The Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) recently surprised many in the industry with its immediate withdrawal from the Grain Growers of Canada. While the exit itself bears dissecting, the underlying — and growing — discontent with the federal agriculture department requires just as much discussion. Markus Haerle is the chair of GFO and a grain… Read More
Less than a day after the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture had their meeting in Ottawa, farm groups are expressing their frustration with the lack of results from the meeting. Many feel as though the group missed the mark to address key concerns after a lot of producers dealt with a brutal harvest for the… Read More
Eight days later, the CN Rail strike is over. RealAg Radio host, Shaun Haney takes a little credit for the agreement reached between the two parties as he planned today’s show all-around diving in deeper to how the CN strike is impacting producers across Canada. Tuesday’s show still surrounds the strike, but more so on what… Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario want the federal government to be more proactive in bringing the CN Rail and teamsters union dispute to an end before it impacts agriculture. It would seem that’s already happening, however, as at least one farmer in the eastern region of Ontario has already reported that they’ve been told that propane… Read More
When the corn, soybean, and wheat growers of Ontario chose to join forces over a decade ago, they named a Westerner, Barry Senft, as their CEO. Since then, Senft has led the newly-formed Grain Farmers of Ontario through collaboration, the addition of two other commodity groups, restrictive regulations, and a big push for public outreach…. Read More
Having served as CEO for Grain Farmers of Ontario for more than 10 years, Barry Senft has announced it’s time to step down from the role. Senft will end his time as CEO in April of 2020. Senft took leadership of Grain Farmers of Ontario in 2009 just before the organization launched as an amalgamation… Read More
As trade talks among several countries continue to rock the markets, the Ontario government is stepping up to help those that export food and agri-products to pursue new markets. The provincial government will begin accepting applications for its Market Access Initiative, a new cost-share funding initiative that’s open to all Ontario food and agri-product exporters…. Read More
Non-supply managed agriculture sectors are raising concerns over the recent federal announcement of compensation for the dairy sector. Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Marie-Claude Bibeau announced last week that Canada’s 11,000 dairy producers will receive $1.75 billion over eight years, with $345 million being paid the first year as direct payments to dairy producers… Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario has announced a year-long project to expand Ontario grain and oilseed exports to the European Union. The project is funded in part by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The increased focus on the region stems from the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union (EU),… Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario is asking federal political parties to consider both domestic and international market challenges ahead of the expected fall election. Grain Farmers of Ontario represents 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers. Grain farming in Ontario accounts for approximately 40,000 jobs in the province and contributes at least $9 billion in… Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) has requested financial support for its members from the government due to trade disruption between North America and China. The U.S. trade battle with China has created a concerning scenario for Canadian prices and market access. Last week, the United States unveiled plans to provide U.S. growers with financial support… Read More
$15 billion in aid. That’s the amount the U.S. government announced on Monday for its producers through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) as compensation for lost income stemming from the country’s trade war with China. This is not the first, but the second round of aid given, as a trade agreement eludes U.S. President Trump… Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario has hired Marty Vermey for the role of senior agronomist, the commodity group announced. Vermey joins Grain Farmers of Ontario with experience in agronomy, research, product development, marketing and management roles with seed and crop protection businesses. He also has hands-on experience as a farmer and knowledge of production agriculture and… Read More
While corn yields are quite good across much of Ontario, the level of DON — a mycotoxin produced by gibberella infection — in some of the tonnage coming off fields is just too high to easily market the grain. There’s been much frustration over testing procedures at the elevator, questions on crop insurance, and conflicting… Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario plans to purchase grain baggers to assist in “short term storage of corn for farmer-members.” The producer organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers, met with Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, late last week to address the high DON corn crisis in Ontario. At the… Read More