ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 10 A behind-the-scenes tour of the fertilizer terminals, processors, research stations, and export infrastructure that connect Ontario farmers to global markets. For most Ontario grain farmers, the journey of their crop ends when the truck leaves the yard. From that point forward, grain enters a complex supply chain network of processing facilities, transportation networks, manufacturers, and global markets — systems most producers rarely see firsthand. The Grains in Action tour offers a rare opportunity to step inside this broader agricultural ecosystem. Over several days, participants follow Ontario grain and crop inputs through fertilizer terminals, processing plants, export infrastructure, research institutions, and finally back to seed production. Grains in Action is a program developed by Grain Farmers of Ontario for young farmers, providing them with the opportunity 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. I had the opportunity to join tour participants for the 2026 Grains in Action event, held Feb. 9-12. The experience revealed just how interconnected modern agriculture has become, and how central Ontario farmers are to keeping the entire value chain moving. POWERING PRODUCTION: FERTILIZER SUPPLY AT SCALE One of the early stops on the tour highlighted the immense logistics behind nutrient delivery at Sollio Agriculture’s Hamilton terminal. The first thing we noticed at the fertilizer terminal is the size: those storage domes rising like low mountains along the water. Ibrahim Mohammed Seeing where Ontario grain really goes The Grains in Action tour gives young farmers a firsthand look at the vast network that moves Ontario grain through the global food system Photos: Nicole Koopstra
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