What do you get when you combine the three largest commodity groups in Ontario? You get the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) of course. The GFO is a collaboration of the Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, Ontario Soybean Growers and Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board representing over 28,000 producers in Ontario. These producers generate over $9 billion in for the economy and are provide over 40,000 jobs in the province. The main goals of this new organization are research & innovation; wheat marketing & market development; production information; and public outreach, policy development & advocacy.
At the beginning of September the GFO unveiled its logo. The ring around the centre icon symbolizes strength and unity of the three large Ontario grain sectors becoming one. The mixture of farm field sections on the middle icon represents the use of corn, soybeans and wheat in a patchwork fashion promoting rotational cropping. Currently the GFO is waiting to be officially recognized by the Canadian government. It is said that the paperwork and official recognition should happen at the beginning of the New Year.
It is great to see these three different cropping commodities come together as one. As the saying goes you’re stronger in numbers. With these groups coming together more can hopefully be accomplished to both aid the producers and improve overall production strategies in Ontario. What I wonder is with a name like the “Grain Farmers of Ontario” will this new organization eventually expand to include all grain farmers for example the barley, oat, rye, and canola producers in Ontario?
I agree the farm community’s strength is bolstered by having three producer groups come under one umbrella.
Like you, I question who else will join and whether the new organization will need to change its name to include oilseeds if indeed it comes to represent the interest of canola producers.