be overcome solely with added fertilizer or irrigation. Understanding those limitations may become an important research direction. Taken together, the project’s results are not intended to guide best management practice recommendations for farmers, but they do offer value for soybean breeders. Understanding the stages when yield is formed, and the conditions that support it, could help breeders shape future genetics that perform more consistently across Ontario’s fields. “Understanding the physiology of yield formation in our environment is key for developing regionally adaptive varieties,” Earl says. • continued from page 21 ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER
ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER BUSINESS SIDE 23 Q. WHAT IS A ‘RED FLAG’ IN FARM SUCCESSION, AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN? A. When farm families think about succession planning, the focus often falls on wills, farm ownership, tax strategies, and asset transfers. Those are critical, of course, but before most of that can happen, an actual plan must be made. A red flag, or a warning sign, could be an early indicator that something isn’t quite right, or even a subtle sign that a farm transition may be at risk. And if not addressed, that issue could grow into conflict, confusion, or financial problems during the transition. Q. WHAT ARE RED FLAGS TO LOOK FOR ON THE FARM? A. The three most important red flags to watch for in farm succession are: • Families not talking • No succession plan at all • Procrastinating Silence is one of the most common warning signs and can come in many forms. Sometimes it can be one person or a group of people who keep quiet. Maybe they don’t feel valued, or their opinions have been shut down too often for them to continue speaking up. Silence can take the form of avoiding certain topics too, like succession in general, finances, or roles and responsibilities. Avoiding conversation can also stem from discomfort, fear of conflict, or a belief that “things will just work themselves out.” But silence leaves too much to assumption, and every voice counts during a farm transition. Not only that, but every voice should be valued and needs to be heard. Families need to treat each other with respect and listen to each other. Having no plan at all or operating without a formal farm succession strategy isn’t just a red flag, it’s a recipe for disaster. Unfortunately, it is also common. Many Canadian farms don’t have a formal farm transition plan, and without it, they are risking everything. Farmers need a well-documented plan that includes a will, estate plan, legal agreements, tax strategy, job descriptions, and compensation. Without a farm succession plan, farmers aren’t just putting their land at stake, but also the legacy and continuity of their business. Procrastination, or putting off the hard work, is more than just “being busy.” It’s a clear red flag. Procrastinating is also one of the biggest barriers to effective succession, because a proper plan takes time and careful consideration. Putting off a plan can be a form of avoidance. In many families, this can stem from unresolved conflict, continuous blow-ups, or misaligned expectations. Procrastinating also means no action. The longer farm families wait to have meaningful conversations and start planning, the greater the risk that something unexpected, like an illness, accident or farm emergency, will force a transition without a plan. Early warning signs: Don’t ignore red flags in farm succession In conversation with Jeanine Moyer Business side with... Elaine Froese, Farm Family Coach elainefroese.com Q. WHAT CAN FARM FAMILIES DO IF THEY IDENTIFY RED FLAGS? A. Red flags shouldn’t be ignored. Use them as warning signs that something, or someone, isn’t okay with the current situation. If red flags arise, go back to the foundational tools of farm transition: open communication, conflict resolution, transparency, and finding alignment with values and belief systems. Bringing in a third-party farm succession or transition expert who can help navigate everyone through challenging discussions and decisions is also very helpful. Red flags can be turned into opportunities, so don’t be afraid to embrace them.•
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