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Articles by Crosby Devitt
From the CEO’s desk – November 2026
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario Meaningful collaboration is essential to turn advocacy, research, innovation, trade, and market access priorities into practical, long-term opportunities for Ontario grain farmers. In the last month, farmers have been working through soybean harvest, planting winter wheat, and preparing for corn harvest.
From the CEO’s desk – October 2026
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario Market development and free trade are essential priorities for Grain Farmers of Ontario, connecting global customer relationships and trade access directly to farm-level demand. As Ontario grain farmers head into another harvest, it is easy to focus on the work right in front of us: getting crops off, lining up delivery, and managing long days safely.
From the CEO’s desk – September 2026
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario Ontario grain farmers play a major role in Canada’s food export success, but continued growth depends on policies that support risk management, innovation, and market access. As summer winds down and corn and soybean harvest is on the horizon, it’s a good time to step back and think about what this season really represents. Canada is often viewed as a small country because of our population.
From the CEO’s desk – August 2026
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario The past month has been a busy one for me with meetings involving national and international collaboration. These meetings can feel like a long way away from my work on the farm, but the truth is the two worlds in which I operate are tightly connected. The decisions farmers make in their fields are increasingly shaped by conversations happening around tables that bring together farmers and organizations from across the globe.
OPED: Food security can’t wait. Canada needs action now
Prime Minister Mark Carney deserves credit for beginning an important national conversation about food security with the National Food Security Strategy. As this work advances, it’s worth remembering that food security begins with farmers, and farmers need our support. Recent global disruptions have shown how interconnected our food systems are, and how quickly pressures can ripple from international supply chains to grocery prices at home.
From the CEO’s desk – June/July 2026
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario Agriculture is built on more than the crops we grow. It’s built on the people willing to step forward, to learn, and most importantly, to lead. A strong farm sector needs strong leaders, and that’s why investing in leadership development is so important. At Grain Farmers of Ontario, we’ve made it a priority to create opportunities for farmers to build leadership skills over time.
From the CEO’s desk – April/May 2026
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario In an uncertain world, reliability matters. Global agriculture is increasingly shaped by geopolitics, supply chain disruptions, and shifting trade policies. In recent years, input costs, particularly fertilizer costs, have been affected by export restrictions, shipping disruptions, or conflicts half a world away.
From the CEO’s desk – February 2026
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario The increasingly complex world of food production requires broad participation from all parts of the value chain in research and innovation. Ontario farmers’ partnerships with government, universities, and industry are the foundation for innovative, competitive, and sustainable food production. Farmers have always been huge supporters of research and innovation.
From the CEO’s desk – February 2026 - Ontario Grain Farmer
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario The increasingly complex world of food production requires broad participation from all parts of the value chain in research and innovation. Ontario farmers’ partnerships with government, universities, and industry are the foundation for innovative, competitive, and sustainable food production. Farmers have always been huge supporters of research and innovation.
From the CEO’s desk – December 2025 - Ontario Grain Farmer
As the calendar turns to December, Grain Farmers of Ontario concludes its milestone 15th year. Building on the foundation of its three founding organizations — the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board, Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, and Ontario Soybean Growers — Grain Farmers of Ontario has grown into an industry-leading organization that delivers real value to its 28,000 farmer-members.
From the CEO’s desk – December 2025 - Ontario Grain Farmer
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario As the calendar turns to December, Grain Farmers of Ontario concludes its milestone 15th year. Building on the foundation of its three founding organizations — the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board, Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, and Ontario Soybean Growers — Grain Farmers of Ontario has grown into an industry-leading organization that delivers real value to its 28,000 farmer-members.
From the CEO's desk
As I write this, I’m en route to Mexico City, joining Grain Farmers of Ontario chair Jeff Harrison and Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Trevor Jones, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Heath MacDonald, for meetings with key wheat customers. Mexico continues to be one of Ontario’s most important trading partners, and these kinds of in-person conversations matter.
From the CEO's desk
As I write this, I’m en route to Mexico City, joining Grain Farmers of Ontario chair Jeff Harrison and Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Trevor Jones, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Heath MacDonald, for meetings with key wheat customers. Mexico continues to be one of Ontario’s most important trading partners, and these kinds of in-person conversations matter.
From the CEO's desk
With a 15-year track record of delivering results for Ontario’s 28,000 grain farmers—through government relations, market development, research, member outreach, agronomy extension, and building public trust—it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made together. You can read highlights from the past year in our 2025 annual report, available in full at www.gfo.ca/about.
From the CEO's desk
With a 15-year track record of delivering results for Ontario’s 28,000 grain farmers—through government relations, market development, research, member outreach, agronomy extension, and building public trust—it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made together. You can read highlights from the past year in our 2025 annual report, available in full at www.gfo.ca/about.
From the CEO’s desk – August 2025 - Ontario Grain Farmer
All eyes have been on what’s happening south of our border, and the ripple effects of U.S. policy are being felt worldwide. The grain and oilseed industry, as well as the broader agriculture sector in Canada, is no exception.
From the CEO's desk
Spring has sprung, and that means we are all anxious to get out in the fields and get to work. After a cold and snowy winter—more snow than we’ve seen in a long time, in many parts of Ontario—it’s time to put the snow blower away and get out the seeding equipment. The spring planting season always brings optimism and hope for a great year ahead. This year, understandably, many people are feeling a bit anxious and unsure about what’s to come.
From the CEO’s desk - March 2025
There’s an old saying that ‘the only constant is change,’ and that has definitely been the reality in the first couple of months of 2025.
From the CEO's desk
It’s a new year, and Grain Farmers of Ontario has lots to celebrate! 2025 marks 15 years since the three legacy associations, the Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board, Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, and Ontario Soybean Growers, joined forces to elevate the voices of the 28,000 farmer-members who grown barley, corn, oats, soybeans, and wheat in Ontario. This year’s March Classic, Leading the Way, will celebrate the success of the organization over the past 15 years.
Tradition meets innovation
IN EARLY OCTOBER, GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO HOSTED A VIP RECEPTION on opening day following the parade at the International Plowing Match (IPM) held near Lindsay, Ontario. The IPM is one of those traditional activities that mark the fall season for Ontario’s farmers – for more than 100 years, attendees have gathered in the tented city and the fields surrounding it for the annual event that brings together farmers and the general public to celebrate rural Ontario.
Your voice, heard
FARMER-MEMBERS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO – 28,000 of you are doing your part to grow safe, healthy, and sustainable grains and oilseeds that drive our $27 billion industry. That’s why it is so important for me – and the Board of Directors and delegates – to hear from you. What are your concerns? What issues are impacting you and your farm business? How can Grain Farmers of Ontario programs and services support you?
Summer fades to fall
IT’S GO-TIME FOR ONTARIO’S FARMERS – WE’RE NOW INTO THE HOME STRETCH OF THE 2024 CROP SEASON. As summer fades to fall – marked by kids back in school, shorter days, and cooler nights – farmers are readying their combines and wagons for the busy fall harvest season. This season has been challenging for Ontario’s farmers, with a cool, wet spring dragging the planting season later than many would have liked.
Looking back, moving forward
MAY 1 MARKED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE in Ontario agriculture – the 150th anniversary of the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) at the University of Guelph. On this day, Aggies from across Canada (and the world!) celebrated by wearing their OAC jackets and sharing photos on social media. As an OAC ’97 graduate and dad to an OAC ’26 student, my son Clayton and I proudly donned our jackets to commemorate this day.
The shows go on - Ontario Grain Farmer
THIS WINTER, GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO DIRECTORS, DELEGATES, AND STAFF WERE ON THE ROAD, attending some of the biggest and best winter agricultural shows Ontario has to offer. Our Grain Farmers of Ontario booth was set up at the Chatham Farm Show, the London Farm Show, the East Central Farm Show in Lindsay, and the Ottawa Valley Farm Show.
Growing our reputation
ONTARIO’S REPUTATION FOR GROWING HIGH-QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE GRAINS continues to drive demand for the products that Grain Farmers of Ontario’s farmer-members grow — and this was evident on a recent trade mission to Mexico that Brendan Byrne, director of District 1 (Essex), and I participated in at the end of January.
Investment nets results
GRAIN AND OILSEED PRODUCTION makes a huge contribution to Ontario’s economy. With the recent release of a new report by MNP, an Economic Impact Analysis of Grain Farming in Ontario, we can share the great news that the sector’s economic impact continues to grow. Commissioned by Grain Farmers of Ontario, the report provides updated statistics and information to quantify the impact of grain farming — showing remarkable growth since 2010.
Feeding the world
IT IS DECEMBER — THE end of another year, another season, and hopefully, another harvest. For Ontario’s farmers, it has been a challenging year — we have experienced wild weather, from early-season drought to record rainfall in the summer months, weed and disease pressure, and the threat of DON (though, thankfully, we have not seen the impact of DON anywhere close to what it was in 2018).
Farming for the future
LIKE MANY OF you, I attended Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) in September and took some time to wander around the show and check out the latest in farm machinery, tools, and gadgets. The sheer amount of innovation and technological advances can be overwhelming at times, but it is amazing to see how far the industry has come and the potential for the future. Innovation is a driving force behind what we do here at Grain Farmers of Ontario.
Resilient and optimistic
IN AUGUST, GRAIN Farmers of Ontario’s chair, Brendan Byrne, and I joined colleagues from the Canadian Canola Growers at the 25th International Oilseed Producers Dialogue (IOPD). This year, the event was held in Argentina in conjunction with the Aapresid Congress — an event held annually by La Asociación Argentina de Productores en Siembra Directa (Argentina’s No-Till Farmers Association).
GrainTALK Episode 70: Brendan Byrne, Crosby Devitt
Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Brendan Byrne, the new chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario’s Board of Directors, discusses his first few weeks, his plans for his term as chair, and important issues affecting grain farmers today. We also get an update from Crosby Devitt, CEO of Grain Farmers of Ontario. Hosted by: Rachel Telford and Paige Miller
Ontario Grain Market Commentary, February 24, 2021
COMMODITY PERIOD PRICE WEEKLY MOVEMENT Corn CBOT Mar 5.59 ¼ ↑ 6 ¼ cents Soybeans CBOT Mar 13.83 ¾ ↑ 40 cents Wheat CBOT Mar 6.80 ¼ ↑ 36 ¼ cents Wheat Minn. Mar 6.46 ½ ↑ 23 ½ cents Wheat Kansas Mar 6.56 ↑ 31 ½ cents Oats CBOT Mar 3.67 ¼ ↑ 14 ½ cents Canadian $ Mar 0.7979 ↑ 103 points The cold snap that affected much of the U.S. last week also caused ethanol plants to either slow production or shut down completely amid power outages and a spike in natural gas prices.
Collaboration is key
RIGHT NOW, FARMERS across the province are gearing up for a busy corn and soybean harvest following the summer harvest of cereal crops. After what can only be described as a growing season featuring incredibly varied and unpredictable weather, we are all waiting to see what the harvest season has in store for us this year.
A bright future - Ontario Grain Farmer
ONE OF THE DRIVERS behind the formation of Grain Farmers of Ontario in 2010 (when the Ontario Corn Producers’ Association, Ontario Soybean Growers, and Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board joined forces), was to better capitalize on the agriculture industry’s greatest asset: its people.
Feeding the world
GLOBAL EVENTS OF the past few years — including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, climate-related natural disasters, and rising inflation and cost of living crises — have gotten Canadians talking about farming and food production as the reality of rising grocery prices impacts pocketbooks across the country. Globally, food insecurity is a growing threat for millions of people, particularly in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America.
Global wins - Ontario Grain Farmer
IT IS SPRING, which means farmer-members across the province will be gearing up for one of the busiest seasons of the year — planting. After a long winter of researching, learning, and planning, it is time to put that plan into action and get the crops in the ground. When the planting season begins, we never know for sure how things will shake out at harvest time. Will we have good weather? What insect or disease pressure will we see this year? How will the yields be?
On the road again
THIS WINTER, i HAVE been travelling across the province — and internationally — talking to farmer-members, connecting with government officials and industry representatives, and promoting Ontario grains and oilseeds. It’s been refreshing to get out from behind my desk and away from Zoom calls to meet face-to-face. The January District Meetings saw staff and Board members travel to all 15 Grain Farmers of Ontario Districts.
Investment reaps rewards
WHEN GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO wrapped up the Wheat Marketing program in 2020, the Board was presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reinvest in Ontario’s agriculture sector through the creation of a Legacy Fund.
Looking ahead - Ontario Grain Farmer
WHEN THE CALENDAR turns the page to a new year on January 1, we tend to look ahead with a little bit of optimism and anticipation for what the next 12 months will bring us — with hopes that the coming year will be better than the last. This begs the question — what will 2023 bring for Ontario’s grain farmers and Grain Farmers of Ontario? There is no doubt that 2022 has been challenging on many fronts.
Decisions, decisions
FARMERS ARE ALWAYS making decisions – each year, they set goals and expectations and plan what to plant, when to plant, where to plant, when to spray or fertilize, when to harvest, and when to sell. As circumstances, sometimes out of anyone’s control, like weather, change throughout the season, sometimes those decisions change.
Sustainable Ontario grains
WHEN GRAIN FARMERS of Ontario updated its strategic plan in 2021, protecting and growing markets was identified as one of the five strategic objectives for the organization.
Risks and rewards
ON THE HEELS of the summer barley, oat, and wheat harvest, Ontario’s farmers are preparing to harvest corn and soybeans — and everyone is anxious to see the result of the 2022 growing season. This past spring, farmers made one of the most significant and riskiest investments ever in planting a crop due to supply chain issues, labour shortages, uncertain supply and demonstrably higher fertilizer costs due to tariffs on Russian product, and inflationary pressures.
Talking about grain
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, grains are a hot topic these days, and it’s not just farmers who are talking about crop production. With the ongoing war in Ukraine, global food insecurity on the rise, inflationary pressure causing increased grocery bills, and climate-change-influenced natural disasters happening around the world, Canada’s role as a grain-producing and exporting nation has come into sharp focus in recent months.
We find a way - Ontario Grain Farmer
THE GLOBAL AGRI-FOOD sector is interconnected throughout the supply chain — and this has become even more apparent in the past two years as the COVID-19 crisis has impacted every facet of agricultural and food production worldwide. The global pandemic has affected primary production, trade, labour supply, and international travel, negatively impacting farmers, processors, retailers, and consumers.
Make your voice heard
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario YOU ARE LIKELY seeing lots of signs of spring — the days are getting longer, daffodils are blooming, trees are budding, and tractors are starting to make their way to the field for the 2022 planting season. You will likely start to see more signs — election signs, that is. Ontario voters are heading to the polls to elect Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to serve in the 43rd Parliament of Ontario.
Changes - Ontario Grain Farmer
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario OVER THE PAST two years we have become used to change — changing work environments, changing public health protocols, changing markets and supply chains. We have learned to adapt and as a result we have continued to prosper. Change is not always a bad thing for an organization like Grain Farmers of Ontario. It creates the opportunity for fresh perspectives and new ideas.
Priority investments
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO is investing close to $2 million of your check-off fees into research during the 2022 fiscal year. That money is being leveraged through funding partners at a ratio of more than 3:1. We are currently invested in more than 70 multi-year research projects with a total value of more than $32 million.
Opportunities ahead
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario THIS FALL, SUPPLY chain uncertainty, disruptions in fertilizer deliveries, and increased prices for inputs and everything else in our daily lives added an extra layer of stress for grain farmers. As business operators, we took on more risk as we assumed the higher cost of production. We need commodity prices to stay strong in 2022 to remain profitable.
Turning ideas into action
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario GRAIN FARMERS OF ONTARIO is an organization that was founded to serve the collective needs of our farmer-members. Since our inception, feedback from the grassroots level has been our way of understanding what matters most to you. The Board of Directors and staff have an understanding of the current issues and concerns from government to consumers, and from the farm to the elevator. But we still need to hear from you.
Grain for Good - Ontario Grain Farmer
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario BY THE TIME you read this, the federal election results will be known. At press time, we were in the last throes of the federal election campaign. As candidates made the rounds promoting their party’s platform, Grain Farmers of Ontario ran an awareness campaign to ensure that no matter who forms the government they are all aware that grain farming in Ontario matters at the national level.
Harvest decisions
Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario GRAIN FARMERS ARE faced with daily decisions that affect the quality of their crop and the profitability of their farm. The decisions made at harvest time can be the most difficult to make — and the summer wheat harvest was a good example of that for many. Strong quality and high yields were expected from wheat fields as harvest time approached. Dry conditions allowed farmers to get the first of the crop off in early July — and then the rain hit.
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