A year ago in these pages, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) warned that the country was losing ground on crop research. Public investment was declining, competitors were investing more aggressively and farmers were being asked to do more with fewer tools. We called on the federal government to reinvest in the science grain farmers rely on, because productivity growth keeps Canadian grain competitive.
Launched in 2001 to co-ordinate agricultural groups, the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is a farmer-led organization that shapes federal decision-making. Taking farm perspectives to Parliament, the organization affects how grain is grown, moved and sold. As GGC marks 25 years as the national voice for grain farmers, its work has never been more necessary. The grain sector is under pressure on several fronts, from trade access to the systems that move grain and support innovation.
The push to pass Bill C-282 is a troubling development for Canada’s position as a global trade leader. With this legislation, Canada’s supply managed sectors, namely chicken, dairy, eggs, hatching eggs and turkey, would be exempt from trade negotiations. For Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) and the 70,000 grain farmers it represents, it undermines the critical role of international trade in sustaining Canada’s agriculture sector and the broader economy. Grain farmers export well more than half of what they produce. Our products—cereals, oilseeds and pulses—feed families around the world and generate billions for Canada’s economy. Simultaneously, most Canadian grain farmers rely on trade to sell their crops, with greater than 70 per cent of what they produce being exported. For farmers, loss of market access brings with it shrinking margins, unsold crops and growing uncertainty about the future.
Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) has long raised concerns the deal may negatively impact Canadian farmers. The organization has cited warnings from the Canadian Competition Bureau and a University of Saskatchewan report that determined farmers will take a $770 million revenue loss should the deal go through without divestment from G3.
The agricultural sector is the backbone of our economy, providing essential resources that sustain communities and drive economic growth. However, farmers face numerous challenges, from unpredictable weather patterns to market fluctuations. Among these challenges is a significant yet often overlooked issue: the ability to repair their own equipment.
Because more than 90 per cent of Canadian wheat is destined for international markets, this country’s transportation system must step up to ensure reliable, responsible delivery of our grain to markets that rely on it. While concerns about the system are not new, persistent service delays last year highlighted the need for improvement. The final report of the national Supply Chain Task Force renewed discussions about the fairness and effectiveness of Canadian grain transportation and its impact on shippers and the broader market.
All Canadians feel the impact of rising costs at the grocery store and gas pump, but rising input costs and operational expenses are exacting a heavy toll on farmers and even driving younger farmers out of the sector. This is why Bill C-234 is crucial. The Bill is now before the Senate with second reading complete. If passed, it will extend the existing farm fuel exemption to the federal carbon tax to include natural gas and propane.
Insect pests such as grasshoppers and flea beetles pose a significant perennial threat to western Canadian farmers. Once again, this year, they threatened to wreak havoc on Prairie grains, oilseeds and pulse crops. And one of the most effective pest management tools, lambda-cyhalothrin (branded as Matador and Silencer) was not much help, as it has become the latest victim of a federal bureaucracy that is in many ways out of touch with agriculture.
Have you heard the story of the poor old farmer who lost his horse? All his neighbours came to him and said, “Well, that’s too bad.” The farmer said, “We’ll see.” The next day, the horse returned, bringing another horse with him. The neighbours proclaimed, “What good fortune!” to which the farmer replied, “We’ll see.” The next day, while taming the horse, the farmer’s son fell and broke his back. Again, the neighbours came to the farmer and said, “Well, that’s too bad,” and again, the farmer replied, “We’ll see.” Shortly thereafter, a conscription officer came to collect all the able-bodied young men in the area but rejected the farmer’s son due to his injury. Again, the neighbours came to the farmer and said, “What good fortune!” and again, the farmer said, “We’ll see.”
In a recent interview, Simon Sinek, author of The Infinite Game, discussed trust and how it can be a powerful tool when working as a team toward a shared goal. What stood out about his message when I considered my work as the leader of a farmer advocacy association is that it takes empathy and perspective to build trust. You cannot expect someone to trust you if you don’t understand their point of view.
