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At Keystone Agricultural Producers’ spring Advisory Council meeting yesterday, KAP members discussed a wide range of issues – especially the current canola crisis.

KAP president Bill Campbell noted that federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau indicated she had forwarded a letter to her Chinese counterpart, requesting to send a delegation led by the president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to talk about the quality of Canada’s canola.

“We believe in a science-based approach to regulation and market access, and we support a technical delegation to China,” said Campbell. It is evident that China’s allegations are nor science-based or this would be sorted out by now.

“However, we need a diplomatic response as well, and we expect high-level elected officials to deal with China as soon as possible.

“Farmers want and need action immediately. We’re four weeks away from seeding, and each week we don’t get a decision puts us in a more precarious situation. We can’t sow 100 per cent of the canola we usually do when 40 per cent of the market is gone.”

KAP recognizes that the Advance Payments Program – a program that assists farmer with short-term cashflow, some of it interest free – could be an important tool if the limit and the interest-free portion were increased, and the deadline extended.

However, although this program may help in the short term, it will not help longer-term market disruptions.

“If prices don’t improve from the low they are at now due to lack of demand, many farmers will have difficulties paying their advances back,” said Campbell.

Another option could be the federal-provincial AgriStability program. However, Campbell says it was never intended to address this exceptional market disruption Canadian farmers are experiencing now.

“The long and the short of it is that we need an ad-hoc program designed for this critical situation – and we need it now,” he said.

Another issue addressed at the meeting was a review of the 1912 Canadian Grain Act that created the Canadian Grain Commission to protect the quality and reputation of Canada’s grains. Farmers and the industry can go to discussions@grains.gc.ca to have their say.

In total, eight resolutions were passed at the meeting. Please contact val.ominski@kap.mb.ca for a list.

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For more information

Val Ominski – communications – 204-697-1140

Bill Campbell – president – 204-724-6218

Keystone Agricultural Producers acknowledges today’s announcement from the province that the new training requirements for commercial truckers with Class 1 licenses will be delayed a year for farmers.

“The requirement is that truckers will have to take 121.5 hours of training by September 1, and the province recognizes this would impact the 2019 farming season,” said KAP president Bill Campbell. “However, I do stress that farmers are concerned about safety both on and off the farm, and we will work with the province over the coming year.”

KAP also acknowledges the province’s plan to consult with the agriculture industry, and is looking forward to developing training requirements that meet the unique needs of agricultural trucking.

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For more information

Bill Campbell – president – 204-724-6218

Val Ominski – communications – 204-697-1140

KAP has long called for highspeed internet access in rural, remote and northern communities – and yesterday’s budget promised to add new money to existing investments to make this happen, says Bill Campbell, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers.

“It’s my understanding between $5 billion and $6 billion will be added in order to improve connectivity to over 900 communities in Canada with more than 200,000 kilometres of advanced fibre networks,” he said. “This will help farmers who are now limited in the innovative technology they can access because of poor internet service.”

Campbell also commended the government for its commitment to spend $31 million over the next five year to improve sniffer dog services at border entries, in order to prevent African swine fever from entering Canada. It is brought in on meat in passengers’ luggage, as well as on clothing and personal items. Although harmless to humans, this flu is extremely fatal for pigs.

The Canadian Pork Council estimates African swine fever in Canada would put over 100,000 jobs in jeopardy and cost the Canadian economy $24 billion dollars.

Another positive in the budget, says Campbell, is support for farmers in the supply-managed sectors who were forced to give up market share under the recent new trade agreements – the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. These sectors include dairy, poultry and eggs – and therefore the $2.15 billion in coming years will help them address income losses.

Campbell also noted the federal government has committed to look at the exemptions on farm fuel – so called “purple gas.”

“When the carbon tax was announced, we were told there would be an exemption on farm fuel,” he said. “However, we recently we found out that only fuel delivered to the farm is exempt, but not that accessed from a cardlock system. This system allows farmers to get fuel from unmanned fuel stations, which is often more efficient.

“I am pleased the government has committed to look at this situation, and we will continue to press for this exemption.”

Campbell says KAP will also continue to lobby for carbon tax exemptions on fuels used for grain drying, and heating and cooling of farm buildings, because these taxes will add very considerable amounts to farm expenses.

“We compete on the global market and can’t adjust our prices to reflect these expenses – and this puts us at a very unfair disadvantage compared to our competitors.”

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 For more information

Bill Campbell – president – 204-724-6218

Patty Rosher – general manager – 204-697-1140

Val Ominski – communications – 204-697-1140

Bill Campbell, president of Keystone Agricultural producers, is pleased to announce that Patty Rosher is the new general manager for the organization.

“I am very pleased to welcome Patty to KAP. She brings with her a wealth of experience in our industry and the ability to continue KAP’s work of making farms more profitable and sustainable,” he said.

Prior to joining KAP, Rosher was the policy director at Manitoba Agriculture. She previously held the role of director of Boards, Commissions and Legislation with the department, and before that was the acting general manager and COO of the Food Development Centre.

Rosher also spent 17 years at the Canadian Wheat Board in policy, program management and marketing.

She holds a master’s degree in business administration, a master’s degree in science (agricultural economics) and a bachelor’s degree in commerce.

“I look forward to working for Manitoba’s agricultural producers to help them overcome the obstacles that hinder the industry,” she said. “I also want to work to assist Manitoba’s young farmers make a success of their farms.”

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For more information

Bill Campbell – president – 204-724-6218

Patty Rosher – general manager – 204-227-2137

Val Ominski – communications – 204-697-1140

Farmers from across Manitoba met this week in Winnipeg at the Keystone Agricultural Producers 35th annual meeting, calling on their organization to address a wide range of issues that include railway line improvement and maintenance in order to get their commodities to market, funding for veterinary training, and education to keep abreast of updated regulations for safely moving farm equipment on roadways.

“This meeting is an opportunity for farmers to put forward their concerns and recommendations regarding our industry, so that farming can become even more efficient in order to continue providing food for Canadians and others around the world,” said KAP president Bill Campbell.

Campbell, a grains and cattle producer from Minto, was acclaimed president. Jill Verwey, who runs a mixed farming operation near Portage la Prairie, and Mitch Janssens, a grains and oilseeds producer from Boissevain, were acclaimed vice-presidents.

In total, 17 resolutions were passed at the meeting.

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For more information

Bill Campbell – president – 204-724-6218

Val Ominski – communications – 204-697-1140