GFO study seeks to explain price spikes Tuesday, May 17, 2011 by PAT CURRIEA new study released by the Grain Farmers of Ontario has concluded that neither farmers nor the diversion of grain into production of ethanol can be blamed for persisting higher food prices that do not mimic any cyclic fall after each rise in world grain prices.A comparison showed many similarities between the recent double price spike in 2008 and 2011 – when ethanol production boomed – and the double spike in 1974 and 1980, well before the ethanol industry was established. Common factors were crop failure in key production regions caused by extreme weather, high oil prices and price increases for agricultural inputs like fertilizer. Both double spikes were followed by several decades of declining real grain and food prices. "The truth is that farmers receive only about 19 per cent of the retail price of food," said GFO CEO Barry Senft.The impact of bio-fuels on world food prices in 2007, according to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, was no more than three per cent.In the 1970s and 1980, it was forecast that high food prices were permanent and that the world’s food-supplying capacity will have to increase by 70 per cent between 2000 and 2050, or about 1.1 per cent per year, just to keep pace.But in inflation-adjusted dollars, crop and food prices moved to new lows after 1980 as the world food supply grew at a rate that exceeded population growth, the study found. The GFO study noted that average world grain yield increased by 1.5 per cent per year from 1987 to 2007 and concluded that continued growth is achievable with modern agriculture. BF Ritz returns Research combines water, agriculture
Updates to Case IH RB566 Round Baler Wednesday, October 29, 2025 The Case IH RB566 round baler has been redesigned with a strong focus on serviceability, dependability, and efficiency, offering farmers a more advanced and reliable baling experience. According to Brian Williams, livestock product specialist with Case IH, the latest improvements... Read this article online
22 young leaders graduate from Rural Ontario Institute’s Change Makers Program Tuesday, October 28, 2025 The Rural Ontario Institute () has marked a milestone in rural leadership development with the graduation of 22 participants from its () program. The private ceremony, held this October, celebrated a year of learning, collaboration, and community impact. “We are excited to... Read this article online
Demco-Welker Farms Collab Delivers Big Buddy Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Demco recently introduced the Big Buddy grain cart, a product of collaboration with Big Equipment, the makers of Big Bud tractors, Titan Tires, and the well-known Montana-based Welker Farms. The project began when the Welker family decided to rebuild and modify their iconic Big Bud... Read this article online
New MacDon FD2 Plus Draper Header Monday, October 27, 2025 Case IH continues to expand its innovative harvest equipment lineup with the launch of the MacDon FD2 Plus Draper Header, a new series designed to provide farmers with smoother, cleaner, and more efficient harvesting. Available in multiple widths — 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and even 61... Read this article online
Lots of news from the Ontario Pork Congress Monday, October 27, 2025 The Ontario Pork Congress (OPC) took place on October 20, 2020, at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford, Ontario, with over 50 attendees. At the event, Arnold Drung, President of Conestoga Meats, was honoured with the . Drung has been a dedicated supporter of the OPC for over 23... Read this article online