Canadian producers are being asked to share their views on proposed changes to seed royalty structures for cereal crops in a new online survey that launches today.

 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency held a series of public meetings over the winter to gauge feedback on two potential new models of collecting royalties on saved seed. The government consultation process is currently on hold; however, several prairie farm groups would like to hear more from producers on the proposed changes before the consultations resume later this year.

 

“The creation of a new seed royalty model for cereal crops will mean significant changes for producers when it comes to the issue of farmer-saved seed. Further exploration and consultation is absolutely critical to ensure that the interests of Canadian producers are reflected in any resulting model,” said Lynn Jacobson, president of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture.

 

“It is crucial that we hear from farmers and producers on the two new proposed models, because consultation with those who are directly affected ultimately leads to better decision making,” Bill Campbell, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers said. “Our hope is that producers will take the time to get involved in this process and ensure their needs are met under a new royalty structure.”

 

Todd Lewis, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan agrees. “Producers certainly weren’t satisfied with the level of engagement and consultation that went into the development of the two models currently under consideration. We want to make sure that producers stay on top of these discussions and have their voice heard throughout the process,” he said.

 

The survey is now available at www.seedroyaltysurvey.com

 

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For more information, or to arrange an interview please contact:

 

Shannon Scofield

Executive Director, Alberta Federation of Agriculture

403-789-9151 / shannon.scofield@afaonline.ca

 

Joey Dearborn

Communications Coordinator, Keystone Agricultural Producers

431-588-3869 / joey.dearborn@kap.ca

 

Colleen Hennan

Communications and Community Relations Coordinator, Agricultural Producers

Association of Saskatchewan

306-789-7774 ext. 6 / chennan@apas.ca

 

 

The Alberta Federation of Agriculture is Alberta's largest producer funded general

farm organization. Whenever decisions are being made that affect the province's

agricultural industry, AFA is there, providing an effective voice for Alberta's farmers. For

more information on AFA, please visit www.afaonline.ca.

 

The Keystone Agricultural Producers is the voice of Manitoba farmers, both member

funded and member directed. KAP works with governments, industry and stakeholders

on overarching issues that affect all farmers. KAP promotes agriculture and its

contributions to the Manitoba and Canadian economies, and speaks up on the issues

that are important to both crop and livestock producers to affect the changes needed for

farmers to remain successful and profitable.

 

The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is Saskatchewan’s

general farm organization – formed to provide farmers and ranchers with a

democratically elected, grassroots, non-partisan, producer-run organization. As the

united voice of agricultural producers and ranchers in Saskatchewan, APAS strives to

represent the views of a wide variety of agricultural stakeholders in order to form

comprehensive policies that can benefit all sectors of society. Learn more at APAS.ca.