Unified voice means more impact Thursday, November 12, 2009 by BRIAN LOCKHARTThe newly formed Grain Farmers of Ontario expects to be a player of influence in both Ontario’s and Canada’s agricultural scene.But the organization with the big voice is going to have to wait a little longer before it can officially speak. The provincial government has yet to formalize the merger of the Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board, Ontario Soybean Growers, and the Ontario Corn Producers Association.“There are three sets of regulations that need to be passed,” explains Barry Senft, Grain Farmers’ CEO, “and those are scheduled for early December so we’re now targeting January 1, to have the formalization.”In the meantime, the three organizations are still in existence and, along with the Grain Farmers, occupy the same building in Guelph.The original organizations have retained their boards of directors. “At the same time we're moving and hiring people in the GFO model,” Senft says. “Some new hires that we're taking on are all under the new GFO model. But when it comes down to responsibility, it’s still to those respective three commodity organizations.”Financing the new model is a shared responsibility between the three existing associations."We're getting our licensing revenues from the three commodities, Senft notes, adding “right from the onset” the organizations financed the transitional costs. Senft says the Grain Farmers’ unified voice for Ontario’s grains and oilseeds sector will have a “significant” impact beyond provincial boundaries. “Nationally already, we are being asked for opinion on policy initiatives,” he says.It is also preparing to play a key role in agronomics and applied agriculture research to help growers to diversify their markets.“Given all the market access issues these days, diversification of your markets is very important.” Senft says. “You need organizations like GFO to be looking out more than just two or three years on these research initiatives.”A board of 15 directors representing 15 districts across the province will govern the organization.The GFO will represent 28,000 corn, soybean and wheat farmers across Ontario. BF More delays for DFO transfer assessment hearing New Ontario Animal Health Act looms
Corn and Soybean Diseases Spread This Season Wednesday, September 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, as well as in previous articles by Farms.com, the 2025 growing season is nearing its end with corn and soybean farmers in Ontario and the U.S. Corn Belt facing disease challenges that reflect changing weather conditions. For corn, two... Read this article online
Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025 Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online
Research Projects and Companies Supported Through OAFRI Tuesday, September 9, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced an investment of up to $4.77 million to strengthen the province’s agri-food sector. This funding, delivered through the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable... Read this article online
Two-pass Weed Control Critical in Managing Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp in Ontario Monday, September 8, 2025 Dr. Peter Sikkema of the University of Guelph recently shared insights into the growing challenge of multiple herbicide-resistant water hemp at the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour final event in Woodstock Ontario. Dr. Sikkema research highlights both the biology of the weed and practical... Read this article online
First Northern Cohort Joins Ontario Vet Program Thursday, September 4, 2025 This September, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph welcomed its inaugural Northern Cohort of 20 students through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP). This initiative, created in partnership with Lakehead University, marks a milestone... Read this article online