Grain Farmers of Ontario Bottom Line E-Newsletter for January 13, 2017
 
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January 13, 2017

In this issue:

• Ontario Grain Market Commentary
• Grassland Stewardship Program
• MPAC assessments
• OHL ticket giveaway
• 2017 March Classic
• Annual District Meetings
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Cash wheat prices as of noon on Friday, January 13, 2017 are as follows:
SWW @ $178.01/MT ($4.84/bu),  HRW @ $175.60MT ($4.78/bu),
HRS @ $233.48/MT/ ($6.35/bu),  SRW @ $180.42/MT ($4.91/bu).

Harvest 2017 wheat prices as of noon on Friday, January 13, 2017 are as follows:
SWW @ $197.92/MT ($5.39/bu),  HRW @ $195.51/MT ($5.32/bu),
HRS @ $229.71/MT ($6.25/bu),  SRW @ $195.51/MT ($5.32/bu).

 

 

 

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Grassland Stewardship Program

The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) and Environment and Climate Change Canada have announced the return of the Grassland Stewardship Program (GSP) for 2017, with the first application submission window open until February 1, 2017. GSP provides funding to implement forage and pasture management Best Management Practices that support the conservation of bobolink and other grassland birds.
 
Five Best Management Practices are funded through GSP: Control of Encroaching Trees and Shrubs through Mowing; Pasture Rejuvenation; Incorporating Delayed Grazing in Rotational Grazing Systems; Native Grassland Restoration; and Forage Harvest Management (Delayed Haying). Single and multi-year projects are eligible under the Forage Harvest Management (Delayed Haying) category.
 
Applications for Intake 1 of GSP 2017 can be submitted using the digital application form available from the OSCIA website: www.ontariosoilcrop.org/oscia-programs/sarpal/gsp.
 
Intake 2 of GSP 2017 is scheduled to open on April 10, 2017 and close May 1, 2017.
 
GSP is part of the Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands program in Ontario, an Environment and Climate Change Canada initiative. Funding is provided by the Government of Canada.

 

 

 

MPAC assessments

Farm property assessments were mailed out by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) in October. In compliance with regulations under the Assessment Act, MPAC is responsible for assessing property values every four years. This year, MPAC is assessing five million properties, including 230,000 farms in Ontario. Farmers who disagree with the new value assessed to their property have until February 8 to challenge it with MPAC. More information is available at aboutmyproperty.ca. •

 

 

 

OHL ticket giveaway

Grain Farmers of Ontario’s Good in Every Grain campaign is giving away a pair of tickets to next Friday’s OHL game featuring Kingston Frontenacs vs. Oshawa Generals. Enter by this Sunday, January 15, at https://gfo1.typeform.com/to/iuxV4Q.

Good in Every Grain will be doing farmer-card handouts tonight in Guelph and Sault Ste. Marie, on Saturday in Owen Sound, and on Sunday in Oshawa and Sudbury. For the full schedule of farmer-card games, visit: http://www.goodineverygrain.ca/Features/OHL. •
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2017 March Classic

Registration is now open for the 2017 March Classic, Grain Farmers of Ontario's annual conference for farmers and industry, being held Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Attendees who register during the month of January will be entered in to an early bird draw.
 
The theme of the 2017 March Classic is Leading Through Change, and is designed to inspire leadership through challenging times, as well as times of opportunity. Conference speakers include General Rick Hillier, David Frum, Jolene Brown, and Terry O’Reilly, with evening entertainment provided by comedian Jonny Harris. Topics will range from international policies and political shifts, to farm business succession planning, and the art of persuasion.
 
Attendees are encouraged to pre-register by Tuesday, January 31 to be entered in an early bird draw for a Good in Every Grain soft shell jacket. Pre-registered attendees are also invited to skip the lines and pick-up their conference packages on the 2nd floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton during the evening reception, sponsored by SGS Canada, on Monday, March 20, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. For more information and to register, visit: www.gfo.ca/March-Classic. •
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Annual District Meetings

Grain Farmers of Ontario is holding Annual District Grain Committee Meetings across the province. These meetings are called to receive reports, elect the District delegates, alternates, and directors (this year, odd-numbered districts are electing directors for two-year terms), and conduct other business as may properly come before the annual meeting. All barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers are encouraged to attend their local meeting.
 
Anyone who brings a farmer-member who has never attended a Grain Farmers of Ontario January District Grain Committee meeting will receive a $25 Tim Hortons gift card.
 
This week, Annual District Meetings were held at the following districts (attendance and directors are noted):
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Grain Farmers of Ontario was also pleased to welcome Toby Barrett, MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk, to the District 6 meeting; Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce, and a representative of Ben Lobb, MP for Huron-Bruce, to the District 8 meeting; and Randy Pettapiece, MPP for Perth-Wellington to the District 9 meeting.
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The following meetings will be held next week:
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