Following the morning presentations, Scott Fife, Josh Boersen, and Paul Hoekstra answered questions from the delegates. Tinkess Photo
AVONMORE – The Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) is the province’s largest commodity organization, and represents 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers.
The organization divides the province into 15 districts, each of which during the first couple weeks of the month of January will be holding their annual meetings during which elections will be held and motions made and voted on. District 14, which encompasses the counties of Prescott, Russell, Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry held their meeting on Tues., Jan. 7, 2025, at North Stormont Place in Avonmore, Ontario.
Scott Fife is the Director for District 14, and in that role, he chaired the meeting. The agenda as well as the 2024 meeting minutes were approved, as were the financial statement for GFO District 14.
Fife explained that expenditures were straight forward. “Basically, sponsorships and donations is where the majority of the district funds go,” said Fife. “We have set allocation every year from the GFO, and the district gets to use those as we see fit. Generally, the expenses for this meeting should be the lunch and Hall and that sort of thing, and the other donations and sponsorships that you can see there (on the printed agenda and on the screen)”.
In response to a question from the floor about how much money the district was allowed to be spent, Fife said that it had been increased from $6,000 to the current $10,000 some time ago and that they try to spend as close to that as possible, since they are reimbursed up to $10,000 by GFO.
The opening balance on Jan. 1, 2024, was $3,099.13. the ending balance on Dec. 31, 2024, was $3,680.13. Deposits were $10,000 while expenses were $9,419 and included:
- $2,080 Dr. Georges Kitchen
- $1,000 Ottawa Valley Seed Growers
- $1,500 Casselman Food Bank
- $1,500 Agape Centre
- $1,500 Community Foodshare
- $1,500 Healthy Eating for Better Learning
- $339 Winchester Sign Board
The financial report was approved.
With the regular business end of the meeting taken care of, several presentations were then made.
Wendell Joyce from Agricorp provided an update on the various programs and services offered by Agricorp. He spent some time speaking about the Risk Management Program (RMP) and stated that across the province about 60 per cent of farmers are participating.
“It’s very simple. It ties right in with production insurance,” said Joyce. “All you have to do is apply for it. There’s a small premium; It’s premium based. It is an insurance program like production insurance, only this is focused on price and the target price, or the cost of production for a commodity. But once you’re enrolled, you pay the premium, you report your yields for crop insurance, and that automatically flows over to the RMP side. If a claim is triggered, you will receive the payment automatically. You don’t have to phone us and submit a claim like you would for crop insurance, so it’s very easy to participate.”
Next on the agenda were presentations by GFO members Scott Fife, Josh Boersen, and to speak was Director Fife, and Paul Hoekstra.
Fife spoke first, explaining how this was his third year and that he continues to enjoy all the opportunities for learning the GFO provides. He has been involved in the Finance and Audit committees, the Communication Committee and this year will be the Chair of the March Classic.
“So basically, that means I get to stand up there in front of the crowd and emcee for part of the evening, and hopefully I’ll see some local faces there,” said Fife. “It’s usually not too many of us who make the treck, but if you’ve got a chance to come out in March to that meeting, it’s usually a pretty good show.”
Next to speak was Josh Boersen, Vice Chair of the GFO. He has been a member for six years and three on the executive board. He spoke primarily of US election advocacy, the next Canadian election and Ontario elections. He farms in Perth County.
Boersen explained that analysis of what the impact of the proposed US tariffs would be, is currently being conducted. “We don’t have that analysis yet, but it’s going to be part of our plan as we move forward with elections, as far as our government’s platforms, and part of our advocacy to the likes of AFC and above, to make sure that you’re aware of what that will mean,” said Boersen. Currently, the initial estimates point to a potential $6 billion impact to our industry. Also under review through this was the US Farm Aid and the current Farm Bill extension.
“The most recent understanding we have is ten billion in direct US Farm Aid and 21 billion in farmer assistance, which includes disaster relief for the hurricanes. This was approved on Dec. 20.”
This legislation provides a significant value to US farmers that farmers in Ontario, or Canada for that matter cannot realize.
Boersen spoke of how GFO advocates for farmers at the Federal and Provincial level, and that there is a lot of work to be done and the current instability at the Federal level only makes matters worse.
Next to speak was Paul Hoekstra, Vice President of the GFO. He explained that his role is on the operational side of the organization, things like the communication team, market development, sustainability research, agronomy and member relations. He spoke primarily about the organization’s strategic plan.
“So, as we look at the new strategic plan, nothing’s changed in our mission or vision,” said Hoekstra. “Our mission for grain farmers in Ontario is, I think it resonates with us as staff, and hopefully the view of the room is to build, defend, promote an inclusive, innovative and sustainable business environment for grain farmers to allow them the opportunity to prosper means it allows us a chance to sort of make sure we’re targeting all of our tactics, all of our programs, to make sure you grow the best crop possible and have the greatest opportunity to succeed.
“Everything we do has to be to your benefit, and if it doesn’t matter to a farmer, we shouldn’t be doing it, so really it has clear guidance on what we do going forward.”
Hoekstra also introduced several prerecorded video presentations from members from different parts of the organization as well as Victoria Berry (Communications) who was in attendance.
Following a short Q and A session, the meeting moved into election of directors for the coming term. As there were more nominations than positions to be filled, a secret ballot election was held with the votes counted over the lunch hour and results to be announced later in the afternoon. (Results were not yet posted to the website as of this writing).
Additional activities for the afternoon included any new business, motions, the delegate and alternate meeting, and further presentations with the meeting scheduled to wrap up mid-afternoon.
The Grain Farmers of Ontario are celebrating their 15th year and announced that online registration for the 2025 March Classic is now open. The event takes place on Tues., March 18, 2025, at RBC Place, 300 York St. in London, Ontario. For more information and to register you can visit the Grain Farmers of Ontario web site at GFO.ca.
