Harvest 2017 prices as of noon on September 22, 2017 are as follows:
SWW @ $189.43/MT ($5.16/bu),  HRW @ $198.47/MT ($5.40/bu), 
HRS @ $238.25/MT ($6.48/bu),  SRW @ $193.95/MT ($5.28/bu).

The risk management program (RMP) for Ontario farmers will remain intact for 2018.

In a letter from the Honourable Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Grain Farmers of Ontario was notified that the ministry will not proceed with interim changes to RMP. For 2018, this program will remain unchanged as the federal suite of business risk management programs is under review.

“We support the decision by the Minister to leave Ontario’s existing risk management program in place for the next crop season,” says Mark Brock, Chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. “An interim revision to RMP at this stage would create confusion for our farmer-members and we are pleased the Minister put this on hold.”

With the federal review of business risk management underway, it makes sense that the ministry delays the update to the provincial program at this time. Ontario’s RMP should complement the federal suite, ensuring both programs work together. The Minister, in his letter, confirmed that the ministry will maintain the funding of $100 million throughout the evaluation of the RMP program and any resulting changes.

“Grain Farmers of Ontario is a founding member of the AgGrowth Coalition and is committed to delivering both a federal and a provincial solution to risk management that works for farmers,” says Brock. “We are pleased that the Minister has acknowledged our active participation in this review process and are confident that appropriate risk management options will be available for farmers in the near future.”

The comprehensive review of the federal suite of programs was announced in July at the federal-provincial-territorial meeting with support from all provincial agriculture ministers. The first draft of the federal program revisions is expected in 2018. •

Grain Farmers of Ontario is now accepting applications for the Grains Innovation Fund to support new and expanded markets for Ontario barley, corn, oats, soybeans, and wheat.

Projects that satisfy the eligibility criteria for the Grains Innovation Fund can receive up to 60% of the cost of the project, up to a maximum of $50,000. Eligible projects must open new markets for Ontario grains, expand the use and demand for Ontario grains, promote Ontario grains as the best choice, identity preserve varieties for novel uses, and/or increase the value (premiums) or Ontario grains.

“The Market Development Committee, comprised of Grain Farmers of Ontario directors and farmer-members, considers and reviews all applications,” says Nicole Mackellar, Manager of Market Development, Grain Farmers of Ontario. “We look forward to seeing what new initiatives and growth opportunities we can support in the coming year.”

Applications for the Grains Innovation Fund must be submitted by November 6, 2017. Information about the fund and the application process is available at www.gfo.ca/market-development or by contacting Justin Shepherd, Market Development Coordinator at jshepherd@gfo.ca or 1-800-265-0550 ext 201. •

Grain Farmers of Ontario is sponsoring a corn ear mould survey this year. The Ontario Ministry of Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will begin sampling grower corn fields to determine ear mould incidence and occurrence of mycotoxins in grain. The purpose of this annual survey is to access grower and industry risk.

What can growers do? As corn producers plan for harvest they should be assessing their fields for stalk rot and ear moulds. The distribution and prevalence of these diseases vary from year to year but they are present every year, especially when the crop is planted late or under stress (water stress, insect feeding, etc).

For more information, read the full Field Crop Report at www.fieldcropnews.com. •

Production of one of Canada’s fastest growing crops is expected to reach a record high this year. According to Statistics Canada, national production of soybeans will increase by 29 percent over the last year, bringing the total number of soybeans produced in 2017 to over 8.3 million tonnes.

“Domestic and international demand of high quality food-grade and commodity soybeans continues to skyrocket in the marketplace,” said Soy Canada’s acting Executive Director Dale Adolphe. “It’s no surprise that growers and other members of the value chain are seeing this potential and recognizing the economic value and sustainable benefits of including soybeans in their production cycles.”

For more information, visit www.soycanada.ca. •

Grain Farmers of Ontario has released its call for research proposals for funding in 2018. Investment in research is a long-term strategic initiative of Grain Farmers of Ontario. In the 2016-2017 year, Grain Farmers of Ontario supported 68 research projects across the province.

“Grain Farmers of Ontario is proud to provide funding for research projects that address the present and future needs of our farmer-members,” says Dr. Josh Cowan, Manager of Research and Innovation, Grain Farmers of Ontario. “Last year, Grain Farmers of Ontario invested $1.7 million into new and ongoing research projects with every $1 invested by the organization being matched with $3.45 from government and industry funding sources, which is a total value of $7.6 million.”

The 2018 call for research proposals will target projects addressing four priority research areas: Agronomy and Production; Weed, Disease & Insect Pests; Breeding & Genetics, and Crop Utilization & Quality. There is an emphasis this year on pesticide resistance management and coping with breakdown of resistance, and the management of grain corn ear mould incidence and reducing the occurrence of vomitoxin (DON).

“We look forward to seeing what research projects come forward this year,” says Dr. Cowan. “These research projects create value for our farmer-members and their cropping systems.”

To help prospective researchers properly complete their 2018 Research Proposals, Grain Farmers of Ontario will be hosting an Information Session through videoconference on Wednesday, October 4th at 1:30PM EST. More specific details will be shared closer to the date.

Interested researchers must submit the application form found at www.gfo.ca/research.

Applications will be accepted until 4 p.m. EST on November 24, 2017. Should researchers have any questions, they are encouraged to contact Grain Farmers of Ontario to discuss their research proposals — contact Natalie DiMeo at ndimeo@gfo.ca or 519-767-4138.•

This week, Grain Farmers of Ontario staff and directors are in Walton, Ontario, which is in Huron County, for the 2017 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo. The organization is the exclusive sponsor of the event’s VIP tent and VIP plowing, which welcomes politicians from all levels of government on opening day. Directors from several Grain Farmers of Ontario districts, as well as Vice President Crosby Devitt and Government Relations Manager Debra Conlon were on hand for the event.

Grain Farmers of Ontario staff were also on hand to teach school groups and plowing match attendees about Ontario’s grain crops and their end uses, using the interactive displays on the Growing Connections trailer.