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Ontario Grain Farmer

About Us

About Grain Farmers of Ontario
Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) represents Ontario’s 28,000 growers of corn, soybean and wheat. Our farmers' crops cover 5 million acres of farm land across the province, and are a major economic driver for Canada. Ontario-grown corn, soybean and wheat crops generate over $2.5 billion in farm gate receipts, result in over $9 billion in economic output, and are responsible for over 40,000 jobs in the province.

Grain Farmers of Ontario Structure
Grain Farmers of Ontario will have 15 Districts covering the province. Each of those Districts will elect from 8 to 17 Delegates, for a total of 150. The Delegates in each District will elect one Director to represent them on the Grain Farmers of Ontario Board, for a total of 15 Directors.

The structure and goals of the new GFO focus on four key areas:

research & innovation
wheat marketing & market development
production information
public outreach, policy development & advocacy

Farmer Representation
Within the new organization of Grain Farmers of Ontario, districts are divided slightly differently than in their three founding organizations. Below is a map of the 15 districts.

Each district is assigned a minimum of eight delegates. Additional delegates are allocated based on the extent to which each district’s total estimated combined acreage of corn, soybeans and wheat exceeds 6.7 percent of their total provincial acreage. The acreage is estimated based on adjusting production figured for average yields relative to each of the three crops.

District alignment and delegate allocations will be reviewed after the first three years and not less than every five years thereafter, based on the most recent production data. Districts will be required to represent a minimum of five percent of production as defined above, except for northern Ontario, which will be assured a minimum of one district, and eastern Ontario, which will be assured a minimum of two districts, to respect the extent of the geography involved, regardless of the quantity of production.

Become Involved in Grain Farmers of Ontario
If you are an Ontario grower of corn, soybeans and/or wheat and want to become involved in your new organization, there are many ways to do so:

Attend the District Meeting for your area of the province.
Farmers in each District will elect 8 to 17 Voting Delegates, for a provincial total of 150.
These Delegates will elect one Director for their District, for a total of 15 on the GFO Board.
Each GFO committee will be Chaired by a Director.
Non-Director Voting Delegates will have the opportunity to serve on GFO committees and sub-committees.
Sub-committees will be issue-driven, and formed as needed. Their composition will be designed to get the job done with the best people possible, while keeping a clear and specific focus.
GFO committees will include:
- Wheat Trading Advisory (Directors only)
- Market Development
- Research & Innovation
- Government Relations
- Communications
- Finance & Audit (Board Executive)
- Sub Committees

Grain Farmers of Ontario’s Origins
Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province’s newest and largest farm commodity group. It represents the merged interests of the Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, Ontario Soybean Growers and the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board. The grassroots farmer-driven process toward this merger began in 2004, when all three groups’ members passed resolutions at their respective annual meetings. They wanted one association representing the interests of Ontario farmers growing grain and oilseeds crops.

Since then, the three groups have worked closely with Ontario’s Farm Products Marketing Commission to carefully seek farmers’ input. All along the way farmers have stated their preference for one organization to represent all three crops.

In December 2008, the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs announced the results of a September 2008, province-wide mail ballot vote among Ontario’s growers of corn, soybeans and wheat, conducted by the Farm Products Marketing Commission. The result was a 72% majority decision to form the new Grain Farmers of Ontario.