Weekly Ontario Grain & Oilseed Update (March 22, 2005)

Farmers Feed Cities!

Who we are:
The Ontario Grain & Oilseed Group includes Ontario's seven grains & oilseed producer organizations representing corn, soybean, wheat, canola, white and coloured beans, and seed corn growers in Ontario. These organizations have formed a new working relationship and have signed a terms of reference to work collectively on safety net issues.

What we need:
Working together on safety net issues, we have identified three needs for the short, medium, and long-term success of Ontario's distressed grain & oilseed industry.

• We need a $300 million immediate cash infusion to make up the shortfall between anticipated revenues from all sources and mounting costs for the 2005 crop.
• The Ontario government must implement an adequately funded, effective replacement program for Market Revenue Insurance (MRI).
• Refinements must be made to CAIS to make it more effective.

How we'll meet producer needs:
The seven grain & oilseed producer organizations are working together to pool resources and streamline messaging so we can work more effectively with the government. The group is taking a professional approach in our government relations strategy for achieving income support for the 50% of Ontario farm families who are wrestling with this drastic price collapse that threatens the viability of grain & oilseed producers in this province. Farmer representatives from the Ontario Grain & Oilseed Group are visiting urban and rural MPPs across the province to inform them of our industry's needs and to ask for their assistance.

What producers can do:
We marched to Queen's Park with the "One Voice" movement on March 2, 2005. Thank you to all growers who showed your support in this initiative. We may need you again for future initiatives. Thank you also to our industry sponsors for their support of our cause.
We encourage growers to meet with MPPs, and visit the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA)'s website at www.ofa.org for templates to help planning these meetings. Growers can also visit the website for every grain & oilseed organization to obtain a copy of the grain and oilseed position summary.
Producers can also write letters to the editor of the publications you read, and phone in to the radio stations you listen to - particularly local and national urban media. Help correct misinformation and tell your own story about how this farm income crisis is affecting you.

Watch this space:
Grain & oilseed producers should watch this space each week in Ontario Farmer to learn of the latest advancements the Ontario Grain & Oilseed Group is making with the provincial government. Representatives are making every effort to meet producer needs, including a $300 million cash infusion we so desperately need for this crop year. We are committed to keeping our members informed of our activities, and next steps in our demands for government assistance in this crucial time for our industry.

Ontario Grains and Oilseed Groups:
Ontario White Bean Producers' Marketing Board
Ontario Canola Growers' Association
Ontario Coloured Bean Growers' Association
Ontario Corn Producers' Association
Ontario Soybean Growers
Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board
Seed Corn Growers of Ontario