Ontario wheat, corn and soybean producers have banded together to form the province’s largest farm organization, Grain Farmers of Ontario.
The new group inherits the voluntary marketing power and structure operated by the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board, as well as check-off funds, now called licence fees, collected by the wheat board, Ontario Soybean Growers and Ontario Corn Producers’ Association.
They could generate revenue of $6.5 million annually.
The new super-group representing 28,000 Ontario producers was officially born Jan. 1 with an interim board appointed by the Ontario government until producer elections can be held.
The merger of the three historic farm groups follows a 2008 farmer vote that produced 72 percent approval.
Barry Senft, chief operating officer of the new group and a former vice-president of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, said in an interview it is a forward move for farmers.
“We will be the largest farm group in Ontario and we will work with other groups on issues where our opinions align.”
