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

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

 

GGC Statement on Minister’s Commitment to Transparency and Consultation on AAFC Cuts

Hana Sabah on February 27, 2026

OTTAWA, Feb. 26, 2026 — Over the past week, Grain Growers of Canada met with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to reinforce its call for clarity on Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) staffing reductions and research facility closures impacting Canada’s grain sector.

In that regard, the Minister committed to transparency and consultation in the near future with grain farmers on these reductions and the immediate and long-term plan for AAFC investment in grains-related research.

Grain farmers from across the country participated in these meetings, emphasizing concerns around announced reductions and their potential impacts on research capacity, innovation, and long-term competitiveness.

GGC continues to call for clear, program-level disclosure to ensure producers and research partners understand what capacity may be affected and how grain farmers and other research partners may respond.

Canada’s grain farmers rely on stable, predictable program environments to support productivity and growth. As conversations around program delivery, staffing and departmental resources continue, GGC is calling for clearer communication and transparency in advance of decisions to ensure producers understand the potential implications for their investments, operations and the broader sector.

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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 sector warns of information gaps in AAFC research reductions, calls for immediate program impact disclosure

Hana Sabah on February 6, 2026

OTTAWA, Feb. 6, 2026 — Grain Growers of Canada is calling on the federal government to provide clarity on the impacts of recent staffing reductions and announced closures or consolidations of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research facilities, stating that downstream consequences cannot be assessed without clear, program-level information.

“Transparency is essential when decisions affect the foundation of Canada’s agricultural research system,” said Scott Hepworth, chair of Grain Growers of Canada and Saskatchewan grain farmer.

“Without clear disclosure of what research capacity is being reduced or eliminated, the sector cannot understand the long-term risks to production and competitiveness”, he added. “It must be clear what capacity is being lost, where, and with what consequences.”

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has cited personnel confidentiality in limiting details on the announced changes. Grain Growers of Canada emphasized that while personnel confidentiality must be respected, it does not, and should not, prevent disclosure of which programs and research capacities are being impacted.

“Personnel confidentiality is not a barrier to clarity on program impacts,” Hepworth said. “Clarity of affected programs, facilities, and research capacity is both possible and necessary.”

The scale and pace of the announced reductions are raising serious concerns across the grain sector about long-term impacts on research capacity, regional expertise, and innovation pipelines. Decisions of this magnitude require clear impact assessments explaining how applied breeding programs, agronomic research, long-term datasets, and region-specific expertise were evaluated.

“The absence of clear information shifts risk directly onto the sector,” Hepworth said. “When institutional knowledge is lost, long-term datasets are broken, or regional research expertise disappears, those losses cannot simply be reversed, and the consequences will be felt long after these decisions are made.”

Grain Growers of Canada stressed that the release of timely, detailed information is essential. Early certainty around affected facilities, programs, and timelines would allow research partners and producer organizations to respond, mitigate disruption, and protect the integrity of ongoing research and production cycles.

Grain Growers of Canada is calling for immediate disclosure of affected programs, facilities, and research capacity, and will continue to engage with government to ensure decisions affecting Canada’s agricultural research system do not undermine its global competitiveness, long-term viability, or farmers’ livelihoods

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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 Statement on Rejection of Emergency Use Registration for Strychnine

Hana Sabah on February 4, 2026

OTTAWA, Feb. 4, 2026 — Grain Growers of Canada is disappointed by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s decision to deny emergency use registration (EUR) for two per cent liquid strychnine to Alberta and Saskatchewan, a decision that leaves Prairie farmers without an effective tool to manage a persistent and highly destructive agricultural pest.

Producers across Alberta and Saskatchewan continue to face growing pest populations that threaten crop yields, forage availability, and the viability of hay land and native pasture. Continuing to ban a proven control option further limits farmers’ ability to protect their operations, particularly in the absence of any alternative that matches the effectiveness of strychnine.

The result is substantial economic harm through lost yields and long-term land damage.

Grain Growers of Canada recognizes the importance of strong environmental and health protections. Regulatory decisions, however, must also be grounded in sound science and reflect on-farm realities. Farmers are responsible stewards of the land and depend on practical, effective pest-management tools to maintain sustainable production and protect Canada’s food supply.

The emergency-use request submitted by Alberta and Saskatchewan included enhanced stewardship measures, targeted application windows, and additional safeguards to mitigate risks to non-target species. By rejecting this request, the current regulatory approach disregards both on-farm realities and the need to maintain agricultural competitiveness and food system resilience.

Grain Growers of Canada urges the federal government and the PMRA to urgently reconsider this decision in light of the Prime Minister’s initiative to make regulations more sensitive to the needs of the economy. 

Without effective tools, the economic and operational impacts will extend beyond farm gates and affect food availability and affordability for Canadians.

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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 Statement on Canada–China Trade Developments

Hana Sabah on January 16, 2026

OTTAWA, Jan. 16, 2026 — Grain Growers of Canada welcomes renewed engagement between Canada and China, including Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Beijing and today’s announcement of preliminary steps to de-escalate recent trade tensions.

For Canada’s grain farmers, restoring predictability and access to key export markets matters. China is Canada’s second-largest grain market, and prolonged trade disruptions have had real consequences on farm revenues, cash flow, and confidence. Any progress that lowers barriers for Canadian agricultural products, including canola and pulses, is a positive step for farmers who depend on stable, rules-based trade.

Grain Growers of Canada has consistently called for pragmatic engagement with both the United States and China to protect tariff-free access and prevent farmers from becoming collateral damage in broader geopolitical disputes. Over 70 percent of the grain grown in Canada is exported, and there are simply no alternatives that can replace markets of this scale.

At the same time, renewed engagement must be grounded in predictability and follow-through. Canadian farmers need assurance that market access will be durable, transparent, and insulated as much as possible from future political escalation. Ongoing issues around trade enforcement, regulatory certainty, and the treatment of Canadian exports will require continued, steady government attention.

As discussions continue following this week’s announcements, Grain Growers of Canada urges the federal government to keep agriculture front and centre, work closely with producers and exporters, and ensure that progress translates into reliable market access at the farm gate.

Canadian grain farmers are ready to supply global markets. What they need from government is consistency, certainty, and a clear commitment to keeping trade working.

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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

 

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