Communications

Grain Growers of Canada signs trilateral industry letter calling for CUSMA renewal and strengthening

Hana Sabah on June 2, 2026

OTTAWA, June 2, 2026 — Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) has joined more than 160 agricultural organizations from Canada, the United States and Mexico in signing a trilateral industry letter calling for the renewal and strengthening of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC).

The letter, addressed to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Canadian Minister Responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade Dominic LeBlanc, and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard, calls on all three governments to protect the integrated North American agricultural trading framework ahead of the July 1, 2026, joint review.

Canadian grain farmers have a direct stake in the outcome.

Canada exports over 70 per cent of the grain it grows, generating $45 billion in annual export value. The United States is the sector’s largest trading partner, with over $17 billion in grain and grain products flowing there annually, a highly integrated market that cannot be replaced at scale. From 2024 to 2025, the export value of Canadian grain and grain products decreased by over $2.3 billion, a reflection of how quickly market access disruptions translate into farm-level losses.

Reliable, rules-based market access is a core requirement for farm viability, and CUSMA has been central to that. The agreement has supported export growth for grain, oilseed and pulse producers since its entry into force, with Canadian grain flowing through North American supply chains and onward to global markets.

The July 1 joint review is an opportunity to reinforce an agreement that creates stability and predictability: conditions producers need to make long-term investments, sign forward contracts, and keep grain moving to global customers. As negotiations get underway, Canada’s grain sector must be front of mind. Anything less puts export value, farm livelihoods, and billions in annual economic activity at risk.

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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 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

Grain Farmers Call for Federal Action on Agricultural Research Closures Following Committee Report Copy

Hana Sabah on June 2, 2026

The report, which received unanimous support from committee members, calls for the pause and reversal of federal agricultural research centre closures.

OTTAWA, May 28, 2026 — Grain Growers of Canada welcomes the report tabled by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food on federal agricultural research capacity and calls on the Government of Canada to act on its recommendations without delay. 

Canada’s grain producers depend on innovation to stay competitive, viable and resilient. Decisions in Ottawa are having immediate impacts on farm operations.

At a time of economic uncertainty and the need to address our global competitors who are investing to increase their production, improve efficiency, and capture market share, our own domestic production and supply chains must improve.

GGC has consistently called for transparency on the impacts of reductions to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s research staff and infrastructure, and for increased public investment in agricultural research, not less.

The committee’s recommendations reflect what grain producers have been saying directly to parliamentarians: that Canada is cutting research capacity at exactly the wrong time, and that the consequences for crop development, regional expertise and long-term productivity are serious and irreversible if not addressed.

The report calls for the pause and reversal of research centre closures and immediate consultations with affected stakeholders. The closure of research centres and reduction of scientific staff risks the permanent loss of decades of institutional knowledge and regional expertise that has taken generations to build and cannot be readily reconstituted. The window to act is narrowing.

The report also calls on the government to recognize agriculture and the agri-food sector as a uniquely strategic sector on par with energy, and food security as a national security issue, recognition that the grain sector has long advocated. It also calls for meaningful engagement with provincial governments, local communities and affected stakeholders, such as grain farmers, on any proposed changes to federal research infrastructure.

Together, these reflect a clear commitment: that decisions affecting Canada’s agricultural research system must be made directly with the sector, not around it.

GGC stands ready to be part of that process and urges the government to respond in a way that matches the urgency of what is at stake for Canada’s agricultural research system and the producers who depend on it.

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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 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

Grain Farmers Call for Federal Action on Agricultural Research Closures Following Committee Report

Hana Sabah on May 28, 2026

The report, which received unanimous support from committee members, calls for the pause and reversal of federal agricultural research centre closures.

OTTAWA, May 28, 2026 — Grain Growers of Canada welcomes the report tabled by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food on federal agricultural research capacity and calls on the Government of Canada to act on its recommendations without delay. 

Canada’s grain producers depend on innovation to stay competitive, viable and resilient. Decisions in Ottawa are having immediate impacts on farm operations.

At a time of economic uncertainty and the need to address our global competitors who are investing to increase their production, improve efficiency, and capture market share, our own domestic production and supply chains must improve.

GGC has consistently called for transparency on the impacts of reductions to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s research staff and infrastructure, and for increased public investment in agricultural research, not less.

The committee’s recommendations reflect what grain producers have been saying directly to parliamentarians: that Canada is cutting research capacity at exactly the wrong time, and that the consequences for crop development, regional expertise and long-term productivity are serious and irreversible if not addressed.

The report calls for the pause and reversal of research centre closures and immediate consultations with affected stakeholders. The closure of research centres and reduction of scientific staff risks the permanent loss of decades of institutional knowledge and regional expertise that has taken generations to build and cannot be readily reconstituted. The window to act is narrowing.

The report also calls on the government to recognize agriculture and the agri-food sector as a uniquely strategic sector on par with energy, and food security as a national security issue, recognition that the grain sector has long advocated. It also calls for meaningful engagement with provincial governments, local communities and affected stakeholders, such as grain farmers, on any proposed changes to federal research infrastructure.

Together, these reflect a clear commitment: that decisions affecting Canada’s agricultural research system must be made directly with the sector, not around it.

GGC stands ready to be part of that process and urges the government to respond in a way that matches the urgency of what is at stake for Canada’s agricultural research system and the producers who depend on it.

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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 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

Grain Growers Welcomes Commitments on Regulatory Reform, Supply Chain Reliability

Hana Sabah on April 29, 2026

OTTAWA, April 29, 2026 – Grain Growers of Canada welcomes commitments made in the Spring Economic Update to amend the mandate of the Pesticide Regulatory Directorate (PRD), formerly the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), to account for food security and the cost of food, and to move quickly on building more efficient and reliable supply chains.

These commitments reflect long-standing priorities for Canada’s grain sector. Food security and affordability must be central considerations in regulatory decision-making, particularly given the role farmers play in producing food and ensuring a stable supply for Canadians and customers around the world.

We also acknowledge the government’s recognition of longstanding supply chain challenges and the need to strengthen trade-enabling infrastructure. However, the sector is beyond signalling and examining options. Concrete, timely implementation is now required to address inefficiencies at key gateways and ensure Canada’s transportation system can reliably move grain to global markets.

As an export-dependent sector, these commitments are essential and come at a critical juncture for Canada’s economy and its ability to compete in global markets. Grain Growers of Canada looks forward to working with the federal government to ensure these commitments are translated into practical, timely actions that support farmers and strengthen the sector’s ability to deliver at home and in global markets.

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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 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

Grain Growers of Canada welcomes Bill C-273 to support innovation and competitiveness in agriculture

Hana Sabah on April 16, 2026

OTTAWA, April 16, 2026 — Grain Growers of Canada welcomes the introduction of Bill C-273, the FARM Act, which would help drive innovation and competitiveness in Canadian agriculture through faster access to crop protection tools.

Bill C-273 would require provisional approval within 90 days for products already approved in two trusted international jurisdictions, while maintaining Canada’s rigorous safety standards through a subsequent full review process.

Improving the pace at which new products reach the market has long been a priority for the agriculture sector, which has consistently called for regulatory modernization to improve the timeliness, transparency and predictability of the agricultural innovation system.

Bill C-273 would help advance that objective by enabling faster adoption of innovation and supporting competitiveness across the sector.

Introduced by Conservative MP David Bexte, the bill builds on similar legislation previously brought forward by Liberal MP Kody Blois, reflecting support for agriculture across party lines and a shared recognition that Canada’s regulatory timelines need to improve. This alignment in Parliament presents a clear opportunity to move forward in a practical way that helps farmers in a rapidly changing environment.

Grain Growers of Canada welcomes this consensus and emphasizes the opportunity to advance Bill C-273 without delay, in line with commitments to reduce regulatory burden in agriculture and support important innovation and producer competitiveness.

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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 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

Grain Growers of Canada welcomes federal emergency authorization of strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan

Hana Sabah on March 31, 2026

OTTAWA, March 31, 2026 — Grain Growers of Canada welcomes the Government of Canada’s decision to authorize a time-limited emergency registration of strychnine for use in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

This decision reflects the severe damage Richardson’s Ground Squirrel infestations have inflicted on prairie farm operations and is a practical response to a real and urgent threat to Canadian agriculture.

GGC also acknowledges and commends the leadership of the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan, whose revised, joint emergency-use application and sustained effort in Ottawa made this outcome possible.

For years, producers across the prairies have been dealing with growing pest pressures and a severely limited set of tools to respond. Today’s authorization restores what remains the most effective option available to producers heading into the upcoming growing season.

While this emergency authorization is a meaningful step forward, it is a temporary measure. A November 2027 end date does not provide the long-term certainty that producers need to plan and invest in their operations. Canadian grain farmers require consistent, reliable access to effective pest management tools, not crisis-by-crisis emergency approvals.

Grain Growers of Canada will continue to work with governments to advance a path toward permanent access to strychnine, and to ensure Canada’s regulatory framework supports the farmers who underpin this country’s food security.

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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 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

Grain Growers of Canada appoints Bruce Burrows as Executive Director

Hana Sabah on March 18, 2026

OTTAWA, March 19, 2026 – Grain Growers of Canada today announced Bruce Burrows as Executive Director, effective April 1, 2026.

Burrows brings more than four decades of experience across transportation, infrastructure, labour policy, and association leadership. Based in Ottawa, he has built a career developing and implementing effective government relations strategies, including policy development, political advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and coalition-building across national industry organizations.

He has held senior leadership roles with the Chamber of Marine Commerce and the Railway Association of Canada, as well as strategic advisory roles with Tactix. Earlier in his career, he held management positions with Canadian Pacific Railway in Canada and internationally.

Working at the intersection of industry, government, and supply chains, his experience spans transportation, energy, infrastructure, and resource sectors. Burrows is recognized for his ability to navigate complex policy environments, align stakeholders across national organizations, and execute advocacy strategies that deliver results at the federal level.

“It is a real honour to join Grain Growers of Canada and represent the interests of grain farmers across the country,” said Burrows.

“As essential drivers of our economy and suppliers of the food Canadians and customers around the world rely on, it is critical that producers’ priorities remain front and centre in federal decision-making,” he added. “Strong advocacy starts with strong connections, and I look forward to strengthening those relationships by working with producers and members across Canada to ensure their priorities continue to be clearly heard in Ottawa.”

As Canada’s grain sector navigates ongoing domestic and global economic uncertainty, Grain Growers of Canada is confident Bruce Burrows brings the leadership and strategic perspective needed to advance and protect grain producers’ interests.

“Bruce brings a proven ability to drive sector priorities and build strong industry coalitions that effectively engage government,” said Grain Growers of Canada Chair Scott Hepworth. “The Board is confident he will strengthen our advocacy and help move those priorities forward for grain producers across Canada.”

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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 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

Major projects list incomplete without the Port of Vancouver, says GGC

Hana Sabah on September 11, 2025

MEDIA STATEMENT

OTTAWA, Sept. 11, 2025—Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) warns that the federal government’s major projects list remains incomplete without the inclusion of urgent upgrades required at the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port and the country’s most critical trade chokepoint.

Connecting the Canadian economy to the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region, the Port of Vancouver is essential to Canada’s economic growth and prosperity. More than 50% of the grain grown in Canada is exported through the port, accounting for $35 million in daily exports of grain and grain products. Yet the infrastructure that underpins this trade, such as the Second Narrows Rail Bridge and New Westminster Rail Bridge, built in 1969 and 1904 respectively, are chokepoints at capacity with no redundancy if they fail.

GGC is calling on the Government of Canada and the Major Projects Office to designate the Port of Vancouver and its connecting rail infrastructure as a project of national significance to secure trade, protect economic growth, and maintain Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier of essential products to the world.

Unless critical trade-enabling infrastructure is prioritized, GGC says, Canada’s nation-building agenda will remain incomplete and fall short of its economic potential.

For media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

Grain Growers of Canada Announces New Executive

ggc2022dev on July 31, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, July 31, 2025—Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is pleased to announce its newly elected executive, representing a strong and united voice for grain farmers across the country.

Scott Hepworth, a grain farmer from Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and Director with the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, has been elected Chair of GGC. With deep roots in prairie agriculture and a strong background in policy advocacy, Hepworth brings steady leadership and a clear vision to the role at a critical time for the sector. 

Joining him on the executive are Sally Parsonage, a grain farmer from Baldur, Manitoba and Secretary of Manitoba Crop Alliance, as 1st Vice Chair, and Daryl Fransoo, a grain farmer from Glaslyn, Saskatchewan and the Chair of the Wheat Growers Association, as 2nd Vice Chair. Together, they bring strong governance experience and a clear understanding of the policy environment shaping Canadian grain production. 

“We are proud to welcome our new executive, whose leadership brings valuable experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing grain farmers,” said Kyle Larkin, Executive Director of GGC. “With Scott, Sally, and Daryl’s leadership in these roles, GGC is well positioned to advance short-term and long-term policy solutions that strengthen the profitability, resiliency, and viability of family-run grain farms across Canada.” 

The new executive begins its term effective immediately.

For media inquiries, please contact:

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

 

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