Communications

Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) Welcomes Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) Finalized Guidance for Gene Edited Plants, Opening Doors to Agricultural Innovation

Hana Sabah on May 3, 2024

(OTTAWA ON – MAY 3RD 2024) GGC today applauds the release of CFIA’s long awaited final guidance on novel feed, marking the completion of a trio of regulatory updates that enable the introduction of gene-edited crops in Canada. These updates, initiated in 2018, are designed to foster agricultural innovation in plant breeding by addressing today’s farming challenges such as pest and disease management, yield improvements, drought resistance, and the nutritional quality of crops.

“This progress opens doors to innovation in Canadian agriculture, enabling the introduction of gene-edited crops that meet pressing agricultural challenges like drought, pests, and diseases, while enhancing nutritional quality,” said Andre Harpe, Chair of Grain Growers of Canada. “The updated guidance enables us to use the latest innovation in plant technology to produce nutritious and affordable food for Canadians and our international customers.”

The regulatory guidance aligns Canada’s regulations with our trading partners, ensuring Canadian farmers remain competitive globally. It is based on rigorous, science-driven assessments that guarantee the safety and efficacy of gene-edited crops.

“Completing this trio of regulations is a milestone that began five years ago, reflecting our joint commitment with government agencies to promote a regulatory environment that supports innovation while ensuring safety and transparency,” said William van Tassel, 1st Vice Chair of Grain Growers of Canada. “With these updated guidelines, our farmers can access advanced tools to produce crops with better resiliency and higher yields, while meeting the demands of the market today and the future.”

The clarity provided by these regulatory updates is expected to accelerate the development and adoption of new plant varieties, crucial for enhancing the competitiveness of Canadian agriculture.

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For more information:

Hana Sabah
Communications Manager
P: (514) 834-8841
E: hana@graingrowers.ca

Grain Farmers Across Canada Call for Resolution as Railway Workers Vote to Strike

Hana Sabah on May 1, 2024

(Ottawa, ON – May 1, 2024) Following the recent announcement that over 95% of railway workers at Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) have voted in favour of strike action as early as May 22, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC), representing over 65,000 grain farmers across the country, calls for an urgent resolution to prevent potentially mass disruptions to the agricultural sector and the broader Canadian economy.

Andre Harpe, Chair of the Grain Growers of Canada, stated, “As farmers, our operations are closely tied to rail transport, both inbound to access crop inputs and outbound to deliver grain to export position. A rail strike now is the last thing we need. We’re at a critical point in the seeding season, and any delay in shipping can directly affect our bottom line and cause substantial economic losses across the agricultural sector.”

The potential for a combined strike at both CN and CPKC could severely impact the grain sector, which is highly dependent on rail transportation due to Canada’s vast geography. Approximately 94% of Canadian grain is transported by rail, with a significant portion destined for export markets. A disruption in rail service could leave grain elevators unable to accept crops from farmers due to limited storage capacity, resulting in delayed payments and financial hardships for growers.

“We are deeply worried about the impact a strike would have, not just on our operations but on Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier. Consecutive supply chain disruptions have already strained our relationships with international buyers. Another stoppage could drive them to seek other markets, affecting us long-term,” added Brendan Phillips, 2nd Vice Chair of GGC.

GGC emphasizes the two-fold impact of the dispute: domestically, grain elevators will face storage issues, port terminals will suffer demurrage, and internationally, Canada risks weakening trade relations due to unreliable grain deliveries. In June 2023, Canada exported over 2.6 million metric tonnes of grain, highlighting the potential economic loss of over $35 million for each day in June that a strike persists.

Grain Growers of Canada stresses the importance of uninterrupted rail service for the agriculture sector’s sustainability and international competitiveness. “We urge the unions and railway companies to consider the broader impact of their negotiations. It’s crucial to find a resolution that keeps our trains moving and our grain flowing to markets around the world,” Harpe concluded.

As the mediation period begins, GGC is advocating strongly for a resolution that ensures the stability and continuity of Canada’s grain supply chain, which is essential for the livelihoods of Canadian grain farmers, our country’s food security, and our economy.

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For more information:

Hana Sabah
Communications Manager
P: (514) 834-8841
E: hana@graingrowers.ca

Grain Growers of Canada welcomes Mr. David Hunt as the new Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission

Hana Sabah on April 24, 2024

(OTTAWA – April 24, 2024) Grain Growers of Canada welcomes Mr. David Hunt as the new Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Grain Commission. The Canadian grains sector has significantly evolved over the past forty years, necessitating updates to the Canadian Grain Act to keep pace with changes in international markets, crop varieties, and farm operations.

“Our engagement with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and our submission to the Canada Grain Act Review consultation highlight our commitment to modernizing this legislation to better serve grain farmers,” said Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of Grain Growers of Canada.

“We extend our gratitude to Mr. Doug Chorney for his dedicated service as the Chief Commissioner since 2017 and wish him the best in his future endeavours. We look forward to collaborating with Mr. Hunt to advance these important reforms, ensuring our Canadian growers remain competitive and continue to meet the highest standards of grain quality,” concluded Larkin.

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For more information:

Hana Sabah
Communications Manager
P: (514) 834-8841
E: hana@graingrowers.ca

Budget 2024 Falls Short of Providing Critical Investments for Grain Farmers

Hana Sabah on April 16, 2024

(OTTAWA, ON – APRIL 16, 2024) Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) today expressed their disappointment in several policy areas missed in Budget 2024. These include an extension to the extended rail interswitching pilot, investments in trade-enabling infrastructure, investments in grain-related research and development, initiating a review of the Canada Grains Act, and revamping the Accelerated Investment Incentive.

“Budget 2024 misses the mark in recognizing the importance of expanding food production in Canada and supporting the profitability of grain farmers,” began Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “One of the best ways to support the sector is through plant breeding innovation something the budget fails to address.”

International customers of Canadian grains are continuously seeking for predictability in Canada’s deliveries. However, transportation and supply-chain disruptions over the past years have impacted the confidence of some of the country’s largest trading partners.

“Canada is in dire need of major investments in trade-enabling infrastructure, many of which were laid out by the government’s supply-chain taskforce. This includes removing pressure points and increasing port capacity and fluidity, particularly in Vancouver,” continued Larkin.

The Canada Grains Act has also not been updated for decades and does not fully serve the 21st century grain farmer. For example, canola producers are unable to receive a second opinion from the Canadian Grain Commission at canola crushing facilities, something that is available to them at grain elevators.

“The Canada Grains Act is the enabling legislation that supports grain farmers and needs to be modernized to reflect the realities of 2024. Furthermore, allowing the Accelerated Investment Incentive to phase out, which offers bonus depreciation to growers, limits the ability of grain producers to purchase the most efficient and environmentally friendly equipment on the market,” said Larkin.

Budget 2024 proposes some support for biofuel production, reiterates the increased interest-free portion of the Advanced Payments Program, and increases the lifetime capital gains exemption for farming property to $1.25 million. However, the budget also repeats a commitment from Budget 2023 that relates to right to repair and interoperability.

“Grain farmers have been waiting patiently since Budget 2023 for a consultation on right to repair and interoperability for farm equipment. Unfortunately, this budget has shortcomings in key policy priorities for farmers, such as infrastructure, innovation, tax incentives, and delays in other policy areas,” concluded Larkin.  

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC):

As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 65,000 producers through our 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members are trade oriented, sustainable and innovative. As a farmer-driven association for the grains industry, GGC advocates for federal policy that supports the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada. Learn more at: www.GrainGrowers.ca.

For more information:

Hana Sabah
Communications Manager
P: (514) 834-8841
E: hana@graingrowers.ca

Grain Growers of Canada Applauds Government Boost to Farmer Support Through Enhanced Loan Program

Hana Sabah on March 25, 2024

(OTTAWA—MARCH 25, 2024) Grain Growers of Canada applauds the Government of Canada’s announcement today to offer a $250,000 interest-free portion of the Advanced Payments Program (APP) this year to farmers across Canada. APP advances are important in supporting the cash flow of grain farmers and meeting their financial needs until they can sell their grain.

“We commend Minister MacAulay and the government for this announcement, which will support thousands of grain farmers across the country,” stated Andre Harpe, Chair of GGC. With the rising cost of inputs and low grain prices at harvest, a higher interest-free portion of the APP is needed.”

GGC recognizes the importance of early announcements like this, which provide both predictability and stability, ensuring that grain farmers and administrators can efficiently plan their financial strategies for the year ahead. GGC looks forward to working with the government to ensure the APP continues to support grain farmers.

Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of Grain Growers of Canada, is available for interview.

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC):

As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 65,000 producers through our 14 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members are trade-oriented, sustainable and innovative. As a farmer-driven association for the grains industry, GGC advocates for federal policy that supports the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada. Learn more at: www.GrainGrowers.ca.

 

For media inquiries, contact: 

Hana Sabah
hana@graingrowers.ca | 514-834-8841
Communications Manager
Grain Growers of Canada