Jeff Harrison
Chair, Grain Farmers of Ontario
Over the generations, Ontario grain farmers have learned the connection between environmental responsibility and resilience. That’s how you sustain family farms.
Earth Day 2026 organizers say environmental progress is built locally, through everyday action.
And to me, they’re absolutely right.
On my family’s multi-generation grain farm near Quinte West, Ont., sustainability is ingrained in our farming culture. We’re immersed in sustainable practices daily, to conserve soil and keep water clean.
To our family, sustainability is foundational. Simply put, it’s how you farm. Over the generations, we’ve learned the connection between environmental responsibility and resilience. They must work in tandem. That’s how you sustain a family farm — and a farm family — like ours.
Grain farmers keep learning how to improve
Like Ontario’s other 28,000 grain farmers, we routinely take part in educational and professional development activities that help us better manage our land, adapt to change, and produce food responsibly and efficiently.
As a result, sustainability shows up in everyday decisions: how we use fertilizer, how we regenerate soil, and how we rotate Ontario’s three main crops — corn, soy, and winter wheat — from field to field. Crop rotation helps build healthy, productive soil, reduces pest pressures naturally, and gives farmers flexibility to respond to weather and market opportunities.
Investing in research for sustainability
Since our inception as an organization in 2010, Grain Farmers of Ontario has invested over $25 million into research supporting agricultural sustainability across soil health, nutrient management, biodiversity, and water protection. During that time, Ontario’s grain sector grew in economic value by 60 per cent, resulting in approximately $27 billion of annual economic output today.
Canadians care about affordable, locally grown food, and they expect it to be produced responsibly. So do Ontario grain farmers. We’re keeping farms viable and grocery shelves stocked, while protecting the environment and natural resources every day.
To learn about sustainable grain farming in Ontario, visit gfo.ca.
