The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) welcomes today's announcement by the Governments of Canada, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba to provide up to $450 million or $30 per acre in AgriRecovery disaster relief to farmers affected by excess moisture and flooding in some areas of western Canada.

"For those farmers who have been most severely impacted by this spring's unusual flooding situation, this funding will be important for financial stability and will help those affected get cropland back into condition," said Ed Schafer, President of the CCGA. "The speed at which both levels of government have worked together to get this program in place sends a clear message to Canadian farmers that agriculture is an essential contributor to Canada's economy."

The AgriRecovery announcement will complement existing programs, such as AgriStability, crop insurance and AgriInvest. "We ask the federal and provincial governments to maintain their commitments to fully fund all existing business risk management programs, as these programs are cornerstones of managing business risk on the farm," said Schafer.

The Canadian Canola Growers Association represents 50,000 canola farmers on national and international issues that impact farm profitability.

Contact:
Kelly Green, Director, Communications
Canadian Canola Growers Association
Phone: 204.789.8821
E-mail: kellyg@ccga.ca

A bill currently being considered by the House of Commons has the potential to stifle crop innovation, significantly impacting the future competitiveness of the canola industry and, more specifically, canola growers. Bill C-474 would introduce a subjective analysis of potential market harm to the regulatory approval process for new genetically modified seeds and be counterproductive to our internationally-recognized variety registration system - a system which has been critical to the innovation of Canadian canola.

On June 2nd, the Canadian Canola Growers Association was among the first groups invited to appear before the House Standing Committee on Agriculture about the bill. The CCGA warned the committee of the severe consequences this bill could have on the future competitiveness of the canola industry.

To read CCGA's written submission to the Committee, click here.

The Steering Committee investigating options for Producer Payment Security Mechanisms released the second and final report by Scott Wolfe Management Inc., the consulting firm hired to conduct the research. The objective of the second phase of the project was to continue to evaluate payment security options as a result of the potential changes to the Canada Grain Act affecting the payment security program under the Canadian Grain Commission, and to more specifically, identify and assess the potential expanded utilization of insurance (payables and receivables)and /or fund-based approaches to provide payment security to growers once they have delivered their product. Four options, including the current system, were studied. The following models were included: security-based, insurance-based, fund-based, and, to a lesser extent, clearinghouse.

The Steering Committee includes representatives from general farm organizations, commodity groups and a trade association. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through its Private Sector Risk Management Partnerships Program provided funding for the study. Steering Committee members contributed their time and financial resources to the project.

The organizations involved in the committee will now seek feedback from their membership. This will include what the next steps will be in further developing one or more of the options, including continued refinement of the current payment security program.

To read the entire report, click here.

CCGA's submission to the Rail Freight Service Review Panel focuses on five key recommendations, including:

1. Clearly Define the Service Standard
2. Linking Penalties to Rail Service
3. Fast-Tracked Arbitration
4. Improved Monitoring
5. Five-Year Statutory Review

To read the complete submission, click here

Yesterday's passage at Second Reading of Bill C-474, an Act that would amend the seed regulations to alter the way crops derived from genetic modification are regulated, sends a clear message to Canada's canola farmers that many Parliamentarians don't support innovation on Canadian farms or the international competitiveness of our farmers.

"We are gravely disappointed that Parliament, by means of passing this Bill at Second Reading, is stepping away from a science-based variety approval system," says Ed Schafer, President of the Canadian Canola Growers Association. "Any further advancement of this bill, which introduces subjective considerations into the regulatory approval process for new GM seeds, will put agricultural innovation and the livelihood of Canadian farmers at risk."

Canola is an invention of Canadian ingenuity. If the regulatory approach in this bill had existed 30 years ago, Canada's canola industry, the healthy oil derived from it, and the $14 billion in economic activity that the industry generates would likely not exist today.

Canola farmers have experienced important benefits from planting GM crops. From reduced soil erosion and improved soil conditions through conservation tillage, to enhanced yields and reduced pesticide use. "New and innovative seed traits will be key to expanding our domestic and export industries. Without them, we'll be left behind," says Schafer.

Canada has a world-class, science-based variety approval system that ensures new seeds are safe for humans, animals and the environment. While this bill is intended to protect market access, cutting off investment in Canadian crops is an unacceptable consequence of this legislation. Furthermore, there are a number of alternatives that exist for protecting market access, some which are successfully used in Canada today, that are completely ignored by this legislation. We encourage the House Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food to thoroughly assess these options during the Committee's hearings.

The cornerstone of Canadian crop innovation is a predictable and science-based regulatory approval system that encourages investment in research and development. We strongly encourage the Committee to carefully consider how the future competitiveness of Canadian farmers will be impacted by this bill.

The Canadian Canola Growers Association represents 52,000 canola farmers on national and international issues that impact farm profitability.

Contact:
Kelly Green, Director, Communications
Canadian Canola Growers Association
E-mail: kellyg@ccga.ca

Staff from the Canadian Canola Growers Association explain the cash advance program and take you step by step through an online application in this archived webinar hosted by the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.

View the archived webinar at: http://canola.ab.ca/webinar.aspx

Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) is accepting producer applications for the spring cash advance program one week earlier than last year. Producers interested in obtaining an advance on their intended seeded acres should contact the CCGA as soon as possible to get their applications processed before seeding.
"Spring inputs make for heavy cash flow demands on the farm and the spring advance program provides an important financing tool for these expenses," said Rick White, General Manager of the CCGA. "By accepting applications earlier than last year and by improving on our on-line system we've made the Advance Payments Program even more accessible to western Canadian farmers."
Producers can apply for an Intended Seeded Pre-Harvest Advance through the convenient on-line system at www.ccga.ca or for those who prefer to complete their application with the assistance of an agent, contact the CCGA at 1-866-745-2256 to complete a telephone application. Applications will also be available at many local elevators beginning in April.

Contact:
Kelly Green,
Director, Communications
Canadian Canola Growers Association
Phone: 204.789.8821
E-mail: kellyg@ccga.ca

Winnipeg, Manitoba - Bill C-474, a private member's bill, will stifle crop innovation by introducing subjective considerations into the regulatory approval process for new genetically modified seed and put innovation and the future competitiveness of Canadian farmers at risk.

Canada maintains a stringent science-based, variety approval system that ensures new seeds are safe for humans, animals and the environment. The proposed anti-innovation legislation would add an analysis of market harm to this system introducing uncertainty and unpredictability into the system. The end result being losses in crop innovation through reduced investment in Canadian agricultural research and development.

Canola is an invention of Canadian ingenuity. If the criteria proposed in this bill had existed 30 years ago, Canada's canola industry, the healthy oil derived from it, and the $14 billion in economic activity that the industry generates would likely not exist today.

Canola farmers have experienced important benefits from planting GM crops. From reduced soil erosion and improved soil conditions through conservation tillage, to enhanced yields and reduced pesticide loads on the environment.

"The development of new canola varieties will be critical in keeping not only my farm, but our entire industry competitive globally," says Ed Schafer, CCGA President. "New and innovative traits will be key to expanding our domestic and export industries. Without them, we'll be left behind."

While this bill is intended to protect market access, cutting off investment in Canadian crops is an unacceptable consequence of this legislation.

The Canadian canola industry recognizes the importance of being responsible about the introduction of new canola traits and has committed to introduce new GM seed traits only when they have been approved in all major export markets - a commitment that has always been respected since its inception.

Our efforts would be better spent working with governments around the world to develop low level presence agreements that ensure the detection of small amounts of unapproved crop traits, which have already been registered as safe in the country of origin, do not disrupt trade flows. Bill C-474 would maintain the zero tolerance thresholds, which are impossible to achieve and cause major trade disruptions, especially as the ability to detect even the most minute traces of material continues to increase.

The cornerstone of Canadian crop innovation is a predictable and science-based regulatory approval system that encourages investment in research and development. This bill is a threat to this system and to the future competitiveness of Canadian agriculture.

Contact:
Kelly Green, Director, Communications
Canadian Canola Growers Association
Phone: 204.789.8821 or E-mail: kellyg@ccga.ca

Winnipeg, Manitoba - Canadian canola farmers elected their representatives to the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) board of directors during the organization's annual general meeting in Winnipeg on March 4, 2010.

New to the board are Jody Klassen and Colin Felstad, Alberta Canola Producers Commission, and Brett Halstead, Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission. Continuing their current terms are Barry Follensbee, B.C. Grain Producers Association; Todd Hames, Alberta Canola Producers Commission; Stan Jeeves and Ed Schafer, Saskatchewan Canola Growers Association; Brian Chorney and Dale Gryba, Manitoba Canola Growers Association; and Jeff Kobe, Ontario Canola Growers Association.

The board elected Ed Schafer from Makwa, Saskatchewan to serve as President and Todd Hames from Marwayne, Alberta as Vice-President. In accepting his two-year term as President, Schafer said, "For the next two years, I want to focus on growing the solid relationship that the canola industry has forged between all members of the value-chain, including producers. Working together across issues is critical to achieving our long-term growth objectives as a canola industry."

The Canadian Canola Growers Association represents more than 52,000 canola farmers on national and international issues that impact farm profitability.

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Contact:
Kelly Green
Director, Communications
Canadian Canola Growers Association
400 - 1661 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3J 3T7

Phone: (204) 789-8821
Email: kellyg@ccga.ca

CCGA's submission on proposed regulations amending Canada's pesticide data protection system to encourage innovation and timely grower access to generic pesticides.

Click Here for full document

Cash Advance Responds to Harvest Difficulties

Winnipeg, Manitoba - November 11, 2009 Farmers throughout western Canada have faced a challenging harvest with excess moisture in the form of rain and snow. Unusually high levels of unharvested crop remain in regions throughout the Prairies. In response to this situation, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has made some adjustments to the 2009/2010 Advance Payments Program (APP).

"These modifications are aimed at helping producers in need of cash flow and unable to harvest," says Rick White, General Manager of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, which administers the program on behalf of AAFC.
The changes allow producers with unharvested grain to apply for a pre-harvest cash advance up to and including January 29, 2010. "The program change applies to producers who currently have an advance with the CCGA as well as producers who have not participated in the program", says White. Existing APP limits remain, including the maximum available limits of $400,000, with a $100,000 interest-free portion.

Producers are encouraged to call the CCGA as soon as possible to determine their eligibility. Producers must have a valid crop insurance contract that has been extended into 2010, or be enrolled in AgriStability to apply. The CCGA toll-free number is 1-866-745-2256.

Contact:
Kelly Green, Director, Communications
Canadian Canola Growers Association
Phone: 204.789.8821
E-mail: kellyg@ccga.ca

The Canadian Canola Growers Association represents more than 52,000 canola farmers on national and international issues that impact farm profitability.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has advised the grain trade that it received a notice from China on October 20, 2009 that effective November 15, 2009 a phytosanitary certificate is required for canola shipments to China certifying that the shipments are free from blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans). November 15 is the date of shipment from Canada, not arrival in China. A delegation from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canad and the CFIA will be meeting with Chinese officials during the week of October 26, 2009.

Click here for updates from the Canola Council of Canada.

While selling canola off the combine can be an option, you might be looking for other ways to generate cash flow that provide the flexibility to sell your canola when market conditions are favourable to you. That's where the Advance Payment Program offered through the Canadian Canola Growers Association can play a role. Producers are eligible for a cash advance of up to $400,000 - $100,000 interest-free and the remaining $300,000 at competitive interest rates.

The Canadian Canola Growers Association applauds the Government of Manitoba for its decision to mandate the blending of 2% biodiesel in the provincial diesel supply beginning November 1, 2009.

Click here for the complete press release

Canada's canola farmers are encouraged that the Government of Canada has resolved a six year trade dispute preventing genetically modified canola seed from entering the EU.

Click here for the complete press release

A new study, titled Comprehensive Impact Analysis of the Continuing Development of the Manitoba Biodiesel Industry, looks at the potential benefits and impacts of a fully developed Manitoba biodiesel industry. The study was conducted by Kelwin Management Consulting for BioFleet and the Canadian Canola Growers Association. To read the entire report, click here.

The Steering Committee investigating options for Producer Payment Security Mechanisms released the final report by Scott Wolfe Management today. The objective of the project was to examine payment security options as a result of the proposed changes to the Canada Grain Act affecting the payment security program under the Canadian Grain Commission. Four options, including the current system, were studied by Scott Wolfe Management, the consulting firm hired to conduct the research. The options included the following models: security-based, insurance-based, fund-based, and clearinghouse.

The steering committee includes representatives from general farm organizations, commodity groups and a trade association. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through its Private Sector Risk Management Partnerships Program provided funding for the study. Steering committee members contributed their time and financial resources to the project.

The organizations involved in the committee will now seek feedback from their membership. This will include what the next steps will be in further developing one or more of the options, including refining the current payment security program.

The study consisted of an analysis on the payment security options, highlighting the relative strengths and weaknesses of each. The English report is attached and the French version will be available in the coming weeks.

Click Here For Final Report.

Click Here For Appendices.

For more information, please contact:
Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, Nial Kuyek, 306-789-7774
Alberta Pulse Growers Commission, David Walker, 780-434-7615
Canadian Canola Growers Association, Rick White, 204-789-8810
Canadian Special Crops Association, Carl Potts, 204-925-3786
Keystone Agricultural Producers, Rob Brunel, 204-447-7104
Manitoba Pulse Growers Association, Chris Sumner, 204-745-6488
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Garth Patterson, 306-668-6676
Western Barley Growers Association, Doug McBain, 403-816-0645
Wild Rose Agricultural Producers, Rod Scarlett, 780-416-6530
Project Mgr: Keystone Agricultural Producers, Yvonne Rideout, 204-697-1140
Project Admin: Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Glen Snoek, 613-236-3633